“About four years ago, I had the idea of doing a mobile camper where I could go to different events, maybe different neighborhoods, and be parked and do a drive-thru,” says Megan Bondurant, owner of The Wandering Bean. “I felt like Hillsboro needed it. There isn’t a drive-thru coffee place. So I bought a vintage camper about two years ago and I was going to renovate it, but literally every board ended up being rotten. It was literally down to the frame, so I was like, ‘Okay, what is our next step here?’”

Bondurant ended up meeting with the pastor of Hillsboro United Methodist Church, a location she'd planned on parking her coffee camper at. The result was a brick-and-mortar location inside the church.

“They have a kitchen café area that we turned into where we make all the drinks, do all the serving and we’re able to offer indoor seating,” says Bondurant. “Customers can come in, get their drink, get their baked goods, sit down, work, connect to WiFi, study. It’s kind of morphed from what my original game plan was, but I really love how it’s turning out.”

The café has turned into an eclectic yet elegant environment.

“I have a bright blue velvet couch in there; none of the tables are the same,” Bondurant says. “I just want people to come in and feel relaxed.”

And, of course, enjoy some divine drinks.

Mainstays include hot and iced coffee (think Americanos, lattes, mochas and macchiatos), hot teas (earl grey, cherry blossom, chai and more) and blended beverages like frappes and smoothies.

“We have a pretty elaborate menu,” Bondurant says. “I live a keto lifestyle, so sometimes that’s hard for me to go into a coffee shop and order something because maybe milks are limited [or] syrups are limited, so we have a pretty large menu.”

The menu contains specials and seasonal offerings: During fall, enjoy a maple leaf latte (with real maple syrup, pumpkin sauce and espresso), an apple butter chai (chai tea and caramel apple butter), a salted mocha and more.

In addition to beverages, The Wandering Bean offers yogurt parfaits with granola, fruit cups, Belgian waffles, butter braids (in mixed berry, cinnamon and brown sugar) and more.

“I think the number one thing for the coffee shop is I want people to be able to connect – whether they’re connecting with us as their baristas or they’re coming in and meeting a friend for coffee,” Bondurant says. “I really want it to be a place that can build community.”

The Wandering Bean, 4810 Hwy. B, Hillsboro, Missouri, 636-306-2660, facebook.com/thewanderingbeanllc