Toilet Water Coffee [VIDEO] Starbucks Hong Kong Admits to Using Water from Dirty Public Bathroom to Brew Coffee
A Starbucks Hong Kong shop reportedly used "toilet water" to brew its coffee, according to a report by local tabloid Apple Daily.
The report states the branch at the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong retrieved water from a spout located near a urinal in a men's restroom.
Apple Daily was the first outlet to publish pictures of an employee retrieving water from a dirty toilet. The toilet was reportedly not even inside the shop but it was a public restroom in the building's parking garage.
According to the tabloid, Starbucks employees would retrieve water "several times every day," reports the Huffington Post.
The report states that employees supposedly filtered the water before using it to brew the coffee and had been doing this since 2011.
A Starbucks spokesman said the water was collected less than five times a day by staff from "a tap in a toilet located near the store," according to AFP.
"There is no direct water supply to that particular store, that's why we need to obtain the drinking water from the nearest source in the building," Starbucks spokeswoman Wendy Pang told the news agency.
"Please kindly accept our apologies for the concerns raised by the coverage on the water source at the Bank of China Tower store. While the water used at that store was drinking water and certified as safe, we would like to clarify any misperceptions, as quality and safety have always been our top priority, " Starbucks Hong Kong wrote on its Facebook page. "We are now using distilled water to serve that store while we work with all parties on acceptable options. Thank you."
The store is reportedly using distilled water now.
