SEY is a Brooklyn-based roastery led by Lance Schnorenberg and Tobin (Tobin/Tobias) Polk. The company started as a small loft operation (then called Lofted Coffee) before opening its current bar and roastery space on in Bushwick, where roasting and service now happen in the same room. Their approach is built around very light roasting, high sweetness, and transparency toward producers. Coffees are bought as small, clearly identified single-origin lots. The stated aim is to present “clean, expressive, washed coffees,” letting the coffee itself speak rather than covering it with roast character or aggressive processing. SEY runs its own coffee bar, which acts as the showcase for this style: a bright, plant-filled space with a minimal menu, manual brewing, and open visibility of the roasting setup behind glass. The bar serves as both tasting room and proof of concept for how they believe their coffees should be brewed and experienced.

SEY’s roast is very light and exceptionally controlled, yielding cups that are sweet, clear, and reliably clean across pour over and espresso. Dial in is quick and extractions hold steady over days and seasons, and more than once our panel has tasted truly standout brews, among the most expressive we have had. Packaging is calm and producer first, with names and key details obvious at a glance and deeper information easy to find online, which reinforces the sense of transparency. Across seasons the profile stays steady while the range spans price levels from approachable daily coffees to limited rarities, and the roast profile remains confidently light and transparent. Together, the precision in the cup and the clarity on the bag create a quietly confident experience that sets a high bar.