When Jenna Heck rolls up in her mobile coffee bar, Pearl Coffee Company, she’s not just pouring lattes — she’s pouring heart, heritage and hope into every cup. What started as a whisper of a dream at age 11 has evolved into one of Johnson County’s most beloved small businesses, making regular stops in Franklin and beyond. And while Pearl Coffee is mobile, its roots run deep.
The seeds of Jenna’s coffee journey were planted when her grandmother, Nancy Voris, opened Cincinnati St. Coffee in Nineveh. Jenna remembers helping on weekends, serving regulars and setting up at farmers markets.
“It made me feel like I had a hand in a bigger story,” she says. “My grandma felt called to create a space where community could gather over coffee. I was honored to be a character in her calling.”
Even before her coffee love bloomed, Jenna was baking with four generations of women in her family. She started a small baking business in high school, enrolled in culinary school at Central Nine and later earned her degree in baking and pastry arts from Ivy Tech. Her love for coffee deepened during her time at Starbucks and later as a local café pastry chef. But in 2019, she felt a divine nudge to take the leap toward her own venture.
The name Pearl didn’t come immediately — it came through prayer and a series of signs. From standing on Pearl Street in Trafalgar to discovering her first prospective roaster also sat on a Pearl Street in northern Indiana, it all pointed to a deeper meaning. A verse from Matthew 13:46 sealed the deal: “…on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” That mirror of her sacrifice made the name undeniable. Pearl Coffee Company was born.
Instead of jumping straight into a brick-and-mortar location, Jenna followed her love of festivals and vintage style. She ordered a custom coffee trailer in 2020, designing every detail to optimize flow and efficiency. While waiting for the buildout, she fine-tuned her recipes and brand. Pearl officially opened in June 2023 with Jenna, her mom and her brother working Saturdays in the summer and fall. Now open five days a week, Pearl has grown to a team of six, including Brandon Richardson, Lydia Hernandez and Jaycee Snyder. Pearl has become a staple in local markets and events across Johnson County.
Pearl’s mission is to bring the full café experience to wherever people gather. Every drink is crafted to order — espresso freshly tamped, teas brewed to perfection and fan favorites like the Cowboy Cold Brew and the B-A-N-A-N-A-S! latte keep the lines long.
“We’re always experimenting,” Jenna says, “but it’s the consistency and care that keeps people coming back.”
Weather is one of Pearl’s biggest challenges — rain, snow, wind or heat — but Jenna and her team show up.
“We rarely close our window,” she says. “We want to be reliable for the people who show up for us.”
And those people? They’ve become more than customers. They’re family. Jenna can rattle off names — Alyssa from Revive Home Vintage, the ever-laughing Rob and Jessica, station-wagon-driving Jay — each one a piece of the Pearl story.
Franklin’s community has embraced Pearl Coffee with open arms. From their debut at the Discover Downtown Farmers Market to events with the Franklin Parks Department, Jenna and her crew continue to grow deeper roots in the town.
“Farmers markets feel like home,” she says.
Looking ahead, a permanent location remains the ultimate goal. But until then, Jenna is building thoughtfully — expanding the menu, extending hours and dreaming big.
“Every customer who visits Pearl is helping us take a step toward that shop,” she says. “We’re just waiting on the Lord’s timing and stewarding what we’ve been given with excellence.”
For those dreaming of starting their own mobile business, Jenna offers this:
“Know your brand and the experience you want your customer to have. The product matters, but what sets you apart is knowing who you are and showing your customers, they were part of your vision from day one.”
With faith, family and a finely tuned cold brew, Jenna Heck is proving that even in a 16-foot mobile coffee bar, you can build something truly priceless — a pearl of great value.
To learn more, visit pearlcoffeecompany.com.
