Coca-Cola Blāk

Type Coffee flavored Cola
Manufacturer The Coca-Cola Company
Country of Origin France
Introduced 2006
Related products BibiCaffe; Pepsi coffee drinks including Kona (Pennsylvania, 1994-1996), Tarik (Malaysia), Max Cappuccino (France, Finland, Norway, Ireland and the UK), and Cappuccino (India, Eastern Europe, Mexico, some Central American)

Coca-Cola Blāk is a coffee-flavored soft drink introduced by Coca-Cola in 2006. The mid-calorie drink was introduced first in France, before making its way to the United States and other markets. Despite the macron over the "a", its name is pronounced "black", not "blake".

Coca-Cola Blāk launched in the United States[1] on April 3, 2006. Coca-Cola Blāk launched in Canada on August 29, 2006[2] with an event staged in Toronto, Canada at Dundas Square offering free bottles of the product.[3] The drink has not yet found its way to the majority of shelves across these countries, and promotional campaigns, aimed mostly at young adults, are still under way.

The U.S. version of Coca-Cola Blāk is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, aspartame and acesulfame potassium. The French and Canadian versions of Coca-Cola Blāk replace the high fructose corn syrup with sugar.

Consumer Reports taste-testers found the French version to be less sweet and to contain more coffee flavor.

The American and Canadian versions have a plastic resealable cap on a glass bottle that resembles the classic Coke bottle, whereas the French version is a bottle shape formed from aluminum, similar to a wine bottle.

Coca-Cola Blāk will be discontinued in the United States and Canada in early 2007, along with Black Cherry Vanilla.[citation needed] Both Coca-Cola Black Cherry Vanilla and BlāK (coffee flavored) were released in 2006.

Reception

Consumer reports on Coke Blak are divided. On one hand, many North Americans enjoy not only the taste of Coke Blak, but also the presentation and the price. However, others have found that the Coke flavor and the coffee flavor tend to separate resulting in somewhat of a "layered" drink. This often results in what many refer to as "a rather foul tasting beverage."[cite this quote] Some have noted that every other time they drink Coke Blak they experience a different taste. This is likely due to the flavor separation.