… how about you? If you are not having a great day, you should visit us soon for a warm cup of soothing latte (on a cold day) or a fresh fruit smoothie (on a warm day). Or, better yet click on our video below and see what we offer…

Urban Bru video

We are 1 year old! Feels like a long time and yet, we are still a baby. The past year has been very crazy but rewarding for us.

We were named in Guymon Daily Herald’s 2011 Best of the Best. Readers voted us as Best New Business, Best Coffeeshop and Best Coffee . The Guymon Chamber of Commerce awarded us Best Small Business of the Year based on our business model, giving to community and innovative practices. Online, reviewers generously complimented our service and high quality products.

Doing business in a town like Guymon is a challenge and entailed a huge learning curve. Due to its location, supplies are harder to access and know-how and expertise may not necessarily be available locally. As a result, an astute business owner needs to learn to plan ahead and also to expect the worst scenario. When our filtered water started leaking, we figured out a way to deliver lattes to perfection while trying to not swimming in water. When our display case went out, we immediately changed our selection of baked goods to accommodate non-refrigerated food items. When our drive thru window broke, we offered an opportunity to meet our customers face-to-face in the shop. One of our biggest learnings, however, is that it is not the hardships that defined us, but, how we met those challenges head-on and re-defined them as opportunities. And, we are still learning.

Another thing that we realized is that Guymon is a generous community and its people have constantly been there to support us. We cannot forget the willingness of our community to help. A day before opening, my friend Stephanie Babb was drenched in water hand-washing each and every dish and silverware. When we ran out of take-out containers. Hunny’s willingly provided us with some of their own supplies. During our first week, we ran out of space in our refrigerators, Marla’s offered space in theirs. When Sno Shack knew that we needed some cup sleeves, they gave us some. After our first big snowstorm, the Wrights brought their truck over to plow our driveway. When we needed help getting our plumbing done, the Kalms readily worked with Mc Michael’s Plumbing to get our equipment hooked up. Sparks Electric came immediately when we needed additional outlets installed. Sergio Alvidrez brought his power tools one day and cut the over grown tree branches blocking our drive thru. There is a long list of people who have been there to offer their support and we cannot thank them enough (and, I apologize if I missed anyone). This definitely includes our morning coffee groupies, our lunch patrons, our wifi gang, our afternoon quadruple shot buddies, our magic and scrabble gamers and our dinner dates.

Finally, I am blessed to work with the best Crew in the world. Our team has worked through the kinks of opening a store and numerous laminated checklists. They have stormed through the “rushes”. They have learned to make incredible food and drinks. Above all they have taught me how to appreciate life everyday because of their willingness to share their gifts and talents.

If you ask me, brunch is the best meal ever. How can it not be the best when it hits two meals in one. When I think of brunch I think of lazy weekend mornings, lounging and good conversation and of course the sweet smell of freshly brewed coffee. I remember those brunches with family and friends where good food (and coffee) brought out stories and laughter. I remember looking forward to Sunday brunch as a way to pat myself on the back for surviving the tedium of the week’s work and to refresh for the coming week. Nothing like french toast and maple syrup as reward for survival. Orange juice (or mimosa) to refresh. And eggs benedict to create a symphony on one’s palate.

Growing up, we never really had brunch. A typical Filipino meal comprised of eggs, rice and meat. Everyday with no break even on the weekends. I do remember, though, how my Mom would always pick up a pastry for us after church called Sans Rival (without rival). Eating it was our sort of brunch where we sat together, had great conversation and enjoyed this unrivaled butter and sugar treat.

I yearn for brunch. In the past few months, I have been experimenting on a few brunch food items at Urban Bru. After much experimentation and to the delight of our crew (who have enjoyed taste testing all of our new dishes), we are excited to finally offer brunch. Another dream come true!

I am posting our new brunch menu below. Come spend some quality weekend time with us.
Brunch!

I am in Midwest City, Oklahoma today and as soon I woke up, I was craving the perfect brew. The only bad thing about owning your coffee shop is that you get entirely spoiled. In the past month, I have satisfied my coffee craving with my latte favorites or with the specials that the Bru crew have created. So this morning, there was not going to be any hotel room coffee. I walked down to the lobby where they served breakfast and was hopeful that they would have decent brewed coffee. I figured that would be a good starter. First, they ran out of regular coffee and had decaf. When they finally got around to brewing regular coffee, it was so not worth it. Dumped that cup.

I drove down toward the college where they had a “corner coffee shop”. Looked promising since I know that a lot of independent coffee shops serve really good coffee. I walk in and the couple/owners ask what I wanted. I said coffee. They said ok. I felt the need to expound on that choice. NO, I did not want just regular coffee. I looked around and I saw that they did have an espresso machine. I told them I wanted  a latte. The had a blank smile. They mention to me that they just opened two weeks ago (really?). They serve me the cup that he had already started to make before I walked in the door (really?). And they ask what kind of sugar I wanted. I look around and see they just have sugar packets. I said I wanted brown sugar. She started looking in their cupboard and was starting to measure out from a container that looked more like a spice. He asks “Is that cinnamon?”. I notice that they have some coffee syrups so I go on to say that maybe they should just add caramel flavor. He goes in the refrigerator and pulls out a Smuckers caramel bottle. I quickly jump in to say that I actually did not want creamy (Smuckers) syrup rather, I was interested in their Torani caramel syrup. It took every ounce of me not to go behind counter and start making my own brew. I thank them, pay and walk out. Ok, seriously, they gave me brewed coffee with foam. And, a squirt of caramel syrup.

I decide to stick with this cup since I really did not taste bad. But, it was not good either. As I drive a few blocks down, I decide to give the town another chance. Surely, there can be good coffee somewhere. I keep on driving and find nothing except the usual fast food  chains.

Do I need a latte really bad? Bad enough to pull into the golden arches? In surrender I utter,  “I would like a mocha please. And, can you cut your syrup into half. You usually put 4 squirts, right? I just need half of that because it gets too sweet. Thank you”.

And the search continues…

Let me tell you that the past few weeks have been crazy-  crazy in a good way.  We have met and hang-out with so many of you. We have spent morning coffee breaks, shared lunches and lounged together at night.  Ah, life as we know it in Guymon will never be the same!

In the past weeks, we have created “process” and changed it, only to change it once more. A pretty ruthless environment for warriors who are weak in the knees. I must say, though, that the Bru Crew are seasoned veterans, ready to jump in, learn and take pride in their work. Leadership takes many form and each and everyone of our crew has shown this invaluable ability. I love working with this team.

Click here to see what our crew has been up to.