Ground Pounder Coffee Gives Back To The Community
As I’ve had the pleasures of getting involved in the overland and off-road community, it’s hard to keep my mouth shut about all the amazing people I meet. From trip organizers to influencers, everyday campers to those in the industry, most people are helpful, kind, and level-headed. I started this section to talk more deeply about impressive products, events or people in the community that deserve extra recognition. These could be products I’ve personally used, local events worth attending, or people and companies in the community doing great things.
Jim Hart, owner of Ground Pounder Coffee, is an individual who oozes the goodness of the overlanding community. His friendly demeanor is complemented by his beast of a Jeep, HQ1, previously featured in Tread November/December 2021. While we see many coffee companies pop up offering a tasty pick me up, Ground Pounder Coffee stands out for its continued involvement in the community and desire to give back through donations to various non-pro ts.
Coffee drinkers are always on the hunt for a good cup o’ joe, Jim was no different. Still not satis ed with nding that perfect cup, he gured it was time to take matters into his own hands. It was a dream to own a coffee company one day, and Jim never imagined those dreams could come true one day. Being the friendly conversationalist that he is, Jim chatted it up with a gentleman sitting next to him on a ight home from New York. Turns out, that gentleman was a coffee roaster and invited him to his roastery in Oregon. That’s all it took, and in 2016, Groundpounder Coffee was born.
So what makes Ground Pounder Coffee so special? For me, it’s the involvement and partnerships created within the community. Ground Pounder Coffee has teamed up with top brands like Tread, KC Hilites, Turtleback Trailers, Thunderbox, Kurgo, CK Knife & Tool, Sprinter Overland Trips and more to offer a special roast in their name. And to make it even better, most of these roasts also donate money to a non-pro t for every bag sold. Now that is a win-win in our book. For example, for every bag of Tread Limitless purchased, $1 is donated to Tread Lightly!. The KC HiLites roast also donates to Tread Lightly!, while Kurgo donates to Paws for Life K-9 Rescue and CK Knife and & Tool donates to Forgotten Coast K-9, a foundation that pairs veterans and rst responders with service dogs.
“GROUND POUNDER COFFEE STANDS OUT FOR ITS CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND DESIRE TO GIVE BACK THROUGH DONATIONS TO VARIOUS NON-PROFITS.”
Building community is something overlanders do effortlessly. Whether it is the more experienced who take groups out on weekend trips to camp, or companies who developed partnerships with non-profits to promote land conservation, we know inclusion and we know how to look out for each other. That’s one solid foundation that makes me proud and honored to be included.