Fellow Aiden (+App!) Review - Better Brewer Than Me??

[@bolerkai]

This is the best Aiden review I have watched so far. Good job. I could see owning one someday, but I will wait for V2 or later.

[@jtvrm1]

Very cool and thorough analysis. I've had my Aiden for 2 months and love it as well. As a coffee nerd engineer, I did a similar analysis and the temp. stability and accuracy really push the quality of the brews here, great work by Nick and the team at Fellow. Now the temperature accuracy with ramping up temperatures between pulses is not as accurate as down ramping due to how the PID for the heating element is set up... Gues Nick's team set the integral bit too tight and the electronic's intrinsic response is not as good when ramping up as it is ramping down between pulses (PID, circuit impedance vs temp, etc.). I would love to be able change the water volume in each pulse (hopefully coming soon), to have a hybrid mode to use both shower heads in the same recipe (risky for less accustomed users), and the ability to set the water pressure coming out of the nozzle. Build quality-wise, it could be better indeed but then again the fact it's all plastic also helps with the thermal load and insulation of the system which helps with temp stability, still the housing could be better. The display lags a bit at times... The app, finally out, is a much welcome addition which really pushes the user experience to a new level. That said, it is a great machine and I don't regret my purchase, I love it and use it everyday and intent to continue to use it for my daily brews at home. Happy brewing everyone.

[@JeepBigE]

I really like my Aiden. I ordered it the very morning it was introduced. I love all the adjustability in the brews that the Aiden offers. I honestly haven't done any other brew methods since I've received this machine. Pretty amazing coffee maker!

[@Charles-pg6wx]

So glad you waited for the app to do your review! I'd rather get the whole thing than an incomplete review early. Also...I didn't think of myself as mixing metric and imperial, but of course my coffee and water are in grams/ml and my kettle is set to Fahrenheit. 🙃🇺🇸🙃

[@Erikforehand]

Great review. I would imagine that this initial unit was designed to get on as many peoples counters to see how great it is. I would imagine that in 2-4 years, we will get an Aiden Pro version with better build quality.

[@migueldnmtz]

Best review we’ll get from anyone on this machine! I’m a little less critical about the build quality but I do agree it’s not the Fellow experience I’m used to. I do think it’s a fantastic balance for the price. I’ve traveled with it a bit already (just road trips) and it did great, so I’m not really concerned with its longevity for my lifestyle. The brews are just so reliable and overall I’m very happy with mine!

[@gilbertrios5283]

Share your v60 recipe with us. I love this thing, it's the most advanced coffee brewer I've ever owned. The ability to create and save recipes and even share them, auto firmware updates, single or batch methods, removable water tank... I'm blown away by how this thing not having a water heating tank can make hot water instantly, really crazy fast! The most important thing though is consistency, once you dial in your perfect cup, this baby can duplicate that cup over and over it's that accurate! I think it's the best most advanced brewer available today!

[@_pierre_]

Your depth tests are more than good. And yes, you have indicated good points. But it's about the end product: the coffee. The cosmetics of this machine are subordinate to me. And yes, I like this machine.

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

Yup, totally get this! And the coffee is great!

[@euphorazyne]

Fantastic review, in-depth and informative! You’ve gained a new subscriber

[@gd515051]

That thing is a cool. The analog clock and being able to set metric/imperial for volume/temp separate should both be easily added with a firmware/app update. It’s nice they give the option to program with the machine but really anyone buying this will have a smartphone so the machine challenge is no biggy.

[@i3kel]

I think v2 or a premium version will be more worth the price. I don't like cheaping out of the ui ie screen and dial from the stagg kettle. Or if they made a version that was just for single serve.

[@mikni4069]

For me the build quality needs to be drastically improved this look like some questionable mass produced item from Lidl.

[@braxtonjens7839]

The coffee this makes is really good. And the UI is initiative enough to easily use. I agree on the build quality stuff, but it’s just ridiculous how good the coffee is with such little effort, especially as a busy parent.

[@mikehutten8447]

Im glad I saw the Aiden in person. Its hard to rationalize the $500 Cdn price tag. Im sure it makes great coffee, but is the coffee 10x better than a v60.

[@dubbs4561]

Have the Aiden at my work and it’s been great. I WISH the build quality was better, the coffee that comes out it’s as good or better than I make at home on my V60 or my Stagg dripper

[@Junestah]

Omg, that intro feels so real as a dad 😂 Probably the reason I have an automatic coffee maker in the first place

[@electrichimp]

Thanks for the video! Trying to decide between this and xbloom studio, what would advice be? 🤓

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

If you EVER want to do batch, I would say the Aiden. Personally I find the Aiden to be a little more forgiving overall. The xBloom sometimes has a higher ceiling but you also need to get your hands dirty in the app to get there. I do find the Aiden app to be a little more seamless when it comes to recipe creation. If you also need a grinder the xBloom def meets that need, the grinder in there is great! The xBloom also has a more solid feeling build, however, the on-device features are less intuitive than the Aiden. I would say weigh all those things out in your decision!

[@BBuchanan3]

Second review I've seen that says basically the same thing. Great coffee - cheap box. I thought about this for about a minute. In the end, I have to admit that I wouldn't be happy with the cheap side of it, and I really do enjoy my 15 minutes grinding and brewing coffee every morning. And one other thing: thinking about it, there's not a single piece of plastic in my coffee brewing technique today. Zero. Of course when I'm done, I go brush my teeth... with a plastic brush.

[@umarlatiff9595]

Thanks for the review. Pretty much solidified I should wait for V2 or later. I finally found the handgrinder for me thanks to you. based it on your taste profile sections in your grinder reviews (very helpful) : )

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

Thank you! Curious what you went with!

[@umarlatiff9595]

@ it’s not something you’ve reviewed before (unless u have it on hand 👀) i just used your taste reviews as reference I got the Mavo Phantox Pro. Sits between a zp6 (ultra clarity) and a c40 (balanced) profile wise, or so I’m told. I’m glad i saw your reviews before pulling the plug on the zp6 because it would not have suit me 😁

[@Ryan_S63]

Hey Justin great review ! I know you reviewed an Xbloom studio awhile back. If the price was the same would you recommend this or the studio? Thanks!

[@jm_strategic]

Nice shirt. All menu items on the screen should be centered rather than left-aligned. The design could take inspiration from the NEST thermostat, using a horizontal scroll instead of a vertical one, with individual settings displayed one at a time. Multiple clock options would be a nice touch.

[@lm3718]

Do you think Aiden would ever bring out a smaller version of this without batch brew…? I'd be interested in 1-2 cups but never bulk. I live in a metric part of the world - not sure why particular countries stick with the imperial system (imo). I don't miss it!

[@TheOneTwice]

There's metric options settings. There's both batch and individual baskets.

[@ggusta1]

Imperial is ok for miles vs km, I've lived with imperial for 60 years. Where it really really sux is in volumetric measurements and tiny distance, like anything under a mm. I brew in metric and am sorta bilingual on imperial v metric. I think it will eventually be metric worldwide but that might be a hundred or 200 years from now. It's not that big a deal. But yes imperial for coffee is whacked.

[@dominiclandry]

So would you go with this or the XBloom Studio?

[@DavidSousa23]

In about a couple of years, they'll just launch the Aiden Pro and the Aiden Pro Studio version with the option for wood accents for double or triple the price of the current version. I would consider getting one, but the poorly executed design choices are kind of a deal-breaker for me. Meanwhile, I'll stick to doing it the old-fashioned way.

[@davidhunternyc1]

Agreed. The Aiden is a hunk of plastic. Penny wise but pound foolish. The Aiden is a fail.

[@seanhassars]

Can we get a link to that custom v60 profile? 😊

[@SaucyNum3]

Love your videos. Hoping for Bianca v3 review

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

Thank you! This is on my list for sure!

[@frankgarcia3310]

How does this compare to the moccamaster? A church i went to used it and the brews were surprisingly good. Typically make a 20g v60 but want the ability to make batch brew if i have friends over or if i just want to press a button. I saw a moccamaster in the vid and i think if you did an in depth video comparing them id love to see it

[@DKMarik]

Hey Justin, thanks a lot for another amazing review of yours. Did you have a chance to compare the Aiden side by side with the xBloom Studio? I’d love such comparison to happen one day

[@gimig91]

@19:13 concerning the volume accuracy, I'm guessing you choose the volume of water that's pouring on the coffee. The coffee absorbs a part of the water, that happens with manual pourover as well. You can test it by brewing with 250ml of water and then weight the coffee you've made with it, it will probably be something like 240ml of coffee or less depending on your ratio.

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

I actually tested with the water draining into an empty brew basket and carafe, and also tried to include as much of the condensation as possible - no retention by coffee grounds or filter. So - this test is as accurate as possible to the actual water debit. I did ask fellow and they said this was within tolerance for their flow meter.

[@gimig91]

@@DaddyGotCoffee Ah alright yes that's definitely the flow meter then

[@ronaldlaeremans4797]

⁠@@gimig91I did the same test also without coffee or filter paper. 15g +/- 5g short for the 2 cups (300 ml) recipe in the 5 Times I measured it. Seeing it is pretty consistent, it is possible to adjust for it as stated in the video. I try to get within 5g with my pourovers. Although I am 100% confident I could not blind taste the difference between a 16x and a 15x brew ratio. Which is about what the max error I measured is.

[@lewinmg]

I’m looking at this or Xbloom. Do you have a favorite?

[@ericanderson1753]

Very different use cases. XBloom has built in grinder and can’t do batch brew. For me, someone who already has better grinders than the XBloom and brews every morning for 2, the Aiden was a no-brainer.

[@bjarnelund7299]

How many clicks do you use on your commnandante?

[@BenjaminSweetnam]

Bought one amazing had it for about a month now it's no longer dispensing the correct amount of water. About half as much as it should.

[@el_leachador]

Most batch brewers are made of plastic, so it doesn't really seem like a big deal. However, I can see how people who are familiar with Fellow products would be disappointed, especially with the type of plastic used. Software updates will happen, but you shouldn't buy a product for what it might be one day; you should buy it for what it is right now.

[@mikni4069]

I’ll wait till they sort out the beta problem, because that build look really underwhelming for the price of €375, it looks promising but there seem to be a bit too much corner cutting

[@Tass...]

It looks like the Aiden is using the exact same thermacoil units that Breville use in the Bambino and Barista espresso machines. The "Flow Through Heater" from a company called Ferro Technik. They certainly look the same. Not particularly well known for their longevity or quality. Probably a 3-5 year lifespan.

[@DaddyGotCoffee]

This may be, however I can’t deny that it is more stable and accurate than a bambino. This could be due to better software, sensors and programming even if it is the same heater - not sure

[@Tass...]

@@DaddyGotCoffee Yeah a consistant low pressure of water feed would make it much easier to keep a stable temp. It doesn't have the variable pressures of an espresso machine to deal with. I do find it interesting that they share the same heating element tho.

[@ZappyZwo]

@tass It looks like this is the new thing also in high end espresso machines combined with much better temperature control. There are a lot examples already there or upcoming like Zuriga, Maro, Ligre, Nunc or Roxy Espresso. It’s seems like this will disrupt the coffee machine business in the near future.

[@Tass...]

@@ZappyZwo Those machines you are talking about use high quality thermablocks. I'm referring to the tiny little thermacoil disc that the Breville machines use. No other espresso machines use those. They are very cheap little things. Not like the well insulated big slabs of aluminum used in the more expensive espresso machines with thermablocks.

[@ende421]

All named machines use thick-film heaters, not thermoblocks.

[@Foolsauce]

I feel like this would be perfect for my wife. What does your wife use to brew coffee for herself? Also, have you ever tried out the Pulsar Nextlevel? I am getting one for Christmas. :)

[@joelcleare]

Looks like I found a new work machine ! When the price is closer to $200 or V2 comes out.

[@DeferFuncClose]

If they make it in stainless steel, more colors, and fix the water reservoir empty issue I will 100% pay a few 100 dollars extra. It's not just about quality. There is also this issue called microplastics. It is probably not going to kill me? Probably not, but I'm just really not a fan of nearly boiling temperatures and plastic. For the same reason I'm surprised that marzocco decides to use a plastic piston spout for their portafilter on the Linea. Profitec opted for a silicon spout which I can get behind. You got Breville machines with thermojets that seem to heat even quicker than thermoblocks. Yet, plenty of people are willing to spend more for an ascaso because it just feels like a more sustainable purchase and just looks a lot better. I love the fact that this beats people in terms of brew quality. I just can't see it fit on my kitchen counter. I've got a Fellow Stagg + glass atmos containers on my kitchen counter because they're beautiful. This just looks awful.

[@gimig91]

Totally agree, I wouldn't drink coffee from it each day with all the cheap plastic parts in contact with hot water. I would also pay more for a glass/ceramic/stainless steel one.

[@BenjaminSweetnam]

So when you brew it shows you how much water it's going to use you peak at the tank and you can clearly see if it's going to have enough for the brew plus you can just top it up if it runs out no biggie.

[@DeferFuncClose]

​@@BenjaminSweetnam I totally get what you're saying. The appeal for me personally to get a machine like this is: convenience. I want to grind my dose, put it onto the machine and have it brew coffee. Checking the water is probably a small step but it is still a step. Would a sensor introduce a new point of failure? Sure, but it's a point of failure that doesn't kill the machine's ability to brew coffee. I'm nitpicking here but I've had negative experiences from Fellow's products. It's only fair to keep them accountable so that they raise their standards.

[@mikni4069]

Stainless can’t easily achieve the same stability due to conductivity and dissipation, you need to have heaters on every metal piece so its very energy inefficient compared to plastic as its more challenging to achieve the brews they are performing now on a metal construction brewer, same we see on hand brews were plastic versions are easier to brew at higher temperatures and higher extraction. Those I doubt they ever make an all metal construction

[@gimig91]

@ insulated glass or insulated stainless steel exist, no need to heat it actively

[@davidhunternyc1]

Fellow achieved the impossible with the Stagg by becoming the gold standard of electric water kettles. It's all the more remarkable that Fellow achieved this status considering how prolific and congested the coffee brewing space is. Fellow deservedly reaped the profits and made millions. What's surprising then is how little R&D went into making the Fellow Aiden. Fellow could've had another home run with the Aiden but instead they made another hunk of plastic coffee machine no better than a $29 Proctor Silex. I don't know what went wrong. My guess is that something isn't right within the walls of Fellow. Is Fellow putting profits over quality, greed over value? Something's rotten in Denmark.

[@brendansmith]

Not mixing Imperial and Metric for temp vs dose is nuts. I'm not asking my parents to learn Celsius, nor do I want to use a volume based measurement for the coffee. Also, I'm sceptical they "kept the price down" making this cheaply when it's the most expensive home drip coffee brewer on the market now or ever. Fellow should release a V2 that fixes these issues at the same price. Then it may be worth buying IMO.

[@TheOneTwice]

Both metric and imperial are there in the settings. People need to stop reviewing stuff they haven't even tried.

[@brendansmith]

@TheOneTwice What he said was that it was one or the other. meaning if temperature is in Fahrenheit then throw weight can't be in grams.