When you wonder whether it’s safe to order that hot dog, your gut feeling might actually be right. People who know firsthand what really happens behind the scenes at your favorite restaurant and cafes have decided to share secrets that could reshape your dining experiences. Knowing some of these truths could actually save your taste buds—and your health.

• “A barista here. Never order a coffe if you can’t see how it’s actually made—and I mean the whole process. We’re not allowed to tell this to customers, but your coffee is almost always made from a coffee machine that is rarely cleaned. Those machines can harbor old coffee residue and bacteria, affecting both the taste and hygiene of your drink.”
• “I used to work at a frozen yogurt shop. If you see a topping and think, “I’ve never thought of that being a topping for frozen yogurt,” you probably aren’t alone. Things like fruity pebbles were just put back out every morning, getting older and older because no one ate them.”
• “If there’s a shake machine that is always working, don’t get a shake there. It’s perfectly safe to get a shake from the one that is always “broken”. The reason the machine is down so often is because it has a really long cleaning cycle that needs to be done frequently.”