Manhattan, NY — Ansa Coffee, a coffee and tea establishment at 101 Thompson Street in SoHo, was closed following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 19, 2026. The inspection resulted in a score of 60 points, placing the establishment well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation. Inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on February 24, 2026.
The February 19 inspection documented three non-critical violations. No critical violations were recorded during this visit.
What Inspectors Found
The DOHMH inspection identified the following violations at Ansa Coffee:
- Pest conditions: The establishment was found not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests (violation code 08A). This can include evidence of pest activity, structural gaps that allow pest entry, or conditions such as unsealed food storage or accumulated debris that attract pests.
- Dishwashing and ware washing deficiencies: Inspectors cited the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment, as deficient (violation code 10G). Proper ware washing procedures are essential to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of foodborne illness. This violation indicates that the establishment's cleaning protocols for items that come into direct contact with food or beverages did not meet required standards.
- Plastic straw supply: The establishment failed to maintain a sufficient supply of single-use, non-compostable plastic straws (violation code 19-07). Under New York City's Local Law 142, food service establishments are required to keep plastic straws available upon customer request, particularly for individuals with disabilities or medical needs. This regulation exists alongside the city's broader effort to reduce single-use plastics while ensuring accessibility.
While all three violations were classified as non-critical, the combined score of 60 points resulted in the closure action. It is worth noting that a score of 60 is significantly elevated — a Grade A requires 13 points or fewer, and even a Grade C threshold begins at just 28 points.
Food Safety Context
Restaurant inspections in New York City are governed by NYC Health Code Article 81 and aligned with the FDA Food Code, which together establish the sanitation, food handling, and facility maintenance standards that all food service establishments must follow.
Pest harborage conditions, as documented at Ansa Coffee, are among the most commonly cited violations across NYC food establishments. The presence of conditions conducive to pests can lead to contamination of food preparation surfaces and stored ingredients. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that food establishments maintain their premises in a condition that prevents pest harborage, including sealing entry points, proper waste management, and routine pest control measures.
Ware washing deficiencies relate directly to the prevention of foodborne illness. The FDA Food Code specifies temperature requirements, sanitizer concentrations, and procedural standards for cleaning equipment and utensils. When these standards are not met, items that contact food may carry bacteria or chemical residues.
The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of the city's approximately 27,000 restaurants at least once per inspection cycle. Establishments that receive high scores or are found to have conditions posing an imminent health hazard may be closed until violations are corrected and the establishment passes a re-inspection.
Inspection History
Ansa Coffee's available inspection history shows a pattern of elevated scores:
- February 19, 2026: Score 60 (Grade C range, 28+ points) — Closed by DOHMH
- December 17, 2025: Score 30 (Grade N — grade pending adjudication)
The December 2025 inspection also placed Ansa Coffee above the Grade C threshold with a score of 30. A "Grade N" designation indicates that the restaurant's grade was pending and had not yet been posted, typically because the establishment had opted to go before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) to contest the results or was awaiting a re-inspection. The increase from 30 to 60 points between December and February represents a doubling of the violation score within a two-month period.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores. Lower scores indicate fewer violations and better compliance:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Ansa Coffee's score of 60 falls deep within Grade C territory. Establishments that score in the C range may request a re-inspection or contest violations through OATH. The letter grade must be posted visibly at the entrance of the restaurant.
Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is updated regularly and available to the public. Inspection results for Ansa Coffee and all other NYC food establishments can be accessed through the city's open data portal or through NYCRestaurantInspections.com.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Ansa Coffee including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.