Brooklyn, NY — Bittersweet, a coffee and tea establishment at 180 DeKalb Avenue in Brooklyn, received a Grade B score of 24 points following a health inspection conducted on March 4, 2026. The score represents a significant departure from the café's previously consistent Grade A record and places the establishment near the upper end of the Grade B range, just four points below the Grade C threshold of 28.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 6, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the inspection:

  • Food contact surfaces not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred (Code 06D).

This violation pertains to surfaces that come into direct contact with food or beverages during preparation and service. In a coffee and tea establishment, this can include espresso machine components, blender vessels, brewing equipment, utensils, and preparation counters. No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Despite only one violation being cited, the 24-point score indicates inspectors assessed the condition as a serious departure from required sanitation standards. Under the DOHMH scoring system, individual violations carry different point values based on their severity and the specific conditions observed at the time of inspection.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that all food contact surfaces be cleaned and sanitized between uses to prevent cross-contamination and the potential growth of harmful bacteria. The FDA Food Code similarly mandates that food contact surfaces be washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use, after any interruption during which contamination may have occurred, and at specified intervals during continuous use.

Proper sanitation of food contact surfaces is considered a foundational element of food safety operations. When these surfaces are not adequately maintained, they can harbor pathogens and compromise the safety of items served to customers.

Inspection History

Bittersweet's prior inspection record had been consistently strong, with three consecutive Grade A scores:

  • 2024-10-07: Score 2 (Grade A)
  • 2023-06-23: Score 7 (Grade A)
  • 2022-04-08: Score 13 (Grade A)

The October 2024 score of 2 was notably low, indicating near-full compliance at that time. The jump from 2 points to 24 points represents a substantial shift in inspection outcomes. It is worth noting that a single inspection reflects conditions observed on that specific date and does not necessarily indicate ongoing operational issues.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores under the DOHMH grading system:

  • A: 0–13 points (minimal violations)
  • B: 14–27 points (moderate violations)
  • C: 28 or more points (significant violations)

Bittersweet's score of 24 falls within the Grade B range but sits in the upper portion, closer to Grade C territory. Restaurants that receive a Grade B are permitted to continue operating and may request a re-inspection to attempt to improve their score.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is updated regularly with new inspection data. Grades are required to be posted at the entrance of the establishment.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Bittersweet including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.