Pass

Dark Matter Coffee

736-738 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60612

Restaurant ZIP 60612 Risk 2 (Medium)

Passed · as of Sep 5, 2025

Dark Matter Coffee was last inspected on September 5, 2025 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 1 violation.

Latest inspection

September 5, 2025 · Canvass Re-Inspection

Pass

Result: Pass

1 general
  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

    Inspector’s note: 4-501.11 : must repair or replace worn door gaskets on 2- door reach in cooler.

    Official wording (code 47)

    Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

Inspection history

12 inspections on record

  1. Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    1 critical5 general Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no hand washing sink in coffee processing/grinding & packaging area must install a hand sink with hot & cold running water,soap & towels(priority foundation 7-38-030(c)

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • GeneralFood temperature

      Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.

      Inspector’s note: Must provide a thermometer for small refrigerator and hot holding unit at service counter.

      Official wording (code 36)

      Thermometers provided & accurate

    • GeneralFood handling

      Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

      Inspector’s note: Must label food storage containers when food is not in original package (squeeze bottles,etc)

      Official wording (code 37)

      Food properly labeled; original container

    • GeneralFood handling

      Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

      Inspector’s note: Must label repackaged desserts on display for sale with proper info given.

      Official wording (code 37)

      Food properly labeled; original container

    • GeneralPests

      Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

      Inspector’s note: Observed gap along bottom of rear door must make tight fitting.

      Official wording (code 38)

      Insects, rodents, & animals not present

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

      Inspector’s note: Must repair or replace worn door gaskets on 2- door reach in cooler.

      Official wording (code 47)

      Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

  2. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Clean the floor in the basement especially under the pallets.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Observed a food handling employee without a food handler certificate. Management instructed that all food handling employees must show proof of training.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

  3. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed build up of debris on side of ice machine and behind low-temp dish machine. Instructed person in charge to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  4. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    3 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • GeneralFood temperature

      Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no ambient air thermometers inside the front mini reach in cooler. Instructed to provide conspicuous and easily readable thermometers inside all refrigerator units to properly monitor the ambient air temperature of equipment.

      Official wording (code 36)

      Thermometers provided & accurate

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no covered receptacle in the rear (roasting area) unisex staff toliet room. Instructed to provide and maintain.

      Official wording (code 53)

      Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed food debris on the floors in the production/roasting area. Instructed to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no proof of training for all food handlers. Instructed to provide and maintain records at all times.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

  5. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralHygiene & sanitation

      Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed employee in prep area scooping ice, pouring milk and coffee without hair restraint. All employees preparing and serving food items must wear hair restraint (hat, hair net, scarf).

      Official wording (code 40)

      Personal cleanliness

  6. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 critical4 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood handling

      Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

      Inspector’s note: Found interior white panel of the ice machine not clean, instructed to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 16)

      Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Found dried and loose coffee debris on floors under and behind heavy equipment in front prep and rear dishwashing area. Instructed to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Found broken toilet lid on toilet, instructed to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Found clutter in basement storage area, instructed to remove or organize clutter and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Found burned out light bulb in rear dish area, instructed to replace light and maintain.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

  7. Pass

    Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed concrete walls in both production areas of the facility. Instructed that walls must be smooth and easily cleanable.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  8. Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    4 critical2 general Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no employee health policy during inspection. Instructed to comply. Priority foundation violation 7-38-010 no citation issued.

      Official wording (code 3)

      Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

    • CriticalManagement & training

      No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no procedure and clean up kit for responding to vomiting and diarrhea events. Instructed to comply. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005 no citation issued.

      Official wording (code 5)

      Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no hot water at the hand sink in the employee bathroom (70.7 degree f). Instructed that the minimum hot water temperature at the hand sink should be 100 degree f. Priority violation 7-38-030(c) citation issued.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • CriticalFood handling

      Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

      Inspector’s note: Observed build up of grime and dirt on the inside plank of the ice machine. Instructed to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 16)

      Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

    • GeneralFood temperature

      Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no metal stem thermometer during inspection. Instructed to comply. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005 no citation issued.

      Official wording (code 36)

      Thermometers provided & accurate

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed concrete walls in both production areas of the facility. Instructed that walls must be smooth and easily cleanable.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  9. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    3 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean and maintain the floors in the basement corners.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean and maintain the vents in the toilets room. Instructed to seal the wall under the wash bowl in the rear toilet room. Also, provide coving to the lower walls through out, sealing all the openigs/gaps. Maintain same.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to eliminate the clutter in both basement and organize areas. Must hang all mops up to dry when not in use.

  10. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Repair the leak at the drain line below the exposed handwashing sink next to the roasting area.

  11. Pass

    License · Pass

    7 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Must remove rust from lower shelf of cart next to dish machine.must recaulk hand sink in front toilet room.must repair or replace loose door handle on vanity in front toilet room.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents

      Inspector’s note: Must clean debri from shelving units at service counter,tables,exterior of ice machine.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

      Inspector’s note: Must clean debri from floor throughout premises and basement.must scrape and paint peeling paint on floor throughout premises.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

      Inspector’s note: Must repair or replace loose and missing wall bases in dish washing area,ice coffee brewing area,threshold at front door,walls and ceilings not finished in production area and ice coffee brewing area & lab closet.must scrape and paint peeling paint throughout premises.must clean ceiling near ice machine.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded

      Inspector’s note: Must provide adequate lighting at roasting floor & production area,light shields in lab area.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Must provide adequate ventilation in rear toilet room.must replace missing ventilation cover in production area.must clean ventilation unit in roasting floor.must repair or replace leaky pipe at hand sink near ice coffee brewing area.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored

      Inspector’s note: Must elevate massive amount of articles & equipment off of floor and away from walls in basement.

More in ZIP 60612

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 14 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.