Sophia Pastusek Becomes Owner of Coffee Company

When Toro Bravo Specialty Coffee faced closing, Sophia Pastusek ’28 stepped up. Entrepreneurship runs in her family, and saving the small-batch roastery that supplies her family’s hotel, La Palmilla Hotel & Retreat in Glen Rose, felt like an interesting opportunity. For months, Sophia has been working toward becoming a Roastmaster. 

Toro Bravo has been part of La Palilla’s identity since it opened in 2023. Neal, the founder and previous owner, created a special blend just for the hotel. When Neal announced he was moving out of state and planned to shutter the company, Sophia spoke with her father, John, and they purchased it. 

Now, as a part-owner, Sophia spends her Saturdays roasting, grinding and packaging beans for Toro Bravo, in addition to managing marketing. Neal provided a crash course in roasting, and she is the company’s primary Roastmaster. She balances this new role with school, homework, and track & field practice. 

For now, Sophia is roasting only the La Palmilla blend, which is served at the hotel and several high-end restaurants in Fort Worth. Each weekend, she produces about 16 pounds of coffee to keep up with demand. 

Though he’s just getting started, Sophia hopes to grow Toro Bravo’s reach, eventually supplying coffee to more hotels and restaurants across the region. For now, she’s mastering the art of roasting and proudly sharing her family’s signature coffee with the community.