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ALLEY COFFEE, LLC

1152 W TAYLOR ST, CHICAGO, IL 60607 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

ALLEY COFFEE, LLC has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since May 13, 2019. The most recent inspection, on May 11, 2022, found no infractions.

2 of 4 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food source, labelling and allergens.

Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 14, 2020. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 14, 2020. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk

    Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.

    Recorded once on May 23, 2019. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 14, 2020. For example: ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 3 times on May 23, 2019. For example: HOT & COLD WATER AVAILABLE; ADEQUATE PRESSURE

About this data

These results come from Chicago Department of Public Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

4 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • ESTABLISHMENT HAS A WRITTEN PROCEDURE BUT NOT ALL SUPPLIES NEEDED AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE NECESSARY SUPPLIES IN THE EVENT OF A VOMIT AND DIARRHEAL INCIDENT. ADDITIONAL TIME GRANTED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO WIPE CLEAN THE UPPER INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • SEE VIOLATION #60.
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION #58 NOT CORRECTED FROM MAY 23, 2019 AS REQUIRED; MUST CORRECT. INSTRUCTED THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 ISSUED.
  3. License

    10 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICIES FOR ALL FOOD AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEES ON SITE DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • NO WRITTEN PROCEDURE OR NECCESARY ITEMS OUTLINED IN POLICY AVAILABLE ON SITE FOR RESPONDING TO VOMIT AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS THAT CAN OCCUR IN THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED EXTERIOR OF ICE BIN WITH ENCRUSTED FOOD DEBRIS IN THE CRACKS OF OPENING LID. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED NO LABELS INCLUDING THE FOOD NAME, SOURCE, INGREDIENTS, AND LIST OF ALLERGENS ON PREPACKAGED CAKES FOR SALE IN FRONT PREP.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED SHELVES WITH RUST INSIDE OF 2 DOOR REFRIGERATOR UNDERNEATH EXPRESSO MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE OR MAKE SHELVES SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED ALL CUTTING BOARDS IN FRONT PREP AREA WITH DARK STAINED GROOVES AND DEEP CUTS. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
    • 50. HOT & COLD WATER AVAILABLE; ADEQUATE PRESSURE
      • OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING SINKS IN THE REAR PREP AREA WITHOUT HOT RUNNING WATER ... EXPOSED HANDSINK, 3 COMPARTMENT SINK, AND UTILITY SINK. MANAGER STATED DURING TIME OF INSPECTION THAT LANDLORD HAD DSICONNECTED WATER TO THOSE SAID HANDSINKS AND THEY ONLY HAD ACCESS TO COLD RUNNING WATER. MANAGER CORRECTED DURING TIME OF INSPECTION AND PROVIDED SUFFICIENT HOT WATER AT ALL SAID SINKS BEFORE INSPECTOR COMPLETED REPORT. NOTED HOT WATER TEMPERATURE AT EXPOSED HANDSINK (ADJUSTABLE) @130F, 3 COMPARTMENT SINK TEMPERATURE @138F AND UTILITY SINK @115F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO MAINTAIN ALL SINKS THROUGHOUT FACILITY WITH ADEQUATE HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED LEAKY PIPE UNDERNEATH 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED EXCESSIVE UNUSED EQUIPMENT (DISH MACHINE, COOKING EQUIPMENT, ETC.) IN REAR PREP ON FLOORS AND STACKED ON PREP TABLE. INSTRUCTED TO ORGANIZE OR REMOVE FROM PREMISES TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • NO ALLERGEN TRAINING COMPLETION CERTIFICATE ON SITE FOR CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENTS.
  4. License

    0 infractions

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