Manhattan, NY — Kinship Coffee Roasters, located at 106 South Street in Lower Manhattan, received a score of 30 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 30, 2026, placing it in the Grade C category. The inspection data was released publicly on April 6, 2026.

The single violation documented during the inspection involved handwashing signage, a requirement under city and federal food safety standards.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited one non-critical violation during the March visit:

Code 09E: A wash hands sign was not posted near or above the handwashing sink, as required.

While classified as non-critical, handwashing signage requirements exist to reinforce hygiene practices among food service workers. The New York City Health Code and FDA Food Code both require that handwashing reminders be clearly visible to employees at or near designated handwashing stations. The intent is to reduce the risk of foodborne illness transmission by ensuring staff are consistently prompted to follow proper hand hygiene protocols.

A score of 30 on a single non-critical violation is notable, as scoring typically reflects the cumulative weight assigned to each violation type. The absence of any critical violations — those linked directly to foodborne illness risk, such as temperature abuse or pest presence — indicates the establishment did not have more serious compliance issues at the time of inspection.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food service establishment requirements in New York City, covering everything from food handling and storage to facility maintenance and employee hygiene practices. The FDA Food Code, which the city's regulations largely align with, provides the national framework for food safety in retail food establishments.

Handwashing sign requirements fall under facility and employee hygiene provisions. While a missing sign may seem minor, inspectors are required to cite all observed violations regardless of severity. Point values assigned to each violation type determine the final score, and even low-weight non-critical violations can accumulate to push a score above grade thresholds.

Establishments scoring 28 or higher receive a Grade C, the lowest passing grade in the city's system.

Inspection History

Kinship Coffee Roasters has a limited but instructive inspection record on file with DOHMH:

  • March 30, 2026: Score 30 (Grade C) — one non-critical violation cited
  • May 16, 2026: Score 7 (Grade A) — passed reinspection

The May reinspection result indicates the establishment addressed the cited violation and returned to full compliance. A score of 7 falls comfortably within the Grade A range, suggesting the handwashing signage issue was resolved prior to the follow-up visit.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City uses a letter grading system based on inspection scores assigned during unannounced DOHMH visits. Grades are calculated as follows:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • C: Score of 28 points or higher

Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations. Establishments that do not receive an A on initial inspection are typically reinspected within a set timeframe. The grade posted in a restaurant window must reflect the most recent graded inspection result.

Inspection records for all New York City food service establishments are publicly available through the DOHMH online database. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type to review full inspection histories, including violation descriptions and scores.

For more information, visit the NYC DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results portal at the city's official health department website.

More About This Restaurant

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