Starbucks Castro Gets Conditional Pass Missing Test Strips

Starbucks Coffee in San Francisco's Castro district received a conditional pass during a health department reinspection on December 1, 2025, with inspectors finding one minor violation that allows the popular cafe to continue serving customers while making necessary corrections. The reinspection at the 3995 24th Street location, conducted between 10:15 AM and 10:45 AM, found that while most previous violations had been successfully addressed, the facility still lacked test strips to monitor the temperature of its high-temperature dishwashing machine in the back kitchen area. This violation falls under California Retail Food Code Section 114095 and 114099, which governs warewash facility requirements.

Inspection Details

Inspector Usman Javaid from the San Francisco Department of Public Health noted in this inspection that the reinspection followed up on a routine inspection conducted on November 24, 2025. The missing test strips represent a minor but important safety measure, as proper dishwashing temperature monitoring helps prevent the spread of pathogens including Hepatitis A, which can survive on improperly washed dishes for weeks. The violation was classified as minor under the warewash facilities category, specifically addressing the absence of test strips needed to verify that the dishwashing machine reaches appropriate sanitizing temperatures. While this equipment monitoring issue requires attention, it does not pose an immediate threat to customer safety that would warrant closure.

Ongoing Compliance Efforts

The December reinspection demonstrates the restaurant's commitment to addressing health department concerns. Staff member Jo Cablay received the inspection report, indicating active engagement with the compliance process. The facility near Castro St Muni has been working systematically to resolve violations identified during previous inspections. Records show this Starbucks location has faced equipment-related challenges in recent months. A November 24 inspection identified multiple equipment and plumbing violations, including the dishwasher test strip issue, improper dishwasher heating, and ice machine problems. An earlier November 6 inspection found maintenance and cleanliness violations including coffee debris, empty sanitizer buckets, and a broken dishwasher leaking water.

Restaurant Operations Continue

Despite the conditional status, the Castro district cafe remains fully operational, serving its regular menu of coffee beverages and food items to neighborhood residents and visitors. The conditional pass designation allows the establishment to continue normal business operations while addressing the minor violation within the required timeframe. The missing test strips violation, while requiring prompt attention, represents a procedural rather than immediate health concern. Restaurant management can easily remedy this situation by purchasing appropriate test strips and implementing proper temperature monitoring protocols for their dishwashing equipment.

Next Steps

The health department will likely conduct a follow-up inspection to verify that proper test strips have been obtained and that staff understand the temperature monitoring procedures. This straightforward equipment issue should be easily resolved, potentially clearing the way for a full pass rating on the next inspection. Starbucks Corporation, which operates this Castro location, has established food safety protocols that should facilitate quick resolution of this minor equipment monitoring requirement. The company's standardized procedures typically ensure rapid compliance with health department recommendations across all locations.