International travel inspired Jhy Coulter to create some of KC’s favorite pizza.
By Weston Owen | Photos by Paul Andrews
Pizza is communal — a familiar, approachable dish that brings family, friends and loved ones together. Yet, for native Kansas Citian Jhy Coulter, its purpose has served a much greater role, one that helped her launch a thriving business and altered her life trajectory.
Originally from Olathe, Kansas, Jhy began studying graphic design at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) in 2014. Like many college students making their way through school, she began working in the service industry, specifically at a local pizzeria, making deli sandwiches. During one shift, due to short staffing, Jhy was shown how to make pizza. She quickly found that she loved the process — from the methodical preparation to the creativity involved. Everything about pizza-making was fun to her, especially seeing how happy it made people.
While Jhy was in school and after she graduated in 2017, her partner was teaching English in Spain. When in need of a long-overdue vacation, Jhy visited for what was only meant to be a few weeks. Yet, she found herself drawn to Spanish culture, energized by the community and its shared love for food. So, not only did Jhy end up staying longer than expected, she also decided that she’d join in teaching English abroad.
After months had passed and her teaching program had concluded, Jhy came back to the States and began looking for roles that aligned more closely with her degree in graphic design. Yet that time spent overseas and her exposure to new cuisine had altered her worldview and aspirations. Recalling how much she’d enjoyed her time in the restaurant industry, Jhy chose to return to the kitchen. By 2019, she was learning and growing within Kansas City’s food scene.
It was then that she entered an Instagram giveaway sponsored by Chef Matty Matheson and Gozney, a manufacturer of commercial ovens. The prize? A Roccbox — the company’s flagship portable pizza oven. While she knew the odds were long, she gave it a shot. Ultimately, despite thousands of entries, it was Jhy who received a direct message that she’d been drawn as the winner.
Elated and with her newly acquired pizza oven, Jhy viewed this as an opportunity to begin forging her own path and perfecting her pizza-making craft, but that didn’t come without some growing pains along the way.
“At first, I was burning a lot of pizza for family and friends in my backyard,” joked Jhy. “Pushing my boundaries and gaining a deep understanding of the process really helped drive me to create something unique, yet approachable. That’s how the Devoured Pizza brand was born.”
During the height of the pandemic and shortly thereafter, Devoured Pizza skyrocketed. From selling pizza out of her home to partnerships and local pop-ups — more than 200 over a four-year span — Jhy’s pizza gained immense popularity within the community. So much, in fact, that she had to buy another oven to keep up with public demand.
Understanding that opening a brick-and-mortar storefront was the next logical step in her journey, Jhy began raising funds to create a space of her own. After finding the perfect location in one of Kansas City’s favorite neighborhoods, Martini Corner, and spending nearly a year retrofitting and carving out her niche, Orange By: Devoured opened to the public in August of 2024.
Now, a thriving pizza business focused on communal dining experiences and unique topping combinations inspired by her time abroad, the continued support from her community has propelled Jhy’s career in ways she’d never before imagined. While the journey hasn’t been easy, each decision she made led to this moment in time, welcoming a community to gather and exist over a slice or two.
“While Spain’s approach to offering fresh ingredients, approachable plates and communal gathering areas served as my ultimate inspiration, it’s Kansas City and this community that’s given Orange By: Devoured life and personality,” said Jhy. “The namesake may have been born of the bright, vibrant colors of the Spanish countryside, but the warmth and positive energy of KC is why I couldn’t imagine doing this anywhere else.”
