Bodum Recalls 5.9 Million French Presses Over Burn Risk From Breaking Glass Carafes
On October 29, 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Bodum USA announced a French press recall covering about 5.9 million French press coffee makers with replaceable glass carafes, one of the largest consumer product recalls in recent memory by sheer volume. The agency says the glass carafe can break unexpectedly during use when it is already damaged or cracked, including when a metal spoon is used to stir the coffee, creating a risk of serious burn injuries. Bodum has received 70 reports of carafes breaking during use, including 48 reports of consumers being burned.
What happened
The recall (CPSC recall number 27-055) applies to Bodum French press coffee makers sold with 8-cup and 12-cup replaceable glass carafes across eight model lines: Bistro, Brazil, Caffettiera, Chambord, Crema, Java, Jesper, and Kenya. These are the familiar cylindrical glass presses with a plunger and metal mesh filter that millions of American households rely on for their morning coffee. According to the CPSC, the carafes were sold for a remarkably long stretch — from 1974 through October 2026 — at Target, Walmart, and coffee and home goods stores nationwide, as well as online at Bodum.com, Amazon.com, Target.com, Walmart.com, and other retailers. Prices ranged from about $15 to $65. The products were manufactured in Portugal and Thailand and imported by Bodum USA, Inc., of New York.
The hazard is specific: the CPSC states that the carafe “can unexpectedly break during use if the glass carafe is damaged or cracked,” including through the use of a metal spoon to stir the coffee. Because a French press holds near-boiling water throughout the brewing process, a carafe that shatters while full can send scalding liquid and glass onto the hands, arms, and lap of whoever is holding it. That is exactly what the 48 burn reports describe.
Why this French press recall matters for safety
Glass under thermal and mechanical stress is a predictable hazard, and a French press combines both: it is filled with water that is typically between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit, and it invites stirring and pressing. A tiny chip or hairline crack — the kind that is easy to miss in a cabinet that also holds mugs, spoons, and ceramic bowls — becomes a weak point. Add the point-loading force of a hard metal spoon knocking against the inner wall, and already-compromised glass can fail without warning. The danger is not that the press was defective out of the box, but that everyday handling can introduce damage that turns a hot container into a burn risk.
This is a reminder that “low-tech” kitchen gear deserves the same scrutiny as powered appliances. Burns are among the most common and painful household injuries, and scald burns from hot liquids are especially serious for children and older adults, whose skin is thinner and who may be slower to pull away. A product that has been in continuous sale for roughly half a century means there is no reliable way to know how old any given press in a home might be — and older glass that has been through thousands of thermal cycles and dishwasher runs is more likely to carry the kind of micro-damage the CPSC is warning about.
What you should do
This is a repair recall, not a refund or replacement. The CPSC and Bodum are not asking owners to throw the press away. Instead, they are telling consumers to change how they use it and to request free safety materials from Bodum.
- Stop stirring with metal. Do not use a metal spoon or any other metal utensil inside the glass carafe. Metal can chip or crack the glass and is directly tied to the breakage reports.
- Inspect before every use. Check the carafe for chips, cracks, or scratches. If you see any damage, stop using that carafe immediately.
- Request the free kit. Contact Bodum to receive a free plastic stirring spoon and a warning label. The label reminds users not to use cracked or damaged carafes and not to use metal spoons inside the carafe.
- Identify your press. The Bodum name appears on the frame and inner lid of most models and is engraved on the glass carafe alongside product warnings; model photos are on the official recall site.
What to do. Switch to a non-metal stirrer today, inspect your carafe for any chip or crack before each brew, and contact Bodum at 888-879-8213 or www.bodum.com (click “Recall Information”) to request the free plastic spoon and warning label. If the glass is already damaged, retire that carafe now.
Context and what’s next
Bodum is no stranger to coffee-press recalls. In 2014 and again in 2019, Bodum presses sold through Starbucks were recalled over laceration and burn hazards tied to breaking glass. The 2026 action is far larger in scope, reflecting how deeply these presses have penetrated the U.S. market over five decades. For PSAWEAR readers, the takeaway extends beyond coffee: any glass vessel used with boiling water — tea presses, glass kettles, carafes, and measuring cups — carries a scald risk if it is chipped or cracked, and point contact from hard utensils is a common way that damage starts.
Owners who want to confirm whether their model is included, or who want to request the free spoon and label, can reach Bodum by phone at 888-879-8213 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday), by email at Bodum3302@sedgwick.com, or online at the dedicated recall website. The CPSC urges consumers to act even if their press has given them no trouble, because the whole point of the warning is that damaged glass can fail suddenly and without a visible reason. If you have already experienced a carafe breaking or a burn, you can report it to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, which helps the agency track incidents and future hazards.
Disclaimer. This article is for general safety information only and is not legal, medical, or product-specific advice. Recall details, remedies, and contact information can change after publication. Always confirm the current status of any recall and the exact instructions for your product directly with the manufacturer and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission before acting.
Sources: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — Bodum USA Recalls 5.9 Million French Press Coffee Makers (Recall 27-055); UPI — Bodum USA recalls 5.9 million French press carafes at risk of breaking; Daily Coffee News — Bodum Recalls 5.9 Million French Presses After Burn Reports.
