SEY Coffee

The Soul of Brooklyn’s Coffee: SEY Coffee

Tucked away in Bushwick, SEY Coffee stands as a beacon for true coffee lovers, blending Scandinavian minimalism with Brooklyn’s creative pulse. Founded by Lance Schnorenberg and Tobin Polk, SEY earned instant respect from the specialty scene, clinching Food & Wine’s “Best Coffee Shop in America” title in 2019. The airy, plant-filled café glows under a skylight, inviting visitors into a world driven by flavor transparency and sustainability. Every cup reflects their close, ethical relationships with experimental producers—particularly in Ethiopia and Latin America—yielding vibrant, clean, and remarkably complex coffees that regularly receive international acclaim.

SEY’s menu is a rotating gallery of rare microlots and meticulously sourced single origins, with standouts like floral Ethiopian lots, Panama Gesha, and offerings such as the 2025 Pepe Jijon TyOxy Mejorado from Ecuador—described as “lightning in a bottle” with dark berry and hibiscus notes. The team leans heavily into light roasting, letting each bean’s character shine. Alongside their celebrated coffees, SEY serves fresh pastries, but the highlight is always the brewing experience—the knowledgeable staff and occasional public cuppings foster community, curiosity, and a sense of discovery rare in New York’s coffee scene.