Grounds & Hounds Coffee Soul Pup Review
How’s it going? Hope the coffee is flowing! In this Grounds & Hounds Coffee Soul Pup Review, I’m taking a closer look at one of their more fruit-forward and sweet blends to see how it performs across both French press and pour-over brewing methods. I’ll break down the flavor notes, aroma, and overall drinking experience. If you enjoy coffee that leans into chocolatey sweetness with a bright strawberry pop, this may be the coffee for you.
The Roaster
Grounds & Hounds Coffee was founded in 2014 by Jordan Karcher after adopting the brand’s co-founder, a Dalmatian named Molly. Molly also became the face of the brand and can be seen on most of their packaging. Inspired by the experience with his four-legged best friend, Karcher set out to create a coffee brand built around high-quality, organic, and eco-friendly sourcing practices, while also supporting animal rescue organizations and efforts to save animals from shelters at risk of euthanasia.
The company donates 20% of its profits to rescue organizations and to date has provided over 4 million meals to dogs in shelters. Soul Pup is a blend dedicated to the dogs that have had a profound impact on their owners’ lives, reflecting the kind of impact Molly had on Karcher’s own life.
While supporting a meaningful cause is always important, the product itself still has to stand on its own, especially in an industry as competitive as coffee. Karcher recognized this early on and invested significant time and resources into developing a coffee company that would keep customers coming back. Early on, he even sold most of his personal belongings to help fund the business.
A great cause doesn’t make up for a bad cup. So with that in mind, let’s find out if this coffee lives up to the mission behind it.
When rating coffee I follow the same method of brewing each time. Learn how I prepare French Press coffee here.
Soul Pup Review
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
Grinding Soul Pup brings forward a sweet grain fragrance with a distinct touch of berry.
| Soul Pup | French Press | Pour-Over |
| Aroma | Chocolatey with a touch of strawberry | Strong strawberry notes, bold and fruity |
| Body | Medium body, decent weight and mouthfeel | Medium body, slightly lighter feel |
| Start | Sweet chocolatey notes | Great balance of chocolate and strawberry |
| Middle | Strong burst of sweet strawberry | Strawberry becomes brighter and takes focus |
| Finish | Sweet strawberry with subtle tartness | Rich chocolate with lingering strawberry fruitiness |
Overall Thoughts
Overall, this was a delicious coffee. Soul Pup leans heavily into a chocolate and strawberry profile and delivers a strong balance of both.
- French Press: Smooth and easy to drink, chocolate-forward with a great fruity middle and finish.
- Pour-over: Very smooth, fruity with a strawberry focus supported by rich chocolate notes.
- Preferred brew method: Pour-over.
I slightly preferred the pour-over as it allowed the strawberry notes to shine through more. Each brew method produced a great cup of coffee though, so you can’t go wrong. Soul Pup is a very fruity blend, so coffee drinkers who enjoy fruity coffees will enjoy it. While not overly complex, this coffee may not be for you if you don’t enjoy fruity notes. That said, the chocolatey notes do provide a level of comfort to balance the bright fruitiness.
If you enjoy fruity-forward coffees you will also enjoy Sacred Cups’ Aponte Inga Dark Roast, read my review here.
Where to Purchase
Soul Pup is available directly through the Grounds & Hounds website. At a price point of $18.99 for 12 oz. (about $25.32 per pound) it is a fair price for a high-quality organic coffee. Every purchase supports a worthwhile cause, with 20% of proceeds going to animal rescue initiatives.
Conclusion – Grounds & Hounds Coffee Soul Pup Review
Soul Pup stands out from the first sip. The combination of chocolate and strawberry works great together and is well balanced. It’s not overly complex, but it doesn’t need to be.It’s flavorful, balanced, and a cup I looked forward to drinking again.
If you like fruit-forward coffees with a dessert-like profile, this is an easy recommendation. The pour-over brings out the brightness a bit more, but both methods produce a genuinely great cup.
Soul Pup Scorecard
| Feature | Details |
| Roast | Medium |
| Flavor Notes | Chocolate, strawberry, sweet grain |
| Best Brew Method | Pour-over |
| Overall Rating | 9/10 |
| Worth Buying? | Yes, this is a great cup of coffee that supports a meaningful mission |
| Buy Now | Grounds & Hounds Coffee |
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