AITA For Taking My Espresso Machine from my roommate?

Shirley Stafford Hours
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In a cramped college dorm, the faint aroma of espresso once promised cozy mornings, but for one 19-year-old, it turned into a whiff of betrayal. Her $300 espresso machine, a prized possession, became the center of a roommate clash that brewed more than just coffee. The young woman, a budding barista herself, offered to share her machine with her coffee-savvy roommate, but what started as a generous gesture spiraled into a moldy mess, testing boundaries and patience.

The tension wasn’t just about coffee—it was about respect, or the lack thereof. As the student grappled with a roommate who ignored her rules, from misusing belongings to pushing unwanted substances, readers can’t help but feel the sting of her frustration. Was she wrong to pack up her machine and take it home, or was this the only way to protect what was hers?

‘AITA For Taking My Espresso Machine from my roommate?’

At the start of the semester I (F 19) told my college roommate (f 18) that I would be bringing my espresso machine to college with me in place of a coffee maker, and since she's also a barista for a large corp. company that she would be welcomed to use it.

My only conditions to her using the machine is the fact that I would like to teach her how to use it first. I used it sparingly because of espresso pods are expensive and I'm barely in the dorm. After about a month and half, my side of the room started to smell rotten.

I spent the the day deep cleaning my side of the room trying to find the source of the odor. The machine was positioned in the window right next to the head of my bed. Then I looked at the catch bin of the espresso machine. The entire thing was covered in slimy mold and overflowing with empty espresso pods.

I asked my roommate if she had been using the machine, even though I never taught her how to use it. She said yes, and that she 'wasn't stupid' and knew how to use it. When I opened the pod holder the entire machine was covered in mold and slimy water.

It took 2 hours to clean and get it working again. At that point she had went behind me back on several things and nearly broke my espresso machine. So packed it all up in a crate and put it under my bed, sayin that it no longer works because she let it grow mold on the sensors.

To clarify, the machine works fine, but there was mold on the sensors that could have broken. Then I took a bus home a few weeks later and took the machine with me. Some people are calling me selfish and rude for taking a 'resource' that I promised her, but I felt that this was the last straw for me as her roommate. so, am i the a**hole?

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Edit: to give context to the 'the last straw' part, my roommate and I have had several conflicts. She's opened several items of mine (ex. Care package items), eaten my food, broken my stuff and has had illegal substances within the dorm despite my stated discomfort.

I made my stance on substances in our room clear due to addiction in my family, it was on my housing profile when we first met online. She constantly pushes me to 'just try' whatever she's having, despite my several explanations. So, when the machine conflict arose I took it before it could be truly broken like my other belongings.

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This dorm room drama over a moldy espresso machine reveals deeper issues about boundaries and respect in shared living spaces. The OP’s frustration is palpable—she offered a privilege, only for her roommate to treat it with disregard. The roommate’s neglect, letting mold fester in a $300 appliance, reflects a broader issue of entitlement, while her boundary-pushing with substances highlights a lack of mutual respect.

Dr. Susan Whitbourne, a professor of psychological and brain sciences, notes in a Psychology Today article, “Respecting personal boundaries is key to maintaining healthy relationships, especially in close quarters like dorms” (psychologytoday.com). Here, the roommate’s actions—using the machine without instruction, ignoring the OP’s discomfort with substances—crossed clear lines. The OP’s decision to remove the machine was a boundary-setting act, not selfishness.

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This situation mirrors a common challenge in shared living: balancing generosity with self-protection. A 2021 study from the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that 68% of college roommates report conflicts over personal belongings due to unclear expectations (journals.sagepub.com). The OP’s initial offer was kind, but her roommate’s carelessness justified reclaiming the machine.

For solutions, communication is key. The OP could propose a written agreement for shared items, specifying maintenance rules. Alternatively, suggesting the roommate invest in her own coffee maker could prevent future disputes. Setting firm boundaries early, as Dr. Whitbourne advises, helps avoid resentment and fosters mutual respect in tight quarters.

Here’s what Redditors had to say:

Reddit’s coffee enthusiasts and boundary defenders didn’t hold back—here’s the brew of opinions they served up, with a side of humor and candor:

ajt9814 − NTA. Letting someone use your appliance is a privilege, not a right. You can't abuse someone's property then cry about it when they take it away.. ​. Edit - CAN'T \*\*\*\* total typo.

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cinnamngrl − NTA, it is not a resource, it is your possession. I really wonder why you own a $300 machine that you don't use, but it is up to you. If your roommate wants to open a discussion about getting an affordable machine together as long as it is kept clean then you can consider that.

Free_Distance7839 − NTA, it’s your own stuff , you bought it, im surprised you haven’t charged her for a new one . Her attitude is what makes her the AH. Maybe try switching roommates once the semester is over , she’s probably taking advantage and using more than your espresso machine.

Fenriswolf_9 − NTA - she obviously didn't know how to use it if she didn't empty out the pods and let mold accrue, did she?

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[Reddit User] − NTA - she wasn't interested in finding out how to use the machine and let it get into a filthy and potential state of breaking. Your machine, your rules.

tofu_deluxe − God NTA, the people saying you're rude are AHs who definitely would've also cultivated mold in your espresso machine. She allowed mold to grow in something that you owned and she didn't pay a cent for, and yes she is an i**ot because if you noticed the rotten smell then she should've too, especially seeing that she was the only one using the machine regularly.

Another insane part of this is that she was regularly drinking coffee that came out of a mold covered machine??? This alone should make you never share any food related items with her ever again. And since she's whining about the espresso machine that she ruined, she can go pay for one if she wants one so much.

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dwotw − NTA. It's your property and you are under no obligation to leave it there since she let it grow mold. She was gross and unsanitary.

[Reddit User] − NTA. It’s YOUR machine, she can’t force you to share. She also let it go to s**t. She ruined the resource

[Reddit User] − NTA. From the way you've described the situation, it sounds like you made an agreement with your roommate about using the espresso machine, but she went against what you agreed upon and used it without your permission.

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Additionally, she caused damage to the machine by allowing mold to grow on it. While taking the machine away may have been a bit harsh, you were well within your rights to do so since she broke your agreement and could've damaged your property.

DrMindbendersMonocle − NTA. She has no right to that 'resource'. You were being nice to make it available, but if a roommate abuses that generosity, you have every justification to take it away.

These hot takes from Reddit are spicy, but do they truly grind down to the core of the issue, or are they just frothing at the surface?

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This espresso machine saga is less about coffee and more about the bitter taste of broken trust. The OP’s decision to take her machine home wasn’t just about mold—it was about reclaiming her space and peace. In dorm life, where personal boundaries are as thin as dorm walls, her move feels like a stand for self-respect. What would you do if your roommate turned your prized possession into a science experiment? Share your thoughts—how would you handle a roommate who brews trouble instead of coffee?

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