Cafeto Coffee Shop Gets Conditional Pass Despite Minor Issues

Cafeto Coffee Shop on Richland Avenue received a conditional pass during its November 14 health inspection, allowing the Mission District cafe to continue serving customers while addressing minor violations that require correction. The routine inspection conducted by San Francisco Department of Public Health found five total violations at the establishment located at 111 Richland Avenue, including one critical, one major, and three minor infractions. Most significantly, inspectors discovered evidence of past rodent activity and maintenance issues that need attention but do not pose immediate safety risks to patrons.

Inspection Details

The most concerning finding involved minimal rodent droppings discovered on a shelf below the espresso machine. However, the cafe owner explained that a small rodent was observed and eliminated from the facility approximately one month prior to the inspection. Pest control reports confirmed no activity has been observed since the elimination, and the violation was corrected on site when employees immediately cleaned and removed the droppings during this inspection. Inspectors also identified a brown mold-like substance on the interior of the ice machine that requires cleaning and sanitizing. Notably, no contamination of the actual ice was observed, indicating the issue was caught before affecting customer service. The violation represents a maintenance concern rather than an active food safety threat.

Administrative and Minor Violations

The inspection revealed several administrative oversights that the cafe must address. Staff members were unable to provide food safety manager certifications or food handler cards when requested by inspectors. This violation, while serious for compliance purposes, does not impact the day-to-day food preparation safety when proper procedures are followed. Additional minor violations included an unlabeled orange drink in the self-service refrigerator and employees using cups as scoops in a sugar container instead of proper utensils. These operational issues represent easily correctable practices that demonstrate the need for improved training protocols rather than fundamental safety problems.

Restaurant Operations Continue

The conditional pass allows Cafeto Coffee Shop to remain open and serve customers while implementing the necessary corrections. Located near 24th St Mission BART station, the cafe continues to be a popular stop for commuters and neighborhood residents seeking coffee and light refreshments. The establishment's ability to receive a conditional pass rather than a failure indicates that while violations were present, they were not severe enough to warrant immediate closure. The cafe demonstrated good faith efforts to address concerns during the inspection, particularly with the immediate cleaning response to the rodent droppings.

Next Steps for Compliance

Cafeto Coffee Shop must take several steps to achieve full compliance. The cafe needs to thoroughly clean and sanitize the ice machine interior, obtain proper food safety certifications for management and staff, provide appropriate labels for all self-service items, and replace improper scooping implements with designated utensils. The restaurant must also continue monitoring for rodent activity and maintain regular pest control services. Inspectors recommended ongoing vigilance and proper storage practices to prevent future pest issues. As this represents the cafe's first recorded inspection in the Department of Public Health database, there is no previous history to indicate patterns of compliance or violations. The conditional pass provides an opportunity for the establishment to demonstrate its commitment to food safety standards while maintaining service to the Mission District community.