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/.

Limitless Expression

By Debra Scheuerman

https://youtu.be/qNx_GslMRD0

Holiday Art Mart Gymnasium

I attended The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges annual Holiday Art Mart and met many inspiring people. As I walked into The Center I was immediately greeted by a group of people, and as I continued down the hall not one person passed without saying hello and asking how I was. I walked into the gymnasium to see over 20 tables set up where members of The Center were selling the art work they had made. I spoke with Sally Ramirez, the abstract teaching artist.

Moving to Oklahoma from Los Angeles was a big transition for Ramirez. She worked with Teach for America before finding her position at The Center, where she has held the position for two years. In her classes Ramirez, does not censor her students. As their teacher, Ramirez lets them use art as an emotional outlet, exploring their personal lives and journey. She said her students “utilize art as a vehicle for expression”. 

Jones's display table

I walked around to talk to a few of Ramirez’s students and encountered Melita Jones. While I was looking at the ceramics she made she told me that she had been in Ramirez’s class for two years. She had no idea she was good at ceramics until she started attending class, and now she loves it. 

Snodgrass's display table

Next I spoke to Brent Snodgrass. He had an array of items for sale ranging from walking sticks to intricate ceramic dinner sets. As I was admiring his work he told me that he has been legally blind since the age of 25. He said that Ramirez and her art classes have given him a place to think outside the box. “I am catalyst for the art, I let it become what it wants,” he said. While showing me a “run” on his ceramic design he told me “in the outside world a run like this would be considered ugly. But [at The Center] I have the opportunity to make ugly things beautiful. And that is a gift.”

For more information visit their website or Facebook page.