BACK OF THE YARDS COFFEE

Inspection summary

BACK OF THE YARDS COFFEE has been inspected 3 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since May 5, 2017. The most recent inspection, on June 23, 2025, found no infractions.

2 of 3 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 and Cleaning and sanitizing.

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 on March 27, 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 on March 27, 2020. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

• 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 2 times on March 27, 2020. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

• 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 once on March 27, 2020. For example: ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

• Other findingsLower risk

  Findings that do not fit the categories above, such as follow-ups that confirm an earlier violation was corrected, or requirements specific to this type of facility.

  Recorded once on March 27, 2020. For example: HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHED

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.

• View the official Chicago Department of Public Health disclosure site
• See all inspected facilities in Chicago
• How to read an inspection report