Grounds and Hounds Coffee: Nice List Blend Review

I tend to post the reviews of these coffees about a month after I receive the coffee. I like to have a few cups first and maybe even make it a few different ways before I tell everyone what I actually think of the coffee. “Nice List” is the seasonal blend I got for the month of December. Fitting huh?

At first, I was skeptical. This coffee was a dark roast and I associate dark roast with smoky, almost burnt flavors. Some people like a smoky flavor to their coffee, but I personally am not a fan. I like smooth and sweet. I can handle a rich, full bodied coffee, but smoky I just can’t do. I was also a bit apprehensive of the tasting note “gingerbread,” but I took heart in the fact that there was also cranberry in there.

For my first cup, I didn’t have a chance to go all out and pull out my Chemex, so I just used my trusty Ninja Coffee Bar for a small cup. I was so surprised. It was definitely a rich flavor and I could tell the difference from a lighter roast, but there wasn’t a single hint of smokiness or any burned flavor at all. If I had to pick a word to describe this coffee, I would choose “juicy.” The flavor was rich but bright at the same time. I have had no problem drinking this coffee without any cream, but it is definitely delicious with cream if you decide to try it that way. The dark roast stands up beautifully to anything you might want to add.

So far, Grounds and Hounds has blown me away. All of their coffees that I have tried have been fantastic, even when they are out of my tasting preferences. If it wasn’t for the Roaster’s Choice subscription I was gifted with, I would never have known that I could truly enjoy a dark roast. I think medium roasts are still my top, but I can say that I definitely look forward to having my coffee tastes expanded in the coming months.