Inspection conducted Feb 26, 2026 · Data released by DOHMH Mar 5, 2026
CRITICAL VIOLATIONS
Malta Coffee Receives Grade C After Health Inspection - Manhattan
Published March 6, 2026 1:10 AM
1045 LEXINGTON AVENUE, Manhattan, NY 10021 · Other
42
Violation Score
A: 0-13 · B: 14-27 · C: 28+
Manhattan, NY — Malta Coffee, located at 1045 Lexington Avenue on the Upper East Side, received a score of 42 and a Grade C rating following a health inspection conducted on February 26, 2026. Inspectors documented three non-critical violations at the establishment, which primarily involved unclean equipment surfaces and missing required signage.
The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 5, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 26 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified three non-critical violations at the coffee shop:
The first violation, cited under Code 10F, noted that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were either made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. This type of violation addresses the maintenance and accessibility of equipment that, while not directly touching food, must still be kept in sanitary condition to prevent contamination in food preparation areas.
The second violation, cited under Code 09E, documented that a required hand-washing sign was not posted near or above the hand-washing sink. NYC health regulations require these signs to be clearly visible to remind food service workers of proper hand hygiene protocols.
The third violation, cited under Code 20-04, noted multiple missing required postings: a "Choking first aid" poster was not displayed, an "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign was not posted, and resuscitation equipment including exhaled air resuscitation masks (adult and pediatric), latex gloves, and the associated signage were not present.
While none of the three violations were classified as critical, their combined point total resulted in a score of 42, placing the establishment well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishment inspections in New York City. Under this code, DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of all restaurants and food service establishments to evaluate compliance with food safety standards.
The requirement for clean and properly maintained equipment surfaces, even those that do not directly contact food, reflects guidelines established in the FDA Food Code. These standards recognize that unsanitary conditions on any surface within a food preparation environment can contribute to cross-contamination risks.
Signage requirements, including hand-washing reminders, choking first aid instructions, and alcohol and pregnancy warnings, are mandated under NYC administrative code to ensure both employee compliance with hygiene protocols and public safety awareness. While these may appear to be administrative in nature, health authorities consider proper signage an essential component of a food safety management system.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for Malta Coffee in the DOHMH database. This may indicate that the February 26, 2026 inspection was the establishment's initial inspection, or that previous records are not reflected in the current dataset.
As this appears to be the first recorded inspection, there is no trend data available for comparison. Future inspections will provide a basis for evaluating the establishment's compliance trajectory.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection. The grading scale is as follows:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points — The establishment is in substantial compliance with health regulations.
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points — Some violations were identified that require correction.
- Grade C: 28 or more points — Multiple or significant violations were documented, indicating a need for substantial improvement.
Malta Coffee's score of 42 placed it in the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection. The grade card must be posted in a visible location near the entrance of the establishment, as required by NYC law.
Consumers can look up inspection results for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. This data is part of New York City's public records and is updated regularly as new inspections are conducted and processed.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Malta Coffee including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.
Violations Documented — Feb 26, 2026
CRITICAL
Properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas to measure temperatures of TCS foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding. (Code 04J)
Non-Critical
Food allergy information poster not conspicuously posted where food is being prepared or processed by food workers. (Code 20-01)
CRITICAL
Properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas to measure temperatures of TCS foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding. (Code 04J)
Non-Critical
Food allergy information poster not conspicuously posted where food is being prepared or processed by food workers. (Code 20-01)
CRITICAL
Properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas to measure temperatures of TCS foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding. (Code 04J)
Non-Critical
Food allergy information poster not conspicuously posted where food is being prepared or processed by food workers. (Code 20-01)
CRITICAL
Properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas to measure temperatures of TCS foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding. (Code 04J)
Non-Critical
Food allergy information poster not conspicuously posted where food is being prepared or processed by food workers. (Code 20-01)
Non-Critical
Sign prohibiting smoking or using electronic cigarettes not conspicuously posted. (Code 15-27)
Non-Critical
Sign prohibiting smoking or using electronic cigarettes not conspicuously posted. (Code 15-27)
CRITICAL
Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas. (Code 04L)
Non-Critical
Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient. (Code 10G)
Non-Critical
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests. (Code 08A)
Non-Critical
Sign prohibiting smoking or using electronic cigarettes not conspicuously posted. (Code 15-27)
CRITICAL
Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas. (Code 04L)
Non-Critical
Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient. (Code 10G)
Non-Critical
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests. (Code 08A)
Non-Critical
Sign prohibiting smoking or using electronic cigarettes not conspicuously posted. (Code 15-27)
CRITICAL
Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas. (Code 04L)
Non-Critical
Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient. (Code 10G)
Non-Critical
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests. (Code 08A)
Non-Critical
Sign prohibiting smoking or using electronic cigarettes not conspicuously posted. (Code 15-27)
CRITICAL
Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas. (Code 04L)
Non-Critical
Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient. (Code 10G)
Non-Critical
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests. (Code 08A)
Non-Critical
Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of. (Code 10B)
Non-Critical
Providing single-use, non-compostable plastic straws to customers without customer request (including providing such straws at a self-serve station) (Code 19-06)
CRITICAL
Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. (Code 06D)
Non-Critical
Wash hands sign not posted near or above hand washing sink. (Code 09E)
Non-Critical
Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of. (Code 10B)
Non-Critical
Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit. (Code 10F)
Non-Critical
Wash hands sign not posted near or above hand washing sink. (Code 09E)
Non-Critical
“Choking first aid” poster not posted. “Alcohol and Pregnancy” warning sign not posted. Resuscitation equipment: exhaled air resuscitation masks (adult & pediatric), latex gloves, sign not posted. (Code 20-04)
Inspection History
View full inspection history for Malta Coffee at 1045 LEXINGTON AVENUE, Manhattan →
Editorial Standards & Data Transparency
Data Source: This report is based on official public inspection data from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), released under the NYC Open Data program.
Editorial Process: Content generated using AI (Claude) to synthesize official inspection data into accessible reporting, then reviewed and verified for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional Review: All content undergoes standards and compliance oversight by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal, through Twin Digital Media's regulatory data auditing protocols.
Regulatory References: NYC Health Code Article 81, FDA Food Code (2022). NYC Restaurant Inspections is an independent public data reporting service. We are not affiliated with the City of New York.
| Last verified: March 13, 2026 | Our methodology