Starbucks Coffee Grinder Recall: Blade Grinders Pose Risk of Lacerations
Coffee giant Starbucks has issued a recall for more than half a million coffee grinders sold under their Starbucks Barista and Seattle’s Best Coffee brands, as reports have been received of the grinders failing to turn off or turning on unexpectedly, posing a potential laceration hazard for consumers.
The Starbucks coffee grinder recall was announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), indicating that at least 176 reports of problems with the grinders have been received, including at least three people who suffered injuries to their hands when the grinder turned on unexpectedly during cleaning.
About 530,000 grinders sold between March 2002 and March 2009 for about $30 are included in the recall. The grinders were made by Tsann Zuen (Zangzhou) Enterprise Co. Ltd., of China, and imported into the United States by Starbucks Coffee Co., of Seattle, Washington.
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Learn MoreStarbucks Barista Blade Grinder was sold in stainless steel, green, pink, orange, teal, cranberry, olive and black, and had SKU numbers 171884, 195234, 195235, 220623, 220624, 242275, 344476, and 454482. Seattle’s Best Coffee Blade Grinder was sold in brown metallic and has SKU number 474881.
The CPSC and Starbucks recommend consumers stop using the recalled coffee grinders immediately and contact Starbucks to receive a free replacement grinder. However, product liability lawyers recommend that if any cuts or damage were caused by Starbucks coffee grinders turning on unexpectedly, the product should be preserved in a manner designed to avoid future use until appropriate testing can be completed.
21 Comments
NickJanuary 6, 2011 at 6:15 pm
'@Laura - the exact same thing just happened to me yesterday! It wont do anything!
LauraNovember 24, 2010 at 2:03 am
You recalled my grinder that was a gift and replaced it and now this one has just stopped working
JamesOctober 28, 2010 at 1:32 am
I am so glad that I read the published information here on this site. I have two of the coffee grinders and have had zero problems with them. I stopped going to Star Bucks about 2 years ago after getting the worst customer service I have ever rec'd from a company. I was trying to get my Pikes peak coffee replaced as it had a lot of oil in the bag. Getting it replaced was like having 14 teeth pulle[Show More]I am so glad that I read the published information here on this site. I have two of the coffee grinders and have had zero problems with them. I stopped going to Star Bucks about 2 years ago after getting the worst customer service I have ever rec'd from a company. I was trying to get my Pikes peak coffee replaced as it had a lot of oil in the bag. Getting it replaced was like having 14 teeth pulled. Never again Star Bucks. You will never have my business again! Anyone that I see, talk to or hear talking about Star Bucks, I will let them know what a F--- Up company you really are! Funny maybe that is why my two coffee grinders are working and shutting off just fine!
BrianOctober 18, 2010 at 11:42 pm
I've been trying to replace my recalled grinder for two months now and never seem to receive the shipping label from Starbucks. The first time I called I was notified the shipping label would be mailed to me via USPS and would take 4 weeks to arrive. Six weeks later, no label. I called again, this time they said they would email me - no email in 4 days. I'm glad I read the comments on this page,[Show More]I've been trying to replace my recalled grinder for two months now and never seem to receive the shipping label from Starbucks. The first time I called I was notified the shipping label would be mailed to me via USPS and would take 4 weeks to arrive. Six weeks later, no label. I called again, this time they said they would email me - no email in 4 days. I'm glad I read the comments on this page, as I'm going to just keep my grinder. Now I know I'm not the only person having problems with Starbucks customer service. The associates are very nice on the phone, but there is no follow through! I'm going to make a strong effort to purchase coffee, food, and related products from somewhere else. I'm sick of the crappy customer service received from this exchange. I'll do just fine at Wegman's, Giant, or the A&P.
CharlieAugust 30, 2010 at 11:49 pm
I echo the comments above. My stainless steel grinder was replaced with a very cheap looking hunk of black plastic. I should never have sent my in. It worked fine.
JentaMay 30, 2010 at 6:32 am
Atleast most of you got one back. I have NEVER received my replacement after consistent phone calls and promises that someone would contact me.....that never happened either!
BruceApril 12, 2010 at 11:54 pm
I wish I'd seen these comments also. My stainless steel grinder was working just fine. This black plastic piece of junk they sent me is an embarrassment.
SJanuary 18, 2010 at 12:56 am
Geez... I sent in a nice stainless steel blade grinder (it was working just fine) that cost me $35 and what did I get back? A a total piece of plastic cheap junk! C'mon, did the genius VP's at Starbuck's really think the consumers wouldn't notice the poor quality of the replacement??? The damage to their image and reputation is incalculable... and they won't ever buy it back from me, friends or fa[Show More]Geez... I sent in a nice stainless steel blade grinder (it was working just fine) that cost me $35 and what did I get back? A a total piece of plastic cheap junk! C'mon, did the genius VP's at Starbuck's really think the consumers wouldn't notice the poor quality of the replacement??? The damage to their image and reputation is incalculable... and they won't ever buy it back from me, friends or family! I'm taking my business to that "other" coffee place in town - and besides, Starbucks's hasn't been able to brew a decent Cup-O-Joe for a few years now... Take your Pikes whatever-it-is coffee and stick it! Bye-Bye Starbucks!
CINDYJanuary 14, 2010 at 11:16 am
CAN I GET A NEW MODEL?
willDecember 6, 2009 at 5:41 pm
We received our replacement grinder and it broke within a few weeks.....what a joke.
KimberlyNovember 12, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I sent my Starbuck's grinder in 3 weeks ago, and just got my replacement today. It looks like the exact same kind of grinder, but with the nicely polished exterior run through with a grinder, and then spray painted in black. I don't see a real difference, and it's from the same manufacturer. It DID come with an instruction booklet, which tells you that before you open it to empty the ground cof[Show More]I sent my Starbuck's grinder in 3 weeks ago, and just got my replacement today. It looks like the exact same kind of grinder, but with the nicely polished exterior run through with a grinder, and then spray painted in black. I don't see a real difference, and it's from the same manufacturer. It DID come with an instruction booklet, which tells you that before you open it to empty the ground coffee, to unplug it first. If these instructions were the only difference, I'd suggest they just send a booklet to all the owners, and save the cost of UPS shipping. My new one is ugly, and rough to the touch. I guess I have no recourse at this time.
eyeSeptember 11, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Send mine back and we will send you another one in 4 weeks? I can save $60 a month from not buying a cup of your Pikes Peak or whatever you call it now. I'll throw my grinder away and buy one AND my coffee from another store. Goodbye Star(not my) bucks
bonnieAugust 31, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I just called regarding the recall... i am not sure what to do now... the grinder that they are recalling certainly was not cheap... what is the name of the brand of the grinder that they are replacing it with? I am afraid to send mine back... mine does not want to shut off... I plug it in when I am going to use it...
m.b.mcgeeAugust 31, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I'm glad I looked at these comments before I sent mine in. I will keep my grinder and just never stick my fingers in there while its plugged in! which duh i wouldn't do anyway why would anyone stick there fingers in a grinder that was pluged in!,unbelivable. I have always used a little brush to clean mine, its a "grinder" people. Shouldn't the words fingers and grinder give you some pause. absolu[Show More]I'm glad I looked at these comments before I sent mine in. I will keep my grinder and just never stick my fingers in there while its plugged in! which duh i wouldn't do anyway why would anyone stick there fingers in a grinder that was pluged in!,unbelivable. I have always used a little brush to clean mine, its a "grinder" people. Shouldn't the words fingers and grinder give you some pause. absolutly unbelievable!
D LAugust 26, 2009 at 3:44 am
I wish I had read the comments before returning my nice looking metal grinder. The black plastic one I got back looks like a 99 cent store purchase. Very disappointed!
KimAugust 25, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I received my replacement grinder yesterday. I sent in a stainless steel grinder and received a cheap black plastic grinder. What? Really? Cheap, cheap, cheap. Shame on Starbuck's!
AaronAugust 25, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I also just received my replacement grinder, and actually received the same exact grinder in black. So what was the point? I can see that the little button that caused the problem by getting ground coffee stuck in it is THE SAME, so I don't see how they fixed the problem at all! They sent me a new version with the same exact design flaw. How are they saying they fixed the defect? I already b[Show More]I also just received my replacement grinder, and actually received the same exact grinder in black. So what was the point? I can see that the little button that caused the problem by getting ground coffee stuck in it is THE SAME, so I don't see how they fixed the problem at all! They sent me a new version with the same exact design flaw. How are they saying they fixed the defect? I already bought a new grinder since I wasn't waiting 8 weeks without one, so i guess i'll just throw this one away.
ScottAugust 14, 2009 at 1:23 pm
The replacement is a piece of junk, if you haven't sent your original back, just keep it and don't put your fingers near the blade when plugged in.
pist off customerAugust 8, 2009 at 12:53 pm
i too just received the replacement grinder and is so bad looking that I'm just going to return this piece of junk. the lid does not close well and the blades take longer to grind my coffee than the other one I had, which by the way was not bad. i had it for 4 years and never had a problem with it. i just wanted to get a black version of the same grinder. according to the person on the phone when [Show More]i too just received the replacement grinder and is so bad looking that I'm just going to return this piece of junk. the lid does not close well and the blades take longer to grind my coffee than the other one I had, which by the way was not bad. i had it for 4 years and never had a problem with it. i just wanted to get a black version of the same grinder. according to the person on the phone when I called to inquire about this recall he said that the grinder replacing the one i had was much better and better looking. i got it 2 weeks ago and I am about to put it in the trash. i dont want to even donate this piece of junk.
IaAugust 5, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I just received the replacement and it looks like a joke! The lid does not close it looks awful. I am sure that grinder from a dollar stores are better than the replacement. What I spend on buying and sending the recalled product was much more than this strange object that they send me. I will not be buying any appliances at Starbucks after this.
lynoakJuly 8, 2009 at 7:13 pm
It will take EIGHT WEEKS for the replacement to arrive.