About Us

Casa Brasil began in 2005 as a Brazilian Cultural Center in Austin, Texas with a three-part mission: to facilitate the lives of Brazilians living in the United States, to provide a place to touch Brazil, and to promote Brazilian culture.This passion for Brazil combined with a passion for coffee led Casa Brasil to change its focus in 2007 to sourcing the highest quality Brazilian coffees. We purchase most of our coffees directly from producers, vacuum-sealing the green coffee in Brazil, importing the beans, then roasting to order.

Our mission is to share the best coffees from each harvest, and as a result, Casa Brasil was voted one of the best coffees in Central Texas by the Austin American-Statesman. 

Our Team

Joel Shuler – Owner, Coffee Lover

Born in Michigan and raised in Iowa, Joel’s interest in Brazilian Coffee began in his teens when he was accepted into the youth program of Gremio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense in Brazil. Though injury cut his soccer career short, his passion for Brazil remained. He learned about Brazilian coffee through months on the ground, visiting producers, co-ops, and universities to learn how quality coffee is grown and identify those growers that are producing it. One of few to have both the Q Grade Certification and the Port of Santos Cupping and Classification License, Joel holds a deep respect for those that grow, research, cup, and help bring about great coffee. He feels that every cup is a new experience, and that learning to appreciate coffee can truly add pleasure to one's life.

 

Lisiane Shuler – Sabor e Progresso Initiative, Office Manager

Lisi was born and raised in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Master's degree in Social Work. Through the Sabor e Progresso Initiative, Lisi helps Casa Brasil to empower coffee communities in her native Brazil through programs like Casa Brasil's Merit Scholarship Program for the children of coffee producers and English classes for coffee communities. Apart from her work at Casa Brasil she has worked with Coffee Kids through the ADESPA project in Acatenango, Guatemala, and as counselor for MUSADE in Costa Rica helping victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. 
 
 

Matt Johnson – Roaster, Bike Delivery Program 

Matt got his start in the coffee trade, like many coffee enthusiasts do, as part-time barista. After working his way up to managing cafes, he traveled to Seattle to learn from the experts in cupping rooms and roasting facilities. Matt then trekked to Costa Rica and Hawaii, where he worked directly with coffee farmers to learn the importance of good farming practices, quality coffee, and strong relationships. In Austin, Matt has maintained a commitment to commuting by bike. He has combined this personal value and his love of coffee to develop the bike delivery program for Casa Brasil. The bike delivery program brings coffee from the farmer to your French press, defining a direct trade coffee company in a whole new way. 
 
 
 

Travis Kizer – Roaster, Equipment Repair, All Things Coffee

Travis started his coffee career in 1992 in Eugene, Oregon with Coffee Corner, whose founder Paul Leighton was a student of Alfred Peet. It was here that Travis' love for the beverage developed into a passion. By the mid-1990's, Travis was in Austin working with Little City and starting up two wholesale roasting companies. Over the past 15 years, Travis has developed a reputation as a roaster who is dedicated to creating a quality product and to developing strong customer relationships. He is excited to be a part of Casa Brasil, which he sees as a company that will challenge its employees to constantly excel, learn, teach, and share not only with each other, but with the coffee community as a whole.

 

 

We were honored to be chosen by Fedex to Participate in their Fedex + Me program. Here is a video from that program featuring Casa Brasil and our mission.