I'd Like the New Toilet Water Espresso Please

I'm guessing the street food vendors in Hong Kong don't follow a strict code when it comes to sanitary issues but using toilet water to make coffee is one of the grossest things I've ever heard of. What kind of company would allow something like this to happen? Only the biggest coffee chain in the universe that's who.

A Starbucks shop in Hong Kong is facing some strong criticism after it was discovered that the caffeine hot spot was using toilet water to make it's coffee......for the last 2 years. This is how it went down, one of the employees of the shop would wheel a cart down the street to a nearby parking garage and would fill the cart with water from a tap in the garage bathroom. From there the employee would wheel the cart back to the coffee shop, filter it, then use it to brew a hot cup of java. This whole process would take place about 70 times a day. So technically they weren't using actual water from the toilet but the tap itself was only about a foot away from the urinal. Do the math, it might as well be from the toilet. Obviously when the whole thing was uncovered customers were a little concerned about the cleanliness of the water but don't worry, Hong Kong's Food & Environmental Hygiene Department has stepped in and is assuring everyone they have taken steps to eradicate the use of dirty bathroom water. One health expert said that the filtering process will get most of the germs and bad stuff out of the water but it's the smaller viruses he's worried about, most filters will not eliminate that kind of bacteria. Angry customers went to the Starbucks Facebook page and called them out for their knowledge of the disgusting practice and doing nothing to stop it,

"People with common sense wouldn't have used the water from toilet pipes"

"Making huge profits globally but chose to use toilet water for making coffee in that store rather than spending a few cents to use distilled water. We pay a few dollars to buy a cup of coffee (and you know your profit margin) and we get this kind of disrespect for our mind and health!"

Naturally, Starbucks has also taken to social media to clear up any misconceptions about the toilet water,

"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. We are now using distilled water to serve that store while we work with all parties on acceptable options."

Makes you wonder why they just didn't use distilled non-toiler water in the first place? Anything to save a couple of bucks I guess. Ya know, cause Starbucks is just barely skating by as it is.

Kotaku.com has the story