Coffee Geeks - A Day In the Life of a Head Roaster

By Skylar Fuser

I walk into Cirque Coffee Roasters, a bustling coffee shop in Tulsa, OK, on one of its renowned “roasting days.” I am greeted by a vibrant 25-year-old man named John Pierce, who has been happily roasting coffee beans by hand all morning. So young, yet an owner of this new, popular shop in Tulsa. 

He quickly picks out a “quaker,” a bean that is discolored and can give the coffee a rancid taste. I quietly watch as the experienced hands sort through the entire batch and listen as he tells me his story.

After gaining experience in roasting from a master in Kansas City, MO, John moved back to Tulsa. It was here that he encountered an old high school friend, Garrett O’Dell, and decided to pursue a shop of their own.

“We both quit our jobs,” John said excitedly.

What sets Cirque apart from the rest of the shops in Tulsa, and maybe in the entire state, is the amount of time and thought put into each drink.

“I know a lot about coffee, so it would be a disservice to my customers if I didn’t go through all the steps,” John said.

Each barista goes through six weeks of intensive training. Morgan Steele, who has worked at Cirque for around eight months, said she had “never felt more prepared for a job.”

All signature drinks are invented by the baristas. Morgan shared with me about her Chai, which she co-created with John. She worked to spice a house-made syrup for the drink, a very unique process that sets its flavor apart from all others.

One frequent customer, Louie Carreno, shared with me about his favorite drink at the time. Louie’s favorite drink was the “Ode to Arnold,” an interesting take on a classic Arnold Palmer.

“The flavors of the drink were sublime,” Carreno said of one of Cirque’s first signature drinks.

John also gave a glimpse as to the future of Cirque, which is about to experience a few renovations.

They have recently leased the unit next door to make space for training new team members and larger areas for roasting.  This will also allow the shop to expand customer seating and keep up with the ever-growing clientele.

If you would like more information about Cirque, or to shop its exclusive, specially-chosen coffees, visit http://www.cirquecoffee.com/.

Behind the Scenes with Derek Jewell

By Skylar Fuser

I have attended the South Broken Arrow Life Church campus for over two years, but I have never had a one-on-one conversation with my pastor until today. I have even taught his 5-year-old son, Jack, in Life Kids, and talked to his amazing wife, Jenn, on multiple occasions.

Finally, I got to ask my pastor, Derek Jewell, a few questions.

First, I wanted to know the biggest challenge he overcame in college. Like many wise people do, he answered my question with a question of his own. “Who am I going to be when my mom and dad aren’t around?” he said. College not only helps people to redefine who they are, but to become their own person apart from their parents.

Another important question Jewell thought about was, “Am I going to blend in with the crowd?” College provides people with the space they need to grow into either who they want to be or who the world wants them to be.

After getting to know more about my pastor, I feel more connected to my church and those who are in it.

Pancho Anaya Bakery: Your Local Sugar Fix

By Skylar Fuser

On the corner of Lewis and Admiral, Pancho Anaya Bakery fills the hungry stomachs of pastry connoisseur's all over Tulsa.

The take-and-go system is a pair of tongs and a tray. This was daunting to me, as I felt each slice of cake and morsel of cookie begging me to grab them.

There are countless delicacies to choose from. Glorias are traditional, cake-like loaves with raisins on top. Orejas are crispy, thin pastries shaped like a "U" with sugar both baked in and on top. Two pieces of traditional bread molded together in a sphere with sugar and a delicious layer of icing becomes a yoyo.

Finally, churros, which are bought with either Bavarian crème filling, strawberry filling, or no filling at all, are also local favorites. This is just to name a few.

Most of the customers are locals of Hispanic heritage, as opposed to me and my friends. The easy-going nature of the store allowed the three of us to feel comfortable grabbing tongs and jumping right in to the party.

Pastries are also labelled with their traditional name as well as an explanation of what the dish is. This helps inexperienced guests get excited about choosing the pastry they think sounds the most scrumptious.

Pancho Anaya is a family business and has been baking goods for five generations. Each hand-made pastry is evidence of the wisdom that comes with their experience.

For more information about Pancho Anaya's menu or other locations around Tulsa, visit http://panchoanaya/menu/.

Shopping at Tulsa's Unique Boutique

By Melissa Cunningham

Stash's Storefront

Stash is a locally owned trendy clothing and gift shop located at 3734 S Peoria Ave Tulsa, OK 74105. When you walk into Stash you are greeted warmly by the employees and can browse the collection of apparel, home décor, greeting cards, jewelry and other items.

Stash believes in supporting the local community and a selection of their merchandise has been created by a handful of local designers and artists. They get new arrivals almost daily so there is always something new to look at.

Their women’s and men’s clothing has been voted Absolute Best of Tulsa and Tulsa People's Readers Choice A List. They also have a collection of unique collegiate apparel so you can show your support for OSU, OU, and of course TU!

Business Card

You can visit Stash's website at http://www.shopmuststash.com/