Brooklyn, NY — Wake Up Coffee Shop, a coffee and tea establishment located at 1202 Kings Highway in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on March 2, 2026. The inspection resulted in a score of 57 points, placing the establishment well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation. Inspectors documented one critical violation that required immediate action.
The closure order was issued after inspectors determined that conditions at the establishment warranted immediate intervention. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 4, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the March 2 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified a critical violation related to the sanitization of food contact surfaces. Specifically, the establishment was cited under violation code 06D for failing to properly wash, rinse, and sanitize food contact surfaces after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
Food contact surfaces include any equipment, countertops, utensils, or other items 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, blenders, pitchers, brewing equipment, cutting boards, and serving utensils.
Proper sanitization of these surfaces is a fundamental requirement of food safety operations. When food contact surfaces are not adequately cleaned between uses, they can harbor bacteria and other pathogens that may be transferred to food and beverages served to customers. This is particularly relevant in beverage service, where equipment components such as steam wands, portafilters, and drink preparation surfaces come into repeated contact with dairy products, syrups, and other ingredients that can support bacterial growth.
Food Safety Context
The sanitization of food contact surfaces is governed by multiple layers of regulation. NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the framework for food service establishment operations within the city, including requirements for equipment cleanliness and sanitation procedures. The FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for local jurisdictions, specifies that food contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized between uses, particularly when switching between different food types or after any interruption during which contamination may occur.
Under these regulations, a proper cleaning and sanitizing process involves removing food debris, washing with an appropriate detergent solution, rinsing with clean water, and sanitizing using an approved chemical sanitizer at the correct concentration or through hot water methods meeting minimum temperature requirements.
The establishment's score of 57 points reflects the severity of the conditions documented during the inspection. NYC restaurant inspections use a points-based system where lower scores indicate fewer violations. A score of 57 is more than four times the maximum score permitted for an A grade and nearly double the threshold for a Grade C.
When DOHMH determines that conditions at a food service establishment pose a potential risk to public health, inspectors have the authority to order an immediate closure. The establishment must correct all cited violations and pass a subsequent inspection before being permitted to reopen.
Inspection History
The March 2 closure is not the first time Wake Up Coffee Shop has received a poor inspection result. A review of DOHMH records shows the following prior inspection activity:
- December 17, 2025: Score 67, Grade N
A Grade N designation indicates that a letter grade had not yet been assigned at the time of inspection. A score of 67 on the December inspection also placed the establishment well into Grade C territory, indicating that significant violations were documented at that time as well.
The pattern of consecutive high scores suggests ongoing compliance challenges at this establishment. The March 2 inspection score of 57, while lower than the December result of 67, still represents a level of violations serious enough to warrant closure.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points documented during an inspection. The scoring works inversely — fewer points indicate better compliance:
- A grade: 0 to 13 points — establishment is in substantial compliance with food safety regulations
- B grade: 14 to 27 points — some violations identified that require correction
- C grade: 28 or more points — significant violations documented; establishment may face additional enforcement action
Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, at which point a final grade is assigned. Grade cards must be posted at the establishment's entrance where they are visible to the public.
Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH online database, which provides current grades, inspection dates, scores, and detailed violation descriptions. This information is public record and is updated regularly as new inspections are completed.
For questions about food safety or to report concerns about a food service establishment, residents can contact DOHMH by calling 311 or visiting the NYC 311 website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Wake Up Coffee Shop including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.