Joe with a mission

Morning coffee is a way of life for many people, and some churches serve coffee before services.

Cape First Church has taken that a step further by purchasing a food truck and converting it into a rolling coffee shop to connect with the community. The truck can be found around Cape in different areas throughout the workweek.

The coffee truck is part of the church's college and young adult ministry, called Remix, explained Jon French, an associate minister at Cape First who heads up the college and adult ministry.

French said he had the idea for the coffee truck while he was stuck at home recuperating from a broken arm, and watching lots of cooking shows. He said the idea came at the right time.

"We had a heart to do something a little different, a little out of the box, to get the word out about the college ministry," French said.

Barista Tevin Williams hands off a drink in the Remix Coffee Co. truck. (Glenn Landberg)

That was about a year ago, and after the group found a truck for sale in Tennessee, the REMIX Coffee Co. venture quickly got underway.

Profits from the sale of the coffee goes to local and foreign missions. Currently, the group is sponsoring 10 children through the national Feed One program.

"Our slogan is 'Coffee with a Cause,'" French said. "It's not a coffee business, it's a ministry."

Through sponsorships with partners, the group sponsors another 21 children.

A partner sponsorship of a child costs $10 a month, but does come with a perk.

Kate Burton, ministry coordinator for Remix Coffee Co., poses for a photo at an event Saturday, June 13, 2015 at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

"If you sign up to sponsor a child, you get one free coffee drink a month," French said. That puts the deferential cost of sponsorship at about $6.50, as the average drink price is about $4.50.

The goal is to eventually sponsor 100 children, he said.

The truck serves much more than just a cup of joe. Specialty drinks -- frozen lemonade and iced coffee -- and other beverages are available.

Pressed coffee that is ground on-site is served.

"It's really the best quality coffee. It's not bland or watered down," said French, a self-described coffee snob.

Notes for employees of Remix Coffee Co. line the inside of a window in the Remix Coffee Co. truck, Saturday, June 13, 2015. (Glenn Landberg)

The truck is also available for events, and local businesses have contracted with the truck to serve in their parking lots for customer or employee appreciation days.

REMIX Coffee Co. participates in tailgating at all Southeast Missouri University football games, and during the school year, gives away coffee, sweet tea and lemonade each Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in front of the library on campus.

"We give out about 100 drinks during those two hours," said Kate Burton, manager of the REMIX Coffee Co. truck.

Uniformed firefighters and police officers receive free drinks.

Most mornings the van can be found in the parking lot of the Heartland Spine Institute, and in the afternoons, it is frequently at Trees N Trends' parking lot, but REMIX has made sure that it's easy to locate the coffee truck.

In addition to a Facebook page and website -- remixcoffeeco.com -- Remix also has an app for Androids and iPhones, REMIXCoffeeCo, which provides two daily updates on the truck's whereabouts. People also may call 573-275-4075 to find the truck.

Burton, and the part-time employees who work on the truck, are all heavily involved in the REMIX at Cape First.

She said the coffee truck is about more than just coffee.

"We're able to go out into the community at all different times and give out blessings," Burton said.