Brew Brew Coffee Lounge
Last inspected: Mar 27, 2025
100
Score
Inspectors have visited Brew Brew Coffee Lounge 10 times, with records going back to 2014. The newest entry in the record is dated Mar 27, 2025. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.
The picture has improved over the last few visits: recent inspections have averaged around one violation, down from roughly five violations earlier in the record.
The pattern that stands out is “city of chicago food service sanitation certificate”, which has been cited two times.
The city-wide average for Chicago sits at 81, putting Brew Brew Coffee Lounge on the better side of that line. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 27, 2025
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Mar 20, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: FOUND PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT DATED 4-30-24 INSPECTION # 2593672.VIOLATION 51.FOUND NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES AT FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT:ICE MACHINE AND ESPRESSO MACHINE.MUST PROVIDE WHERE THEY CAN BE LOCATED AND SERVICED. VIOLATION 58.FOUND SANITATION MANAGER WITH NO ALLERGEN TRAINING.MUST PROVIDE.PRIORITY FOUNDATION.CITATION ISSUED.7-42-090. MUST PROVIDE.
60
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FOUND CLUTTER AT BASEMENT.(OLD PIPING.ETC.)MUST CLEAN AND ORGANIZE.
55
86
Apr 30, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: FOUND NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES AT FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT:ICE MACHINE, ESPRESSO MACHINE,DRIP COFFEE MACHINE,AND MOP SINK.MUST PROVIDE WHERE THEY CAN BE LOCATED AND SERVICED.
51
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: FOUND SANITATION MANAGER WITH NO ALLERGEN TRAINING.MUST PROVIDE.
58
90
Dec 29, 2023
Reinspection
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: 2-101.11--NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER PRESENT WHILE TCS FOODS (COFFEE WITH MILK AND SANDWICHES) WERE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES WHILE TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED OR SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.
2
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: 4-602.13--CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE BASEMENT MILK COOLER AND BASEMENT CHEST FREEZER.
49
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: 2-102.13--OBSERVED SEVERAL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING.
57
82
Dec 8, 2023
Routine
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: NO SANITIZER WAS PROVIDED IN THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK WHERE DISHES WERE BEING WASHED, RINSED AND SANITIZED. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO SANITIZE ALL DISHES IN THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK WITH 200 PPM QAC SANITIZER OR 1875 PPM LACTIC ACID (ECOLAB SANITIZER). PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.
16
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: NO IRREVERSIBLE REGISTERING TEMPERATURE INDICATORS WERE PROVIDED TO MEASURE THE UTENSIL SURFACE TEMPERATURES INSIDE OF THE HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
48
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CLEAN UP SUPPLIES ON THE PREMISES TO RESPOND TO A VOMIT OR DIARRHEAL EVENT. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
5
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: NO SANITIZER TEST STRIPS WERE PROVIDED FOR QAC SANITIZER USED AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
48
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER PRESENT WHILE TCS FOODS (COFFEE WITH MILK AND SANDWICHES) WERE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE RPESENT AT ALL TIMES WHILE TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED OR SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
2
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE BASEMENT MILK COOLER AND BASEMENT CHEST FREEZER.
49
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SEVERAL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING.
57
52
Jun 16, 2017
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: Cutting boards in kitchen prep area that had deep cuts shall be replaced.
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: Reach in cooler shelving racks/racks not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices). Prep counter shelving not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices).
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: Floors under heavy equipment, front counter and under 3 compartment sink not clean, need detailed cleaning(corners). Floors in bsmt storage room under shelving not clean, need detailed cleaning(corners).
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: Walls that had peeling paint/exposed plaster in bsmt storage area by coolers shall be repaired/sealed.
35
Appropriate method of handling of food (ice) hair restraints and clean apparel worn
Inspector notes: Employee's were no wearing hair restraints, mgmt. was advised to provide hair restraints to employee's.
42
78
Jun 17, 2016
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Mar 11, 2016
License
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
No evidence of rodent or insect outer openings protected/rodent proofed, a written log shall be maintained available to the inspectors
Inspector notes: NOTED FRONT DOOR OF PREMISES NOT RODENT PROOF WITH 1/4 INCH OF OPENING AT THE BOTTOM OT THE DOOR AND BROKEN DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL OPENING AND REPAIR DOOR.
18
95
Oct 1, 2015
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: OBSERVED OPENINGS INTO CEILING IN BASEMENT FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST SEAL AND MAINTAIN.
35
Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
Inspector notes: VISIBLE AND WORKING THERMOMETER NEEDED AT THE FRONT MILK REFRIGERATOR MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
40
Appropriate method of handling of food (ice) hair restraints and clean apparel worn
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEES PPREPARING FOOD WITHOUT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS AT THE FRONT PREP AREA. MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS AT ALL TIMES FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED.
42
86
Aug 18, 2014
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Toilet room doors self closing: dressing rooms with lockers provided: complete separation from living/sleeping quarters
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO INSTALL A SELF CLOSING DEVICE ON THE TOILETROOM DOOR AND TO MAINTAIN.
37
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector notes: FOUND CLUTTER IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY ITEMS, ORGANIZE REMAINING, STORE 6 INCHES OFF FLOOR AND WALL, AND MAINTAIN.
41
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Brew Brew Coffee Lounge last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Brew Brew Coffee Lounge on file is from Mar 27, 2025. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Brew Brew Coffee Lounge?
Across the inspection record, “city of chicago food service sanitation certificate” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Brew Brew Coffee Lounge.
Has Brew Brew Coffee Lounge's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Brew Brew Coffee Lounge have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Brew Brew Coffee Lounge means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Brew Brew Coffee Lounge inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Brew Brew Coffee Lounge is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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