Bodum French Press Recall Lawsuit Alleges ‘Defective’ Glass Carafe Poses Serious Burn Risk

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that Bodum USA, Inc. has failed to disclose that the glass carafe for several models of French press coffee makers, including the iconic Chambord model, can unexpectedly break during ordinary use with a metal utensil, posing a serious burn risk, and that the October 2026 recall of millions of units nationwide did not provide consumers with adequate relief.

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The 19-page lawsuit was filed in the wake of an October 2026 recall announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of roughly 5.9 million Bodum Bistro, Brazil, Caffettiera, Chambord, Crema, Java, Jesper, and Kenya French Press coffee makers with eight-cup and 12-cup glass carafes. Per the suit, the defect can cause the glass carafe to crack or break from ordinary contact with a metal utensil, such as a metal spoon used to stir coffee, and poses a risk of serious burn injuries.

According to the lawsuit, Bodum knew or should have known of the French press defect through consumer complaints and reviews, as the company, per the CPSC, received at least 70 reports of glass carafes breaking during ordinary use, including 48 reports of burn injuries.

Despite the breakage and injury reports, Bodum continued to market and sell the French press coffee makers at issue without an adequate warning of the defect or any safeguards to prevent foreseeable burn injuries, the complaint alleges. Further, the lawsuit argues that the October 2026 recall was inadequate given that it failed to offer “any monetary relief” to consumers.

In place of monetary relief, Bodum has instructed consumers to stop using metal spoons or utensils to stir coffee in the glass carafe, and offered a plastic stirring spoon and warning label, the case states.

As a result, consumers have been left with defective French press coffee makers that continue to pose a dangerous burn risk, the lawsuit argues.

“Moreover, there is no evidence that these measures effectively eliminate or adequately address the defect,” the suit adds.

The lawsuit states that the affected Bodum French press coffee makers were sold nationwide from 1974 through October 2026. As a “large and sophisticated” company, Bodum should have been aware of the defect through its product testing and manufacturing processes, the complaint says.

In contrast, consumers had no way to know that the coffee makers were susceptible to breaking during ordinary use, nor should they be expected to conduct “extensive research” to discover undisclosed safety hazards, the suit relays.  

Consumers would not have purchased the affected Bodum French press coffee makers, or would have paid significantly less for them, had the defect and associated safety risks been disclosed, the filing contends.

The Bodum class action lawsuit looks to cover all individuals in the United States who, during the maximum period of time permitted by law, purchased a Bodum eight-cup or 12-cup Bistro, Brazil, Caffettiera, Chambord, Crema, Java, Jesper, or Kenya French Press coffee maker with a replaceable glass carafe.

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