Bodum Recalls 5.9 Million French Press Coffee Makers After 48 Burn Reports, And The Fix Is A Free Plastic Spoon Because Metal Can Damage The Glass

If there is a French press on your kitchen counter, it may be one of 5.9 million that were just recalled. The surprising part is the fix. Bodum is sending out a plastic spoon.

A glass French press full of dark coffee on a wooden table with its plunger lid beside it

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall on October 29. It covers Bodum French press coffee makers with 8 cup and 12 cup replaceable glass carafes.

The official notice, recall number 27-055, is posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

70 Carafes Broke In Use, And 48 People Got Burned

Bodum USA has received 70 reports of carafes breaking during use. Forty-eight of those reports involved burns.

The commission describes a carafe that “can unexpectedly break during use.” That is a frightening thought when the glass is full of hot coffee.

The trouble starts when the glass is damaged or cracked. Stirring with a metal spoon can do that damage.

The Fix Is A Free Plastic Spoon And A Warning Label

This recall is listed as a repair, not a refund. You keep your coffee maker.

Stop stirring coffee in the carafe with metal spoons or any other metal utensil. Then contact Bodum, which will send you a plastic stirring spoon and a warning label.

The label tells you not to use a cracked or damaged carafe and not to use metal spoons in the glass.

The phone number is 888-879-8213, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday. You can also email [email protected] or visit bodum.com and click “Recall Information.”

Eight Models, Fifty Years Of Sales

The recall covers the Bistro, Brazil, Caffettiera, Chambord, Crema, Java, Jesper and Kenya models.

The Bodum name appears on the frame and on the inner lid of most models. It is also engraved on the glass carafe, along with product warnings.

Bodum has sold these coffee makers since 1974, and the recall covers sales all the way through October 2026. Prices ranged from about $15 to $65.

They were sold at Target, Walmart and coffee and home goods stores nationwide. Online sellers included Bodum.com, Amazon.com, Target.com and Walmart.com. The coffee makers were made in Portugal and Thailand and imported by Bodum USA of New York.

Why So Many Of Us Own One

A French press is the classic holiday host’s tool. It is simple, it makes a rich pot of coffee, and it never needs a filter or a plug.

That is why this recall will land in so many cupboards. It sits beside the mugs for years, and most of us never think about the glass.

The good news is that most of the fixing is in your own hands. You can change a habit today and have a replacement spoon on the way by the end of the week.

No Need To Toss Your Favorite Pot

It is easy to read a headline about 5.9 million recalled coffee makers and assume the whole thing belongs in the trash. That is not what the commission is asking.

The recall is a repair. If your glass is in good shape, the instruction is to change how you stir and wait for the spoon and the label.

Keep the recall number, 27-055, handy when you call or email, along with the model name. The representative will want to know which model you have.

Seven Habits That Keep A Glass Carafe Safe

Switch to a wooden or plastic spoon for stirring. Keep it right next to the press so you reach for it by habit.
Look the glass over before each use. Hold it up to a window and check for chips, cracks and scratches.
Retire any carafe that is cracked, even if the crack is a hairline. It is not worth a burn.
Rinse with warm water first so the glass is not shocked by very hot water poured into a cold carafe.
Pour slowly and keep your hands and face away from the top while you do it.
Press the plunger down gently. Forcing it can strain the glass and the frame.
Do not bang the carafe on the sink or counter when you rinse it out.

Hosting Season Raises The Stakes

With Thanksgiving, Christmas and houseguests ahead, the French press is about to work overtime. More people in the kitchen means more reaching, more bumping and more chances for an accident.

If you are hosting, put the pot on a sturdy counter away from the edge. Pour for guests yourself so no one is handling a full, hot carafe.

Think about the people who might use the press when you are not looking, too. A relative may grab the nearest metal spoon from the drawer. Set the plastic one out where everyone can see it, or put a small note on the press.

If Your Carafe Is Already Damaged

Do not wait for the spoon to arrive before you act. A damaged carafe should not be used at all.

Ask Bodum how to get a replacement glass carafe, since these models are built with replaceable glass. A new carafe is a lot cheaper than an emergency room visit.

Check your model against the eight names on the list, then make the call. If you own more than one press, check each one, since the kitchen set and the one in the camper may have different histories.

Willow and Hearth