Who's Right?Empty office coffee pot: who should make more?
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In short
Whoever takes the last cup should start a new pot: it's the simplest and fairest rule. If they truly don't have time, they should tell a colleague or make it as soon as they're back.
Both sides
For the third time this week, I get to the machine and the pot is empty, with just a cold bit left at the bottom. This morning, Julien took the last cup, I saw him. Making a new pot takes two minutes. I'm tired of always being the one who does it while everyone else just helps themselves.
I had a client meeting two minutes later, I honestly had no time to start the machine. I was planning to do it when I got back. And to be fair, nobody on the team ever set a clear rule. It's a coffee pot, not a big deal.
The verdict
Inès is right on the main point. In most offices, the unwritten rule is simple: whoever empties the pot makes the next one. It keeps the chore from always landing on the same people, which is exactly how Inès feels.
Julien has a partial excuse: a meeting about to start is a real constraint. But he could have told someone, left a note or made coffee when he got back, and he didn't. Saying there's no clear rule doesn't cancel out the effort others make on his behalf.
As for Inès, her frustration is understandable. Still, she'll get further by raising it calmly with the whole team rather than targeting one person.
The compromise
Starting tomorrow, the team agrees on one simple rule: whoever takes the last cup starts a new pot, or says so out loud if they can't. A small sign next to the machine is enough to remind everyone, without pointing at anyone.
Who do you think is right?
Pick a side.
Frequently asked questions
What if the same person always ends up making the coffee?
Bring it up with the whole team, without naming anyone. Suggest the last-cup rule, or a simple rota if the team drinks a lot of coffee.
How can I bring it up without creating tension?
Talk about the situation, not the people: "The pot is often empty, could we agree on a rule?" goes down much better than a complaint aimed at one colleague.
What if a colleague doesn't know how to use the machine?
Show them once, it takes a minute. A short how-to note stuck next to the machine often solves the problem for everyone.
Should we also share the cost of buying coffee?
If staff pay for the coffee themselves, a shared kitty or a rota for buying it avoids resentment. What matters is that everyone chips in fairly.
Guide Workplace disputes: the guide
Written with the help of AI, reviewed by the Who's Right team · This is not legal advice. How Who's Right decides
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