> At a Glance
> – Non-coffee-drinking worker asked to be removed from weekly coffee-machine cleaning rotation
> – Cleaning duty includes scrubbing machine and washing coworkers’ mugs left in sink
> – Request split staff: some call it fair, others say shared chores keep peace
> > Why it matters: Office kitchen politics can turn a simple appliance into a flashpoint over fairness and workplace culture
A self-described coffee-hater has ignited debate on Reddit after refusing to scrub a communal espresso machine they never use, spotlighting how shared-space chores can sour office morale.
The Brewing Dispute
The employee, who works with roughly 20 colleagues, was placed on a rotating schedule to deep-clean the break-room machine so milk residue wouldn’t curdle overnight. The same person must also run multiple dishwasher cycles for mugs coworkers leave in the sink and handle extra cups when managers host visitors.
“I do not drink coffee,” the worker wrote, calling it a “well-known fact” that they skip the machine entirely. They bring beverages from home in a personal container and feel it’s “ridiculous to only touch the coffee machine to clean it.”
Office Divides
When the employee asked to be removed from the rotation:
- Some coworkers argued shared spaces mean shared duties
- Others said everyone should wash their own mug instead
- Several accused the poster of shirking to reduce everyone’s load
One Reddit commenter weighed in:
> “You shouldn’t be cleaning the coffee setup. Everyone should be responsible for their own mug.”
Key Takeaways
- The chore rotates weekly among non-managerial staff; any opt-out lengthens others’ turns
- The worker estimates they clean only one week every few months, but insists principle outweighs frequency
- Commenters largely backed the employee, calling for individual accountability rather than forced rotation
The spat shows how a simple appliance can brew big questions about fairness, obligation, and what it really means to be a team player.
