The Bay Areaโ€™s Blue Bottle Coffee has issued a voluntary recall of their Coffee Can after reports that opening the container have led to injury. The company is offering a full refund on any unopened Coffee Cans from the approximately 194,000 in circulation.

A 2019 Design Lab winner for packaging at this yearโ€™s Specialty Coffee Expo, the six-ounce Blue Bottle Coffee Can was the companyโ€™s attempt at finding a โ€œbalance between a compostable or recyclable product and one that extends freshness,โ€ as Forbes described it in their feature on the then-announced receptacle. Per the article, the Coffee Cans were able to increase a โ€œ[coffeeโ€™s] lifespan up to 4 months โ€“ far greater than the two-week lifespan of roasted coffee in a bag.โ€

Per the voluntary recall issued on May 9th, โ€œthe lid may detach rapidly with force when opened, causing the beans to eject from the can,โ€ which โ€œposes an injury hazard.โ€ As of issuing the recall, Blue Bottle had been made known of 13 instances of the rapidly detaching lid, with one that led to injury, a cut to the finger. As a recipient of half a dozen stitches to the finger due to an untimely run-in with a metal lid from a canister of tennis balls, let me just say that those lids are no joke.

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The company is now recalling โ€œall varieties of Hayes Valley Espresso, Bella Donovan, Giant Steps, Three Africas, and Night Light Decaf 170g/6oz whole bean Coffee Cans with all best-by datesโ€ and telling consumers to discontinue opening any further cans. Coffee Cans that have already been opened pose โ€œno safety risk to consuming the coffee.โ€

Unopened cans that were purchased via โ€œAmazon.com, GoodEggs.com, Whole Foods Markets, Target, and other grocery retailers nationwideโ€ are to be returned to their place of purchase for a full refund. As of press time, the Coffee Can has been removed for sale from Blue Bottle’s website.

For more information on the recall, visit Blue Bottle Coffeeโ€™s official website.

Zac Cadwaladerย is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas.ย Read more Zac Cadwaladerย on Sprudge.

Top image via Blue Bottle Coffee

Disclosure: Blue Bottle Coffee is an advertising partner with the Sprudge Media Network

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