Published by If you purchased a coffee press and suffered burn injuries, lacerations, puncture wounds, or related losses due to a breakage or plunger malfunction, you may be eligible for legal review and potential compensation through a Coffee Press Lawsuit.
Our legal team offers a free, no-obligation consultation and accepts representation on a contingency-fee basis.
Table Of Contents
- What’s the Problem?
- Latest Updates
- Product & Usage Overview
- What the Recall Identified
- Where and When the Recalled Coffee Presses Were Sold
- Recall Remedy and What Consumers Should Do
- How Coffee Press Lawsuits Typically Arise
- Do You Qualify for a Coffee Press Lawsuit?
- Legal Theories & Liability Grounds
- Statute of Limitations & Timing
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Why You Should Act Now
- References
What’s the Problem?
French press coffee makers and other coffee presses can create serious injury risks when components fail under normal use. Common failure modes alleged in litigation include plunger knob breakage that exposes a metal rod, shattered glass beakers that release scalding liquid, and malfunctioning parts that contribute to sudden spills or loss of control during pressing.
When a press fails, injuries can range from cuts and puncture wounds to severe hot-liquid burns. These claims often focus on whether the product was unreasonably dangerous, whether warnings were adequate, and whether safer designs or materials could have reduced the risk.
Latest Updates
- May 1, 2019 – The CPSC published a recall of Bodum + Starbucks Recycled Coffee Presses due to a laceration hazard when the plunger knob can break and expose the metal rod (Recall No. 19-114). [1]
Product & Usage Overview
The recall involves Bodum + Starbucks co-branded coffee presses partially made from recycled materials. The recalled 8-cup coffee press includes a cylindrical glass beaker with a screen and plunger assembly held by a plastic dark gray frame with a locking lid, plus a light gray handle and knob.
Key identifiers include:
- Product name: Bodum + Starbucks Recycled Coffee Presses
- SKU: 011063549 (printed on a white label on the bottom of the base)
- Markings: “Bodum” and “Made in Portugal” embossed on the bottom of the dark gray plastic base
- Approximate size: about 9 inches high and about 4 inches in diameter
What the Recall Identified
The hazard identified is a laceration risk: the plunger knob can break and expose the metal rod. The recall notice reports nine total breakage reports across the U.S. and Canada that resulted in lacerations or puncture injuries.
Where and When the Recalled Coffee Presses Were Sold
The recalled coffee presses were sold at Starbucks stores nationwide and online at Starbucks.com from November 2016 through January 2019 for about $20.
The recall notice lists about 230,000 units in the United States and about 33,200 units in Canada.
Recall Remedy and What Consumers Should Do
The remedy is a refund in the form of a store credit. Consumers were instructed to stop using the recalled coffee presses and contact Starbucks for instructions on how to return the product. The recall notice states returns would not be accepted in stores.
How Coffee Press Lawsuits Typically Arise
Coffee press lawsuits typically arise after one of the following events:
- A plunger component breaks, exposing sharp metal parts and causing lacerations or puncture wounds.
- A glass beaker breaks during pressing or handling, causing scalding liquid burns and glass-related injuries.
- A recalled product is involved in an injury event, raising questions about defect knowledge, warnings, and consumer protection duties.
Do You Qualify for a Coffee Press Lawsuit?
You may qualify to pursue a Coffee Press Lawsuit (or a related claim) if one or more of the following apply:
- You owned a coffee press covered by a safety recall and experienced a knob, plunger, or glass failure.
- You suffered injuries such as lacerations, puncture wounds, or hot-liquid burns linked to a coffee press malfunction.
- You required medical treatment, missed work, or incurred other documented losses tied to the incident.
- You can identify the product (brand, model/SKU, retailer, purchase window) and document the incident.
Evidence You Should Gather
- Photos of the coffee press, including labels, SKU markings, and any identifying features.
- Purchase documentation (receipt, order confirmation, payment record).
- Photos of the failure mechanism (broken knob, exposed rod, shattered glass, spill area).
- Medical records and bills documenting treatment and diagnosis.
- Incident timeline (date/time, what happened, witnesses, and any communications with the seller/manufacturer).
Damages You Can Recover
Recoverable damages depend on state law and the specific facts, but may include:
- Medical expenses: emergency care, wound care, burn treatment, follow-up visits, and rehabilitation.
- Lost wages: time missed from work and reduced earning capacity in severe cases.
- Pain and suffering: physical pain, scarring impacts, and emotional distress.
- Out-of-pocket costs: medications, supplies, transportation, and other incident-related expenses.
Legal Theories & Liability Grounds
Depending on the evidence, coffee press injury claims are commonly evaluated under product-liability frameworks such as:
- Design defect: allegations that a component design is prone to breaking or exposing sharp parts.
- Manufacturing defect: allegations that the specific unit deviated from specifications and failed during ordinary use.
- Failure to warn: allegations that warnings or instructions were insufficient to mitigate foreseeable injury risks.
- Negligence: allegations tied to reasonable care in product testing, quality control, and safety communications.
Statute of Limitations & Timing
Deadlines for filing product liability and personal injury claims vary by state and may depend on when the injury occurred and when the cause was reasonably discoverable. If you were injured, preserving the product, packaging, and documentation early can materially affect your ability to prove the claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I identify whether my coffee press is part of a recall?
Check the product name, SKU, and markings on the base, and compare them to the recall identifiers. Keeping original packaging and instruction materials can also help. - What if I no longer have the packaging?
Photos of the product, the bottom label/SKU, and any embossed markings can still help identify the unit, along with purchase records. - Do I need medical records?
Medical documentation is often central in injury cases because it establishes diagnosis, treatment, and injury severity.
Why You Should Act Now
Cuts and burns can lead to complications, scarring, and significant costs. If a coffee press malfunction caused injury, prompt documentation and product preservation can help clarify whether the matter is best handled as a recall remedy claim, a product liability claim, or both. A legal review can also help determine what evidence is needed to support causation and damages.
References
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/Starbucks-Recalls-Bodum-Recycled-Coffee-Presses-Due-to-Laceration-Hazard