Reborn Little City Coffee Roasters Launch Kickstarter

The beloved former coffee shop Little City is being brought back as a coffee bean roasting company with the help of its just-launched Kickstarter campaign. Joel Shuler, who also founded Casa Brasil, took over Little City Coffee Roasters from friend and original owner Donna Taylor, who will not be involved with the company.

Little City was a "well known coffee shop for about twenty years" Shuler said. There was a "confluence there of what Austin is," he continued, "a place where everybody’s accepted and goes, a laid back, welcoming culture." Adding speciality coffee to the mix in a way that is accessible to people is the goal behind the relaunched coffee brand. The products will include year-round beans, and "seasonal micro-lot" sourced from around the world, according to a press release. He is currently working on getting his Masters degree in agricultural engineering, with a specialization in coffee, in Brazil. Currently the team is sourcing beans and concocting blends.

Along with the campaign are series of planned events. The Little City Coffee Launch Party tonight at Cenote. From 7:30-9:30 p.m., attendees can try the coffee. Proceeds from the $5 door ticket will go into the crowdfunding campaign. For more caffeine fixes, Whip In will host a free coffee tasting on Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. The Kickstarter closing party will be held on Saturday, May 2 at South Austin Brewery from 7-9 p.m.,featuring coffee and the brewery's new Crossroads Coffee Stout, though made with Casa Brasil.

The closed in 2011 after not being able to renew its lease. The Chronicle spoke to Taylor, former baristas (including sandwich artisan Aaron Franklin), and patrons, in February.