Nearly 6 Million Coffee Makers Sold at Target and Walmart Were Just Recalled — And the Problem Might Be Sitting in Your Kitchen Drawer

If you make your morning coffee in a French press, you’ll want to read this.

Nearly 6 million of them have just been recalled in the United States.

And there’s a good chance one is sitting on a kitchen counter near you.

The recall covers Bodum French press coffee makers — the classic glass-and-metal brewers that have been a fixture in American kitchens for decades.

Federal safety regulators announced it on Thursday, October 29.

The concern?

The glass carafe can break without warning while it’s full of hot coffee.

And dozens of people have already been hurt.

But here’s the part that has people double-checking their cutlery drawers.

One of the biggest culprits isn’t the coffee maker itself.

It’s the spoon.

What’s Actually Going Wrong

According to the official recall notice, the glass carafe can shatter during use if it has been cracked or damaged.

And one of the most common ways that damage happens?

Stirring the coffee with a metal spoon.

It sounds harmless.

Plenty of people give their grounds a quick stir before pressing down the plunger.

But metal against glass can leave tiny chips or cracks you might not even notice.

Then, one morning, that weakened glass gives way — with near-boiling water inside.

Bodum has received 70 reports of carafes breaking while in use.

Of those, 48 involved people getting burned.

Which French Presses Are Included

This isn’t a small batch from one bad factory run.

The recall covers 8-cup and 12-cup models that use replaceable glass carafes.

These are the named models:

• Bistro
• Brazil
• Caffettiera
• Chambord
• Crema
• Java
• Jesper
• Kenya

The Chambord in particular is one of the most recognizable French presses ever made.

On most models, the Bodum name appears on the frame and on the inside of the lid.

It’s also engraved on the glass carafe itself, along with safety warnings.

The coffee makers were built in Portugal and Thailand.

They sold for roughly $15 to $65.

And they were everywhere.

Target, Walmart, coffee stores and home goods stores across the country stocked them.

So did Amazon, Walmart.com, Target.com, Bodum’s own website and other online sellers.

But the most jaw-dropping detail is how far back this goes.

The recall covers units sold from 1974 all the way through October 2026.

That’s more than 50 years of French presses.

Which means the one you got as a wedding gift — or picked up in college — could be part of it.

The Fix Isn’t What Most People Expect

When you hear the word “recall,” you probably picture a refund or a replacement.

That’s not what’s happening here.

Owners won’t be getting a brand-new coffee maker.

And according to a company customer service representative, refunds aren’t on the table either.

Instead, Bodum is sending out something much smaller.

A free plastic stirring spoon.

Plus a warning label.

The label reminds owners never to use a cracked or damaged carafe — and to keep metal utensils out of the glass.

Officially, the remedy is listed as a “repair.”

But in practice, it mostly comes down to changing one habit.

Going forward, Bodum says new French presses will come with the plastic spoon and the extra label right in the box.

The family-owned company, which says it has been in business for 72 years, framed the move as a voluntary step taken alongside federal regulators.

Bodum USA is the American arm of a Danish-Swiss company that specializes in coffee and tea gear.

It says the rate of carafes breaking during use is extremely low — especially given how many millions it has sold in the U.S. over the decades.

But it also says it takes every injury report seriously.

And it described the recall as a chance to drive home a warning that’s been around for years.

Don’t use a damaged carafe.

And don’t stir with metal.

What You Should Do Right Now

If you own one of these French presses, there’s no need to panic.

But there are a few things worth doing today.

• Stop stirring your coffee with metal spoons or utensils inside the glass carafe — immediately.
• Check the glass closely for chips, cracks or scratches.
• If you spot any damage at all, stop using that carafe.
• Contact Bodum to request your free plastic stirring spoon and warning label.

You can reach Bodum USA toll-free at 888-879-8213.

The line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.

You can also visit Bodum.com and click on “Recall Information” at the top of the page.

The company’s recall site includes photos to help you identify your model.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

A French press feels like one of the safest gadgets in the kitchen.

No plug.

No heating element.

No screen.

Just glass, metal and hot water.

But that hot water is exactly the problem.

When a full carafe breaks, it can splash scalding coffee across hands, arms and laps in a split second.

And with nearly 6 million of these sold, even a rare failure can add up to a lot of people.

So before you brew tomorrow morning, take a quick look at your carafe.

And maybe swap that metal spoon for a wooden or plastic one.

It could save you a painful trip to urgent care.