At the heart of Brooklyn, nestled inside a restored firehouse, Stumptown Coffee Roasters has created a café that seamlessly blends history, craftsmanship, and a touch of magic.  

We sat down with Zachary Marvick, Senior Designer at Stumptown, to learn more about the brand, the inspiration behind their Brooklyn location, and the creative process behind their stunning custom tin ceiling. 

Brewing Community and Creativity 

For over six years, Zachary has been shaping the look and feel of Stumptown Coffee Roasters. As a pioneer in specialty coffee, Stumptown is known for setting industry standards like Direct Trade while also fostering a community of creatives and coffee lovers alike. 

“I’ve made so many friends through this work that at times it feels like a family,” Zachary shares. “Our aesthetic is both high-fi and low-fi—sometimes refined and elegant, other times relaxed and approachable. Ultimately, my focus is on creating work that sparks joy and a sense of magic for our customers.” 

Designing a Brooklyn Landmark 

Stumptown’s Brooklyn café, located at 212b Pacific St, occupies a historic firehouse, and from the beginning, the vision was clear: restore the building’s character while making a statement in the neighborhood. 

“The goal was to make a splash in Brooklyn and create something really special for the community,” Zachary explains. While he wasn’t working in-house at the time, he was brought in as a contractor to help bring the vision to life. 

A signature element of this space? A custom tin ceiling that ties the café into the rich architectural history of New York. 

The Inspiration Behind the Tin Ceiling 

New York’s restaurants and bars are steeped in tradition, and tin ceilings have long been a hallmark of the city’s design language. The idea to incorporate one into Stumptown’s Brooklyn location came from the interior design firm leading the project. It was a natural fit—an authentic nod to the past while adding character and craftsmanship to the space. 

 Zachary collaborated closely with then-Creative Director Jenny Censky and the interior design team to develop the ceiling’s final look. The original concept leaned toward a literal interpretation, featuring images of coffee mugs and beans. But through rounds of refinement, they pivoted toward a more classic, timeless approach—one that captures unseen forces and organic, natural patterns. 

Designing the Custom Tin Pattern 

While tin ceiling design was new territory for Zachary, he embraced the challenge. “It was tricky to get the line weight right and create a pattern that would punch well, read clearly, and repeat beautifully,” he explains. 

He worked with American Tin Ceilings pros to create the perfect design. “We love seeing how designers like Zachary use tin to create truly unique spaces. The custom ceiling at Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ Brooklyn location is a perfect example of how tin tiles can bridge history and modern design, making a space feel both timeless and distinctive,” said Alison McPherson, senior manager of Brand Marketing at American Tin Ceiling. 

Tips for Creating Custom Designs 

Custom tin designs start with a sketch then computer-assisted 3-D modeling and printing. Then American Tin Ceilings pros create the template that will stamp out the panels. That’s the easy part. The hard part is coming up with the perfect design.  

Zachary advises that studying existing designs is a great starting point, but there’s also room to push boundaries. “Experimentation and innovation are key,” he notes.  

Our designers offer additional advice for successful panel design: 

• Don’t get too busy: too busy a design won’t have the impact you intend. There should be a balance of high and low relief. 
• Don’t go too deep: too deep an impression in the design will create “stretch marks” or pull metal in from the sides and result in uneven edges. 
• Do look at lots of existing tin tile: this will give you a sense of what’s possible with the material. 

A Ceiling That Sparks Conversation 

The beauty of great design is that it resonates beyond its intended space. In one particularly unexpected moment, Zachary was approached by a Brooklyn-based psychiatric professional who wanted to purchase additional tiles for her clinic’s ceiling. 

 “She believed the tiles represented primal forms in the subconscious mind—which, of course, they do!” Zachary says with a smile. It’s a testament to the power of design: even the smallest details can evoke deep, personal connections. 

Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ Brooklyn café is more than just a place to grab a cup of coffee—it’s a carefully curated space where history, craft, and community come together. And with its stunning tin ceiling, it’s a reminder that great design, much like great coffee, is meant to be savored.