A piece of everyday kitchen comfort has turned out to hold a hidden hazard: the thin glass carafe that many people trust each morning can, under the ordinary pressure of stirring, give way without warning. Bodum USA, the American arm of a Danish-Swiss maker of coffee hardware, has now asked the public to set aside millions of French presses that have been part of American homes since 1974, after seventy breakages and forty-eight burns made the risk impossible to ignore. The recall, posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, asks owners to stop using metal spoons and to retire any c
Bodum USA Recalls 5.9 Million French Press Coffee Makers Over Glass Carafe Break and Burn Risk
Seventy reported carafe breakages have resulted in 48 burn injuries to users.
70 reports of breakage, 48 of them ending in burns
Mark
Start with the number. 5.9 million presses. Why is that so large?
Mimi
Because the product has been sold since 1974 and through big retailers like Target, Walmart and Amazon. It's a very long sales window, running to October 2026.
Mark
And the harm? How bad is it?
Mimi
Seventy reports of carafes breaking, and 48 of those involved burns. That's what the Consumer Product Safety Commission notice states.
Luke
Worth noting those are reports received, not a count of every incident. The source doesn't say how many went unreported, so I wouldn't read 48 as a ceiling or a typical rate.
Mark
Bodum says the rate is extremely low. Is that fair?
Mimi
Given millions sold over decades, the company's argument is about proportion. It's their statement, though, and the regulators still ordered a recall.
Luke
Right, and the company's claim is its own characterization. The reporting gives the numerator, 70 and 48, but doesn't compute a rate or verify one.
Mark
What causes the breaks?
Mimi
Damaged or cracked glass. The agency says that can happen when people stir with metal spoons.
Luke
Note the wording: it "can happen." The source doesn't say metal spoons caused all 70 cases.
Mark
And what do owners get?
Mimi
A plastic stirring spoon on request. No refunds, according to a customer service representative who spoke to CBS News.
Le Pouls
- Seventy carafes have shattered during ordinary use, and forty-eight of those incidents left people with burns.
- Five point nine million French presses sold through Amazon, Target, Walmart and other shelves now fall under a single recall notice.
- Owners are being told to stop stirring with metal utensils and to stop using any carafe that shows a crack or damage.
- The company offers plastic stirring spoons but no refunds, and the recall is still moving through its contact lines by phone and email.
- Bodum calls the breakage rate extremely low, yet the warning stands and the cupboard-side checks are now the owner's task.
A piece of everyday kitchen comfort has turned out to hold a hidden hazard: the thin glass carafe that many people trust each morning can, under the ordinary pressure of stirring, give way without warning. Bodum USA, the American arm of a Danish-Swiss maker of coffee hardware, has now asked the public to set aside millions of French presses that have been part of American homes since 1974, after seventy breakages and forty-eight burns made the risk impossible to ignore. The recall, posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, asks owners to stop using metal spoons and to retire any cracked glass, a modest request that reminds us how much of daily safety rests on small habits and the quiet fragility of familiar things.
Bodum USA is recalling 5.9 million French press coffee makers because the glass carafe at the heart of each machine can break during use and burn the person pouring. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has received seventy reports of breakage, and forty-eight of them caused burns. The presses were sold for decades, on Amazon and at Target and Walmart, covering a wide family of models from the 8-cup French press to the 12-cup Bistro, Brazil, Chambord, Java and Kenya lines.
Regulators say damage often begins with a small crack, and metal spoons used for stirring can start that damage. Bodum responded that breakage is extremely rare given how many units it has sold, and that the recall is meant to encourage safer use of its presses.
The remedy is simple rather than generous. Bodum is not offering refunds; owners who call or write can request a plastic stirring spoon. Anyone with a recalled press should check the model against the list under recall number 27-055, look closely at the glass for cracks, and stop using a damaged carafe. Questions can be directed to the company's toll-free line, 888-879-8213, on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.
Bodum USA is recalling 5.9 million French press coffee makers, warning that the glass carafe at the center of the machine can break and burn the person using it. The notice was posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Bodum USA is the American subsidiary of a Danish-Swiss company that specializes in coffee hardware. According to the commission's notice, the company has received 70 reports of carafes breaking. In 48 of those cases, the breakage resulted in burns.
The products at issue have a long history on American shelves. They were sold on Amazon.com, at retailers including Target and Walmart, and in other stores between 1974 and October 2026. The recall covers a range of Bodum USA models: 8-cup French presses, along with 12-cup Bistro, Brazil, Caffettiera, Chambord, Crema, Java, Jesper and Kenya models. The recall number is 27-055.
The safety agency said the glass carafes can break unexpectedly if they are damaged or cracked. One way that can happen, it said, is when customers use metal spoons to stir their coffee.
Bodum USA responded in a statement that the rate of reported carafe breakage during use is extremely low, particularly given that the company has sold millions of these products in the U.S. for decades. The company said the recall would further encourage the safe use of its French Press Coffee Makers.
The remedy is modest. A Bodum USA customer service representative told CBS News that the company is not offering refunds. Instead, customers can contact Bodum to receive a plastic stirring spoon. Regulators advise owners of the recalled presses not to stir with metal utensils and to avoid using any carafe that is cracked or damaged.
Owners who want more information can call the company toll-free at 888-879-8213, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. They can also email Bodum3302@sedgwick.com or visit www.bodumfrenchpressrecall.expertinquiry.com or www.bodum.com and click on "Recall Information."
For anyone with one of these presses in the cupboard, the practical steps are to check the model against the recall list, inspect the glass for cracks, and request the plastic spoon.
Citations marquantes
While the rate of reported incidents involving carafe breakage during use is extremely low, this recall will further encourage the safe use of our French Press Coffee Makers.— Bodum USA statement
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