Black Card coffee first appeared on the market in 1992. The manufacturer of the product from 2007 to this day is the Russian holding Strauss Group. For a rich taste and pronounced aroma of the drink, innovative technologies for processing raw materials are used, namely individual varietal roasting and sorting of the best fruits. For coffee lovers there is a wide range of Black Card products. The only drawback of the coffee brand is the lack of a capsule form of preparation.
History of origin
The Golden Domes company decided to create its own brand of coffee.
The creator of the brand was , created in 1997. At that time, it was a medium-sized food industry enterprise in Russia (Moscow region, Odintsovo district), producing grocery products, most of which were roasted nuts. Coffee was produced, but the company did not have its own production. After a while, the “Black Card” appears.
Coffee gained its popularity quite quickly, but due to the fact that the company experienced a crisis and, at the same time, an acute shortage of funds, it was not possible to develop further. “Black Card” did not achieve a leading position and had an average price; it was these parameters that attracted the Strauss Group. At that time, the international company was trying to test the paths of development in Russia and other CIS countries, so they liked this brand.
Today, the brand occupies a stable and fairly high position in the mid-price niche.
The main direction is focused on “coffee out of home”, i.e. deliveries are sent to bars, cafes, and restaurants. Strauss is also famous for such coffee brands as TOTTI, FORT, Ambassador, Le cafe. The “Black Card” is represented in all continents of the globe; coffee culture is most actively spreading in the countries of the East.
Gaining popularity
At first, many coffee consumers associated Black Card brand coffee with such a world-famous brand as Carte Noir, which created great demand for these products. And the Russian brand gradually acquired a certain image and independence. Consumers characterize the products as having fairly good quality and a low price.
Currently, “Black Card” occupies one of the first positions in the middle price segment. It offers its consumers a fairly wide range of instant, bean and ground coffee. Since the beans are roasted directly on Russian territory, all products go on sale fresh.
Manufacturer and production process
Coffee Roasting Process
Deliveries are made through the head office in Switzerland, where special attention is paid to the quality of the product. Raw materials are purchased from manufacturers from all over the world. It has its own factory in the Vladimir region, but part of the product is produced near Nizhny Novgorod at Grand-NN. More detailed location information is provided on the back of the packaging.
The preparation of coffee beans for consumption is carried out using the latest equipment, which is able to take into account the slightest inaccuracies of the technological process.
This allows you to bring quality to the maximum level. The company cares about customers, so they introduced green, unroasted coffee into their product range for those who care about their health and figure.
Range
The “Black Card” coffee assortment
offers customers a large selection of products. A characteristic distinguishing feature is the presence of a gradation of drinks. The Russian market is included in the consideration; products can be imported from other countries to certain points, so the assortment often differs.
Grain composition of the Gold brand (golden)
According to Roskontrol inspections, it is one of the most popular products. Despite the presence of cadmium and lead in fairly large quantities, even instant coffee is 100% natural Arabica coffee. The indicators are within acceptable limits. The grain composition of the Gold brand has a medium degree of roasting, the taste is strong, slightly creamy.
Exclusive brasilia
Instant coffee Exclusive Brazil
Online stores offer a grain version (composition not specified), but the official manufacturer offers instant coffee. It has spicy notes and a rather piquant aroma.
Ground
Ground coffee for brewing in a cup
A mixture of Arabica (Africa, Brazil) and Robusta (Asia). Robusta adds bitterness and strength to the drink. Has a slight sourness. There is a standard grind, ground for Turkish coffee and several options for brewing in a mug. Convenient to use at home. Similar grinding is also available in the Jockey and Jacobs Monarch brands.
In beans
Strange, but on the packaging the manufacturer decided not to indicate what types of beans were used for preparation. The standard inscription says that they grew in hot countries, which is already understandable.
The packaging quite often contains grains of different sizes and even colors, as if they were collected from different batches.
The downside is the pungent smell, although the packaging states medium roasting.
Espresso beans
Black Card Beans
Standard blend for preparing strong, rich espresso coffee. The composition is lost again, however, the manufacturer promises foam, which means there is definitely robusta present. This coffee rarely gets high marks, but some people like this particular roast.
Fresh beans
This is instant coffee to which finely ground Arabica beans have been added. Thanks to this, it has a brighter taste. The packaging is significantly different in appearance from the above products.
Premium collection
Karmic can of Premium
Colombian Arabica coffee packaging, collected from elite plantations. The look and taste of this coffee is delightful. It has light chocolate notes that persist even when chilled.
The products can be purchased in pleasant and convenient packaging of various weights. A ceramic or glass jar is often chosen as a gift.
Recipes for brewing coffee with the Black Card
Coffee with milk and cocoa
Brewing coffee in a Turk
Preparation time: 10 minutes.
What you will need:
- Ground coffee (any from the collection) – 2 tsp
- Cocoa – 2 tsp
- Milk – half a glass
- Water – 200 ml
- Heavy cream – 50 g
- Sweetener (to taste)
- Turk
Cooking method:
- Boil milk in a saucepan
- Add sweetener and cocoa mixture
- Mix thoroughly, boil for 2 minutes and turn off the heat
- Brew regular coffee in a Turk
- Gradually pour the finished coffee into the milk, stirring thoroughly
- Pour the mixture into a bowl, garnishing with cream on top
Coffee with citruses and spices
Coffee with citrus and spices
Ingredients:
- Coffee – 2 tsp
- Orange zest – 1 tbsp
- Lemon zest – 1 tbsp
- Water – 300 ml
- Citrus liqueur – 1 tbsp
- Sugar – 2 tbsp
- Cinnamon – 1 pinch
- Cloves – 3 pcs.
Cooking method:
- Sugar, spices and zest are laid out in a dry, heated frying pan.
- As soon as the sugar begins to melt, add liqueur to the mixture.
- Mix thoroughly and strain through gauze cloth.
- Brew coffee in a Turk and pour into a cup.
- The liqueur mixture is gradually added to the coffee.
Recipes can be made for yourself. Experiments are allowed. By adding spices and various syrups, thereby reducing or increasing the richness, the ideal recipe for invigorating coffee is derived.
American Express black card "Centurion"
This card also belongs to the Black Edition class and is one of the most expensive cards in the world. If you look at the annual maintenance, you might be horrified as it costs about $2,500. Previously, it was possible to issue a card only if the bank somehow noticed you and gave an invitation to issue this card.
The cost of issuing this card is about $8,000. There are also small conditions for its registration. You must have bank accounts worth at least $1,000,000, and your annual turnover must be at least $250,000.
All additional privileges include accommodation and room reservations in one of the most prestigious hotel chains, Fine Hotels and Resorts. You also have the right to book a table and take a plane ticket for any flight to any place, no matter where you live.
Reviews
Coffee Black Card is a good copy in its price category.
Studying the comments about the product, it is worth noting that a matter of taste plays an important role here. Among the reviews there are many positive ones. The buyer is attracted by the good value for money; many are not picky about the taste of the drink, so they purchase the product for a long time. Neutrality simply states that the coffee did not live up to expectations, saying that no bad things were noted, but there is no desire to purchase any more.
Unflattering words can often be found, some do not stand on ceremony in their reviews of coffee, but more often people are faced with a defect or a “left” product, because the original “Black Card” is ideal in execution.
Constructive criticism is not negative; consumers compare coffees, share their opinions and find like-minded people.
New level status: black plastic cards
Forget about small ceilings on money transfers. Need clothes worth a hundred thousand dollars? Pay by card without any problems! Bought a unique 500-year-old cup for tens of millions? The map does not limit you in any way.
And the story about the cup is real. A Chinese billionaire with a fortune of $1.3 billion purchased it at a Sotheby's auction. And the problem arose when paying not from Liu Yiqian, who bought it, but from the auction house, who had to swipe the card across the terminal 50 times. The system did not accept more than 1.6 million per operation.
The billionaire used a black American Express card called Centurion, which not only paid for the purchase, but also earned himself bonus miles for life.
People who made not a million, but a billion from scratch
Yes, such cards, like their lower-ranked counterparts, also participate in bonus campaigns and collect miles that can be exchanged for travel, tickets or purchases in a special store. And believe me, the choice of goods for owners of black cards is much wider, more exotic and interesting than for owners of regular plastic cards.
Moreover, such cards are often not made from “vulgar” and cheap plastic. Of course, large banks and card providers do not stoop to Sberbank, which in Kazakhstan issued a completely gold card with 26 diamonds (after all, it really cannot be used). But a stainless steel card with carbon elements is a reality.
Payment card systems each offer their own black card: Centurion from American Express, Infinite from Visa. Some of the largest banks offer their own modifications of such cards.
In addition to bonus miles and an almost unlimited usage limit, the cards offer discounts on hotels, yacht and private jet rentals, and additional bonuses in different parts of the world. Plus 24-hour virtually personal technical support and concierge services, plus access to quick security control at airports, lounges, etc.
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