Starbucks Coffee Gets Conditional Pass for Equipment Issues

Starbucks Coffee on 24th Street in the Castro district received a conditional pass during a routine health inspection on November 24, 2025, with inspectors identifying equipment and monitoring issues that require correction while allowing the popular cafe to remain open for business. The inspection, conducted between 12:15 PM and 1:00 PM by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, found three major violations related to dishwashing equipment and temperature monitoring systems. Despite these findings, the facility was permitted to continue serving customers while addressing the identified issues.

Equipment Violations Require Attention

The primary concern identified during this inspection centered on the cafe's dishwashing operations. Inspectors discovered the facility lacked test strips necessary for monitoring the temperature of the high-temperature dishwashing machine located in the back kitchen area. These test strips are crucial for ensuring dishes are sanitized at proper temperatures to prevent the spread of pathogens. Additionally, the dishwashing machine itself was found to be malfunctioning, with inspectors noting it was not heating properly at the time of the inspection. This equipment failure poses potential risks to food safety, as inadequately heated dishwashing cycles may not eliminate harmful bacteria from dishes and utensils used throughout the busy cafe. The inspection also revealed a plumbing issue with the ice machine discharge pipe, which was not maintaining the required one-inch air gap to the floor drain. Inspectors observed the discharge pipe positioned inside the floor drain at the back of the kitchen, creating a potential contamination pathway.

Follow-Up Inspection Scheduled

The San Francisco Department of Public Health has scheduled a follow-up inspection for December 1, 2025, to verify that all identified violations have been properly addressed. This timeline provides the cafe management adequate opportunity to repair the dishwashing equipment, obtain proper temperature monitoring supplies, and correct the plumbing issue. The conditional pass status allows the Castro location to continue normal operations while working to resolve these maintenance and equipment concerns. Customers near the Castro St Muni station can continue to rely on the familiar coffee service while improvements are implemented.

Recent Inspection Pattern

This latest inspection continues a pattern of conditional passes for the 24th Street location. The facility received a previous conditional result on November 6, 2025, which identified multiple maintenance and cleanliness violations including coffee debris on tables, an empty sanitizer bucket, and a broken dishwasher leaking water. Following that November inspection, a reinspection was conducted on December 1, 2025, which found that most previous violations had been addressed, though test strips for dishwashing temperature monitoring remained missing. This recurring issue with temperature monitoring equipment suggests the need for improved maintenance protocols. The inspector's report emphasizes the importance of proper dishwashing procedures, noting that inadequate sanitization can lead to pathogen transmission and recurring outbreak cycles. Hepatitis A, for example, can survive on improperly washed dishes for weeks, making proper temperature monitoring and equipment function critical for public health protection. Despite these operational challenges, the Castro District Starbucks location continues serving the neighborhood's coffee needs while working to achieve full compliance with San Francisco's food safety regulations.