Beijing COSTA Coffee Store Closed for Hygiene Violations

Last week, a Beijing coffee shop under a global chain made headlines—not for its espresso, but for a string of serious hygiene failures inside its operation. A reporter’s undercover footage showed staff washing mops in sinks meant for dishes, and even using the same basins to wash their hair. Personal belongings like phones and wallets were found strewn next to clean towels. The location? COSTA Coffee’s Xidan Juntai branch in Beijing’s bustling commercial district.

The short answer: the store is now closed for mandatory rectification. Health inspectors from Xicheng District confirmed five major categories of violations involving 11 specific issues, leading to an official investigation and temporary shutdown. The outlet won’t reopen until it passes a follow-up inspection.

What Health Inspectors Found Inside the COSTA Store

Inspectors arrived at the COSTA Coffee branch on the second floor of Beijing’s Juntai Department Store at 2 p.m. following a front-page exposé. The operation area—just five to six square meters—was cluttered with personal items: mobile phones, wallets, clothes, and combs were scattered near food service supplies. This matched prior undercover findings. In the designated dishwashing sink, unwashed and unsanitized utensils sat mixed together. When asked for specifics on cleaning chemical dilution ratios or procedures, staff and supervisors could not provide answers.

The food storage room also failed to meet basic hygiene standards, with items piled haphazardly. Most critically, officials confirmed the authenticity of earlier footage showing an employee washing their hair in the dishwashing area—the individual was wearing a COSTA uniform, and the location was verified as inside the store.

Why the Xidan Juntai COSTA Branch Was Shut Down

In response to the report, COSTA corporate held an emergency meeting and initiated a cleanup plan for the Xidan Juntai location. By the next morning, the branch had closed its doors, with chairs stacked upside down as operations halted. Officials revealed the store faces rectification across five broad areas encompassing 11 discrete violations. A regional manager was called in to assist health authorities with their inquiry.

COSTA representatives acknowledged that rapid expansion had outpaced proper staff training, leading to lapses in oversight and management. The employee captured washing their hair has been removed from the location, with further disciplinary action pending for other team members involved. The company admitted that operational chaos and poor staff guidance were to blame.

Official Response and What Happens Next

The Xicheng District Health Bureau has officially launched a formal investigation into the Xidan Juntai COSTA branch. Penalties will be determined based on findings from the inspection. Before reopening, the store must undergo a re-inspection by health authorities—and only upon passing that review will it be allowed to resume business.

In a broader move, the Xidan Commercial District Management Office has ordered a citywide special inspection of all beverage outlets in the area starting immediately. Department heads were summoned to address the issue on-site, and results of the wider crackdown must be submitted to health authorities by next Wednesday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the COSTA Coffee Xidan Juntai branch closed?

The branch was shut down due to multiple hygiene violations uncovered by health inspectors, including staff washing mops and hair in dishwashing sinks, improper storage of personal items near food supplies, and failure to follow proper food safety and sanitation protocols. The Xicheng District Health Bureau launched a formal investigation.

What specific violations led to the closure?

The store faced 11 specific issues across five major violation categories, including improper use of dishwashing sinks, lack of proper disinfection procedures, chaotic storage of food and personal items, unverified cleaning chemical practices, and unsuitable food storage conditions. Health inspectors confirmed the problems during their visit.

Will the COSTA store reopen?

The Xidan Juntai COSTA branch will remain closed until it passes a follow-up health inspection. It must address all 11 violations and be cleared by the Xicheng District Health Bureau before being allowed to reopen to the public.

What is the health department doing about other coffee shops?

The Xidan Commercial District Management Office has ordered a special inspection of all beverage outlets in the district starting immediately. Results of these inspections must be reported to health authorities by next Wednesday, following the issues found at the COSTA location.

What did COSTA say about the incident?

COSTA corporate acknowledged the problems were linked to rapid growth and insufficient staff training. The company stated management had been lax and announced the removal of the employee seen washing their hair, with further actions for other involved staff. A full cleanup plan for the branch has been initiated.