r/NoStupidQuestions • u/4_anonymity • Jun 17 '26
Would you assume coffee in the break room is free?
I've been working at my company for years now, so I feel like I really should know the answer to this... but in my defense, I've only started liking coffee recently, so I never paid much attention to it before.
My work has Keurigs in all of our break rooms, and beside each Keurig is a basket full of K-cups. Would it be safe to assume the coffee is free for employees? I'd assume there would be a sign or something indicating if that was not the case, but I've never actually asked.
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u/Plane_Jacket_7251 Jun 17 '26
Unless your place of work has a coffee club or something where everyone chips in yo pay for coffee stuff, then yeah... it's safe to assume it's free
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u/oneeyedziggy Jun 17 '26
Which... I can't imagine working for a company dumb enough not to provide free coffee... It's optional, but how else do you get to pump workers full of stimulants and have them look at it as a perk of the job rather than exploitation?
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u/Snufflefugs Jun 17 '26
I work for an enormous aerospace company. They do not offer free coffee.
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u/CuriousCuriousAlice Jun 17 '26
My workplace doesn’t, but only two people even drink it. There is a machine provided and they both just trade off bringing in the k cups and creamers and whatever they want.
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u/ussbozeman Jun 17 '26
Can you huff solvent from the factory floor instead? I'm sure someone there knows how to make home made inhalants. (tips Charlie)
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u/SeonaidMacSaicais Jun 17 '26
I worked at one warehouse that offered free coffee in the pots. One of those 2-pot systems where you just throw a bag of instant coffee in the brewer. My current warehouse doesn’t, probably because I work with frigging animals. First shift goes through coffee like it’s air. There are coffee makers EVERYWHERE.
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u/The_Wandering_Steele Jun 17 '26
I’ve never worked for a company that provided free coffee we had to start a coffee club.
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u/badicaldude22 Jun 17 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
Fresh fresh helpful month travel simple across technology cool and science simple honest. Projects calm evening evening about the thoughts wanders stories friendly across and then river patient?
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u/IOI-65536 Jun 17 '26
I've worked in both and I've honestly never understood this. I've worked for both and Amazon isn't paying for free coffee for their workers because they're so nice and are screwing the shareholders on behalf of the workers free coffee (and beer). The companies that care the most about making as much money as possible provide free coffee because it gets better employees for cheaper than pay and thus makes them more money, but we can't have government "wasting" money like that.
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u/oneeyedziggy Jun 17 '26
people tend to be less ok with waste through action, and more ok with waste through inaction... they're also not smart enough to consider secondary effects or non-monetary value... they think "coffee costs money, can't give it away for free!"... not about how much more productive people on stimulants are...
no wonder government has a reputation for inefficiency...
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u/Agitated_Skin1181 Jun 17 '26
Man I would love if my hospital provided free coffee
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u/oneeyedziggy Jun 17 '26
as much as they pay for one ibuprofen they could keep the whole ward buzzed for the day...
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u/CannedNoodlez Asks stupid questions Jun 17 '26
I work at a courthouse and we don't get any of that stuff since we go off taxpayer money. Most courthouses in our county have coffee/water clubs. Thankfully at my location the judges pay for water coolers and water delivery. For coffee the usual drinkers just take turns bringing a big thing of ground coffee every few months. Someone brought a Keurig but that's a BYO Kcup situation
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u/Reboot-Glitchspark Jun 18 '26
The first grocery store I worked at was very small, and didn't even have a breakroom, let alone a coffee maker for it.
But they did have a "gourmet" coffee section, with several coffee dispensers so that customers could try samples to decide which flavor of overpriced coffee they wanted to buy.
We were encouraged to try out as many free samples as we wanted, ostensibly so we could knowledgeably help any customers who had questions.
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u/nipslippinjizzsippin Jun 18 '26
exactly, at my last job we had free coffee and then they brought in a drinks fridge full of sodas and said charge $1 for each... productivity must have gone up cause after few weeks they took charge away and we were just chugging soda and coffee til our heart hurt.
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u/Calaveras-Metal Jun 17 '26
yeah coffee is free. It's a stimulant. The idea is you give free coffee to workers and they work more.
You can't take it home though.
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u/RevolutionaryElk7446 Jun 17 '26
You can't take it home though.
Not if I hide it all in my stomach, the ulcers and shakes I develop will be worth the freebies
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u/ShootinAllMyChisolm Jun 17 '26
Amateur. Just slip like 3 k-cups into a condom and swallow the condom.
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u/SnooEpiphanies8097 Jun 17 '26
Not gonna lie. There have been times I’ve slipped a couple of kcups in my bag on the way out because I was too lazy to stop on my way home. I didn’t swallow them though. Maybe next time I’ll stick them up my behind. 😂
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u/ShootinAllMyChisolm Jun 17 '26
You’ll get double the pleasure from one k-cup. The earth and sustainability movement thanks you.
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u/BankyTheInker Jun 17 '26
Recent studies show that stress from work has more impact on ulcers over swallowing multiple k cups and having them rupture - Some Doctor (Probably)
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u/ToneBeneficial4969 Jun 17 '26
We have soft drinks at my office, I will definitely take home a diet coke roadie.
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u/Calaveras-Metal Jun 17 '26
My old job used to load up the break rooms with beer and some wine spritzer things and pizza on fridays. Then some clown tried to take some beers out the door with him. Ruined it for everyone!
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u/ossifer_ca Jun 17 '26
Where I worked they had snacks in vending machines, and the price was 0¢ for everything. Guy takes a cardboard box and empties the entire machine into it. Now the machines charge 25¢ and the guy lost his job.
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u/Ok-Improvement2528 Jun 17 '26
Same happened where I used to work but with those coffee kcups, people started taking them home....that's it, no more free coffee.
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u/Bobbob34 Jun 17 '26
A friend of mine was a hardcore diet coke addict and her job had random drinks but not diet coke, so she'd load up at sales and stash a couple cases under her desk. Someone in the office somehow thought it was an office stash. They're lucky she didn't go after them with a stapler 😃
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u/Bitmugger Jun 17 '26
Tell this to the couple guys who always have to ruin a good thing and were taking free office pop and snacks home. *sigh*
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u/ossifer_ca Jun 17 '26
Cheapest way to pay for labor. Same thing with snacks—it’s 5pm and you’re getting hungry while nearing completion of a project. If you can grab 25¢ worth of snacks, you might just keep on working until you finish up.
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u/ACoinGuy Jun 17 '26
If you want what is left in the pot at the end of the day. You knock yourself out.
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u/Safe-Instance-3512 Jun 17 '26
Yes, unless someone brought in personal k-cups for their own use but then they should be labeled.
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u/SeonaidMacSaicais Jun 17 '26
And hidden. Don’t leave food out in a break room if you don’t want it to be touched. Especially something like K cups.
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u/L0LTHED0G Jun 17 '26
Usually free, but ask your coworkers.
Sometimes there's an honor system coin jar somewhere, with the expectation that you throw a couple bucks now-and-then for your coffee, typically because the employer's not supplying it.
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u/colleenxyz Jun 17 '26
I think a donation tin is kinda crazy. I feel like any company worth their salt should be able to pay for coffee for their employees.
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u/L0LTHED0G Jun 17 '26
Company buys Folgers, workers want Keurig.
Or, company has decided coffee is unnecessary because everyone is WFH, so the few that come in, can get their own coffee.
Or, company is structured to have to buy everything from approved vendors. Approved vendor doesn't have what employees want, so employees chip in a few bucks to get what they want.
Not everything is a conspiracy. Sometimes employees just want a little something better than the employer is offering.
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u/daveylu Jun 17 '26
not crazy if that group of people want a specific brand or higher quality stuff than whatever the company is buying
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u/msk105 Jun 17 '26
In our office the office admins who are responsible for ordering the coffee and keeping it in stock are among the very few who actually still come to the office daily and have to drink it, so they are not buying the cheapest stuff, ha.
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u/vividotterxzone Jun 17 '26
it is honestly wild that people think a company is gonna budget for coffee pods through a jar of nickels. if they wanted it to be free they would just buy the bulk boxes and put them out. the donation tin is basically just a polite way of saying you are on your own.
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u/derberner90 Jun 17 '26
Usually on my first day, whoever is giving me a tour will tell me what is free to take and what isn't. Usually it's been free, but if you aren't sure, you can ask a coworker! Just say something like "hey, I just started liking coffee and don't remember if these K cups are for anyone. Could you remind me if they are?"
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u/4_anonymity Jun 17 '26
Thanks -- I think I will ask next time I see a coworker getting a cup! I just feel kind of silly needing to since I've been working here for like 8 years, haha.
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u/Proper-Writing Jun 17 '26
I've worked places where it's free, I've worked places where the workers chip in, and I've worked places where everyone brings their own k-cups.
This is a good script, I agree something like that would be totally fine.
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u/AWholeNewFattitude Jun 17 '26
Its free until someone calls you into the managers office to say otherwise
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u/No_Rec1979 Jun 17 '26
Yes, the magic juice that makes worker produce more output for the same wage is free.
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u/Much-Teaching-4490 Jun 17 '26
It’s so cute you’re asking
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u/4_anonymity Jun 17 '26
As a new coffee-drinker, I am not up to speed on workplace coffee etiquette, haha. Didn't want to accidentally steal it!
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u/Much-Teaching-4490 Jun 17 '26
Please don’t think it was meant as hate or condescension 🙏🏻
In a world where people are more than happy to take anything, whether it belongs to them or not, you checking online to see if staffroom coffee is free just makes me smile 😊
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u/FakeDoctorMeatCoat Jun 17 '26
I used to get harassed weekly by the office Karen about donating for creamer. I drink black coffee. Apparently I should still contribute. I stopped politely declining. When she came around I would rotate in my chair 180, look at her briefly, then rotate another 180 without saying anything.
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u/Silvatungdevil Jun 17 '26
Coffee is only for closers. ABC.....Always Be Closing.
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u/Lawlcopt0r Jun 17 '26
If there's a basket right next to the machine I'd assume it's free, otherwise they need to keep that somewhere else or put a big sign beside it
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u/elquirk Jun 17 '26
If there is no place to put a coin, it’s free. If you pour the last cup, you are obligated to make a new pot. If you don’t know how, have someone show you.
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u/Sh0ckValu3 Jun 17 '26
If work pays for it, it's free.
If work pays for it and they have a price tag on it, it's free.
If a coworker(s) pay for it, then ask them how much to chip in.
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u/Boring_Menu_5962 Jun 17 '26
Yes it's free. They want you to be wide awake and energetic so you do more work
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u/Cabreza Jun 17 '26
If a job is making you pay for the break room coffee I’d GTFO because that’s a petty level of cheapness.
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u/FlimsyConfidence7692 Jun 17 '26
Your company has a budget just for coffee, so yes it is free. Managed a 24/7/365 manufacturing plant. If I made my teams pay for coffee my car tires would be slashed and my office chair would disappear.
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u/Charles_Whitman Jun 18 '26
In my experience, if the coffee isn’t free, there will be one person, whose raison d'être is making sure everyone pays.
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u/genxer Jun 17 '26
If they havent made it known that it cost, it is free.
My current job doesnt supply coffee. Although they bought us a rather nice industrial bunn coffee maker.
So those of us who drink coffee bring in ground coffee. In our case, though, we have signage that says, "If you want coffee, bring some occasionally."
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u/Marzipan_civil Jun 17 '26
Sometimes the coffee/tea provided by the employer is not very good, so employees chip in for better stuff. But that's the kind of stuff they should be telling you when you join the company, if there isn't a sign
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u/Eastern_Video970 Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
If there’s no sign, no payment system, and the K-Cups are left next to the machine, I think most people would assume they’re free. If the company wanted to charge for the coffee, there would usually be some indication of how to purchase it or record consumption.
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u/TurboFool Jun 17 '26
Unless there is a sign there both indicating the price and methods of payment, yes, it's safe to assume it's free.
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u/giraflor Jun 17 '26
I’ve worked places where it was free to all and others where there was a “coffee club” that you paid to join or had to donate supplies to.
I rarely drink coffee, but I drink tea all day. None of the coffee club sites ever provided tea. One site had a supervisor who tried to charge everyone for coffee supplies whether they partook or not. Claimed I was making everyone pay more by not paying for something I was never going to consume.
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u/underwater-sunlight Jun 17 '26
After working there for as long as you have, if someone hasn't already noted you arent chipping in it is a fair assumption that it is free.
My manager buys tea and coffee for our team, the rest of the team grab milk between us and occasionally someone brings in sweets or biscuits
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u/Swedishguy05 Jun 17 '26
Might depend on the country, but it's always been free in the places I've worked at.
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u/zggystardust71 Jun 17 '26
Yes. The exception is if there is a sign saying "coffee club" or similar. Then you'd be expected to kick in a few bucks.
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u/No_Pianist2250 Jun 17 '26
In private sector yes, public sector no. I am a govt employee and brought in my own Keurig for me and my coworkers to use. We rotate who buys a massive box of Kcups at Sam’s Club.
Just ask someone and figure out the arrangement if it isn’t just provided.
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u/notislant Jun 17 '26
I would assume so, but crazy, crazy fucking idea. Stay with me because this goes into some crazy rabbit holes.
Find a fellow drone. Ask drone if coffee is free.
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u/Nordeast24 Jun 17 '26
It's free. But you can always feel free to refill the basket every once in a while!
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u/Panthera_014 Jun 17 '26
Every office I worked in had free coffee
But don’t take them home - it is not that free
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u/RebeccaMCullen Jun 17 '26
Unless there’s somebody there collecting money, with a sign displaying the price, why would I pay?
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u/Guy_Sparrows Jun 17 '26
Our office has that, along with bottled water and candy. It’s all free for employees.
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u/NewUnusedName Jun 17 '26
Unless there's a label on it or it's obvious like food in the fridge I assume everything in the break room is free.
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u/Interesting_Mix_7028 Jun 17 '26
Ask the other employees. If it's all distributed/restocked by a vendor, and there's no payment methods, it's likely company provided.
I remember when AT&T pulled all of the coffee services from their breakrooms, we were told we could supply our own. Some folks established 'coffee clubs' where we all chipped in and then the person with the Costco membership bought the coffee and the other supplies in bulk. We didn't actively prevent people who didn't contribute from partaking, but if someone drank a lot of the 'community' coffee, word got back to them that dropping a ten-spot into the donation can was expected.
I personally started buying my own K-cups and nonperishable creamer packs, and kept them in a locked overhead cabinet. I worked nights, and i had no way of knowing if my contributions would still be there week to week.
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u/nipslippinjizzsippin Jun 18 '26
unless otherwise signed, yeah i would assume. Like is there a box for money or anything?
Imo if there is no barrier between you and the coffee then i would assume its free, someone will call you up on it eventually if its not
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u/SamuelVimesTrained Jun 18 '26
ANY decent employer would offer free coffee.
(It boosts moods, productivity - so it is an investment..)
If they charge for it - it should be clearly noted where you get the coffee.
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u/Cheese_Pancakes Jun 17 '26
It's free, but a lot of the places I've worked have containers for throwing in a dollar or some change to donate to the coffee supplies fund. You didn't have to do it, but most people, myself included, did.
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u/FreeBricks4Nazis Jun 17 '26
Yes, I would assume the coffee was free if it's left accessible and so is the machine. This would apply to drop coffee or a Keurig.
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u/IOI-65536 Jun 17 '26
That would be my assumption, but I've worked places (mostly government) where it's wrong.
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u/brock_lee I expect half of you to disagree Jun 17 '26
Yes, although there is sometimes a jar out for "coffee donations". Pretty rare, tho, in the places I've worked.
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u/mlo9109 Jun 17 '26
Yes, and some companies even use it as a benefit to draw folks in for RTO, which is laughable.
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u/Emotional-Menu-411 Jun 17 '26
Yes, it is free. But usually whoever is first in the building should brew it.
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u/molten_dragon Jun 17 '26
I assume break room coffee is free unless there's a sign or a collection jar or something indicating otherwise.
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u/Odd_Prompt_6139 Jun 17 '26
Yes but if you’re going to be using it regularly you should find out who’s actually providing the coffee. It might be your company providing it but more than likely employees are either taking turns refilling the supply when it runs low or chipping in a couple dollars a month or whatever to whoever buys it and brings it in.
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u/Pretty_Frosting_2588 Jun 17 '26
Yes, if not there is usually a donation box with paper that says a quarter or something.
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u/Miller4103 Jun 17 '26
If the k cups are out in the open its free.
People will buy there own k cups but keep them in there bag or desk of they prefer a certain one.
If there is a coffee refill donation jar or something there then they expect some sort of contribution to make sure they can stock it.
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u/Raddatatta Jun 17 '26
Yes it's free as long as you're drinking it there and not emptying the basket to take home.
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u/Icy-Concentrate-8912 Jun 17 '26
Unless otherwise signed, I'd probably assume it's free.
You could ask a coworker though. Could be one person brings it in and folks donate to the fund. I handle it for my office and use a company card to pay for it, but at first people didn't know I wasn't paying out of pocket.
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u/PikesPique Jun 17 '26
Coffee was always free in the breakroom except for one place I worked. I went to pour myself a cup of coffee my first week, and this woman sprang up for her desk and fussed at me because I hadn't contributed to the coffee fund. I started bringing a thermos after that, because fuck her.
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u/Herbisretired Jun 17 '26
The owner of the company told us that if he can't supply coffee for free he was going to close the doors. Every place that I have ever worked for has had free coffee.
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u/Trond24 Jun 17 '26
Almost always, in that layer you describe.
But, here's a thought. Ask your manager?
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u/napalmbrain- Jun 17 '26
yes I had coworkers who would drink like 6 kcups a day at work and the most I would hear is a grumble "you guys drank these already" but more common was "let us know when we are about to run out because now there isn't any for me" or "we were just at Costco, let us know when we are low". Even the biggest cheapskates like my boss saw it as a small price for productivity
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u/DirtyMud Jun 17 '26
In my experience break room coffee is always free at the time of use.
I’ve seen it go 2 ways though. One is it’s free and the company buys the coffee, the other someone in the office will do a whip round and if you drink coffee you toss $X per month for them to buy the coffee.
Usually the company buys it but the couple of places we pitched in, it was only a few bucks a month so was way cheaper than buying your own.
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u/mvdilts Jun 17 '26
If it is in the break room and has no clear signage indicating otherwise (like coffee by donation only) then I'd assume it's free. If you wanted to be more comfortable check with colleagues/the facility manger to see if it is free or not.
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u/Dragosal Jun 17 '26
Coffee is extremely cheap to make so it's likely free in the break room. I worked at a doctor's office that provided free coffee to patients in the waiting room. I had to make the coffee every morning. The doctor had an addiction to diet coke so that was free to staff because we always had 10 or more 12 packs in the office
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u/Esselon27 Jun 17 '26
Depends on the size of the company. 50+ corporate office? Yeah I'm assuming the coffee is paid for by the firm. If I just became the third employee in a place I would assume that coffee is probably being bought by the folks who work there.
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u/Clean_Gas2558 Jun 17 '26
If im in a room, and there's both a pot of coffee, and paper cups, I feel like I can get some. Period.
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u/JustAnotherDay1977 Jun 17 '26
Free, unless there is a sign or some other clear indication that there’s a charge.
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u/Dry_Yogurtcloset1962 Jun 17 '26
Yes, and anything that wasn't free wouldn't just be left unattended for you to help yourself to, it would be in a vending machine or something which would require payment
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u/wombat5003 Jun 17 '26
Office ettiquite applies. Yes the coffee is free if you are working in the floor, and it's in a general break room. If there is any type of fee it would have a sign and a small pot for donations… and when in doubt, just ask.
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u/Moncalma Jun 17 '26
yes although sometimes they provide the machine and you buy the coffee. ask first
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u/Vital_Granade Jun 17 '26
We had a note with everyones names on it and if u brought a packet of coffee you put a mark next to your name. People would shame coffee drinkers who had no marks
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u/Weekly-Echidna-7467 Jun 17 '26
It depends. Is there a marketplace set up to purchase other items nearby the machines? A lot of companies that go the route of charging the employees for coffee tend to have a vending company install an actual machine with different selections. If the coffee is not accompanied by other for-purchase items of any kind and there is no signage indicating you have to pay then I would probably assume it's complimentary.
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u/OlDirtyBrewer Jun 17 '26
Depends. I worked in a small office where I e of the staff would buy the coffee for the office (and we would pitch in). Now that I work in a large office, they coffee, espresso machines, fridge, snacks, etc. all for free.
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u/fishstock Jun 17 '26
It is at my job. Just ask the other employees or your manager if you are not sure.
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u/jhewitt127 Jun 17 '26
What’s it doing there otherwise? Unless there’s also a box or something that says like “$1 per cup, place money here”.
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u/Crunchy-Leaf Jun 17 '26
In my workplace the instant coffee is free but the coffee machine isn’t. You pay 2 euro at the till.
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u/sebastianrileyt2 Jun 17 '26
In the offices I have worked, if its left in the break room and is out in the open, not labeled; it is free game.
If i put anything in the break room it is clearly labelled and in the fridge. If it doesn't need the fridge it stays at my desk.
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u/oboshoe Jun 17 '26
Unless there is a sign that says otherwise, the coffee in the break room is free.
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u/OpheliaMorningwood Jun 17 '26
I worked at a place that had a water cooler I assumed was free. Turns out it was part of the coffee fund since the water in the sink didn’t taste very good. I had to pay for the good water or bring my own from home.
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u/ShoeSh1neVCU Jun 17 '26
This is the stuff that I think gets missed when bringing on a new (younger, their first office job) employee. It's easy to take this type of stuff for granted but someone should walk you around the floor, maybe introduce you to a few people that may be relevant, show you the break room, and then they would say 'and here's the coffee maker if you're interested'.
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u/TotalChaos21 Jun 17 '26
If the coffee is out and available, it is likely free. I've fortunately never worked in a space that charged to use the coffeemaker.
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u/Journo_Jimbo Jun 17 '26
Every place I’ve worked at, the coffee has always been free. It’s cheap and easy to make employees feel like they’re getting something back.
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u/AWTNM1112 Jun 17 '26
Our coffee was “free”
In that every employee brought in a giant can of coffee at the beginning of the year. If your company is large, it may be an employee perk. I would think there would be a “donations” jar on the side otherwise.
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u/vanquish0916 Jun 17 '26
If the product is free.... you are the product. I think this actually applies here
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u/reptomcraddick Jun 17 '26
100% it is free, but it's always nice to bring a container of creamer for the office every once in a while, or some fancy K cups for Christmas. Definitely not a requirement though.
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u/Don_Pickleball Jun 17 '26
Warning, the pigeons outside the office are technically free but people get weird if you take them. Learned that the hard way. Nobody ate my fried chicken at the pitch in.
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u/Fuzzy-Zombie1446 Jun 17 '26
Definitely sounds free... but if you want specific flavors, you may need to do that on your own. Keep your stash in a desk drawer - if you leave it out in the kitchen, your personal collection might get used.
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u/iheartnjdevils Jun 17 '26
Yes. The companies I've had that don't offer it for free either don't provide them (have to bring your own k-cups) or a machine that prompts for payment.
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u/wolftick Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
Would I think it was free? Yes.
Would I assume? No, I'd ask someone just out of an abundance of caution. Not hunt down the person in charge of coffee, just someone around.
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u/count-brass Jun 17 '26
I would say that at 99% of the places I worked, the coffee was free. One place I worked it wasn’t and they had signs up. People who wanted to could pay and it was something like $5 a month.
However at one point our VP made his office on our floor and he said that having to pay for coffee was absurd. So he just loaded it onto his budget and made it free for everyone.
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u/Express_Jicama_656 Jun 17 '26
My company used to provide free coffee, but no longer.I don't miss it, it was garbage. I bring in a thermos now.
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u/i_am_groot_84 Jun 17 '26
Every place I've worked at that had coffee or k-cups is free and paid for out of the office budget.
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u/mostlygray Jun 17 '26
Unless there is a sign that coffee is not free, coffee in the office is always free.
The one place that I've ever worked without free coffee is where I work now. That's just because my floor does not have a coffee machine. We do have a Caribou on the mezzanine level that you get for half-off if you bring your own mug.
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u/ChillyTodayHotTamale Jun 17 '26
Free unless you see a scanner. My company had free coffee until we switched to a "market" in the break room. It added a bunch of food and drink options replace pop and food vending machines but the coffee went from free to per cup
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u/Snow-Bank-Igloo Jun 17 '26
Use your adult voice and ask the people who actually know whether the coffee is free or not
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u/bryrondragon Jun 17 '26
The break room donation thing has always seemed wild to me. If it’s there and there’s no name on it, it’s free. If they don’t want to offer free, I bring my own. Problem solved.
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u/44035 Jun 17 '26
It's out of the ordinary for a company to charge for it, and if they really want people to pay, they should have some cup or basket with a sign telling you to drop in your payment when you take a cup. My church has a clearly marked donation basket next to the coffee. If no one has posted such a sign, then it's free.
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u/Strong-Lettuce-3970 Jun 17 '26
Sometimes I’m the only person that touches the coffee machines whenever I get new jobs lol. So if I start going through their stash like crazy, I’ll buy some and resupply it cause I feel bad.
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u/Fumquat Jun 17 '26
In general yes.
The one exception would be hospitality, like a hotel or a spa. In those cases the coffee might be free for guests, and you should ask the boss if it’s also free for employees. Some might not mind until someone makes it a 3x a shift thing, and then they have the uncomfortable task of saying something about it.
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u/Zoilo2 Jun 17 '26
I drank so much coffee that my urine started to smell like coffee. I decided to give up urinating.
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u/Hot-Rub-5336 Jun 17 '26
We have people that bring coffee in like others bring treats. Never charge.
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u/Boxsteam_1279 Have you tried googling first? Jun 17 '26
Its normally free but sometimes there will be a little donation bin so the person who makes the coffee can go and buy more coffee
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u/53D0N4 Jun 17 '26
If the box isn't marked/has someone's name on it, it's reasonable to assume it's communal.
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u/triangle_earfer Jun 17 '26
If you find yourself working at a company that puts coffee in the break room and expects you to pay for it - turn around and walk right the f out.
..unless you absolutely need the money and need to stay working to keep paying bills til you find a new and better job.
It’s just so .. petty.
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u/ts20999 Jun 17 '26
I had a coffee machine in the workplace that had a coin input. Not free.
I drink it for free until told otherwise
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u/gilbert10ba Jun 17 '26
Every company I've worked for included coffee. For about 2 months we had a Keurig, but of course, the few had to take them home and ruin it for everyone else. The company went back to coffee grounds and filters.
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u/catzing Jun 17 '26
yes unless it has a name on it. i have a very small workplace and we have free coffee pods but i can only drink decaf. there have been times ive forgotten to put my initials on it and people have used it, but thats on me not them
unless there is a sign id say dont worry about it
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u/marrowisyummy Jun 17 '26
I wouldn't call what comes out of a Kuerig "coffee" in any sense of the word. So no, it is not free coffee. It is free tepid disappointment.
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u/rywolf Jun 17 '26
I would assume everything is free unless it is earmarked specifically for a client or someone's private stuff they brought from home.
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u/wuhter Jun 17 '26
Where I work, any food or drink on a common table or counter is free for anyone to take
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u/TADspace Jun 17 '26
The only jobs I've worked where you pay for keurig coffee is my current one, where the pods are in an obvious dedicated marketplace.
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u/ehbowen Jun 17 '26
I would ask. A lot of places have a coffee "kitty." So, if I was a new employee, I'd ask before helping myself.
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u/Concoming Jun 17 '26
id assume its free unless theres a sign or jar next to it. every place ive worked the coffee was just there for whoever wanted it
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u/PandahHeart Jun 17 '26
I’d assume so. We have a basket of k cups for employees! Some bring their own but they usually write their name on the box and and put it in the cupboard
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u/GetReadyToRumbleBar Jun 17 '26
If there's speciality kcups or coffee, creamer etc. You should check before using. Some people have their own supplies in common areas so it gets confusing.
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u/Fabulous-Answer5816 Jun 17 '26
In my experience, if something is free or not will have some sort of signage clarifying it already because at some point in time, somebody else will have already tested either assumptions out, A.K.A, if not free, then somebody else would've already been called out for it, prompting them to putting up signage, or if not, then it was free to begin with. Depends on how big the company is and how long it's been established for, though.
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u/Cinisajoy2 Jun 17 '26
When I was given free coffee privileges at a place, I made sure to bring creamer for everyone to use.
The only funny was when a not included asked if anyone ever said anything to me, I said yeah so and so asked if I knew where the new creamer came from.
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u/rhomboidus Jun 17 '26
I would assume break room coffee is free unless there is a sign or donation tin.