Starbucks Corp. has voluntarily recalled about 73,000 stainless steel eight-cup coffee brewers sold at its coffee shops due to defective electrical wiring that could pose a fire hazard, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Tuesday.
The defective wiring can result in overheating, smoking, burning and melting, the commission said, adding that no injuries have been reported.
A company representative was not immediately available for comment.
Starbucks has received 23 reports of melting in the plastic housing of the Starbucks Barista Aroma 8-Cup Coffee Brewers, the commission said.
The brewers, which were made in China and sold at Starbucks stores between March 2005 and September 2006, cost about $100.
The commission, in cooperation with the world’s largest coffee-shop chain, said consumers should stop using the brewers immediately and contact Starbucks for a full refund.
The Seattle-based company is offering a coupon for a free pound of coffee as an incentive to return the recalled machine.
Regarding any financial impact on Starbucks, “I’m guessing this is a drop in the bucket,” said Sasha Kostadinov, a fund manager and research analyst for Shaker Investments in Cleveland. “It’s a one-time event and not going to affect the company long term.”
