Fellow Opus Review! | Did They Nail It?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Fellow Opus: geni.us/Uojeo Follow ODE Gen 2: geni.us/5DrOg 1ZPresso K-Max: geni.us/EBnMb Try our coffee! geni.us/4AAmhpj (As an Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases)

[@joshlee5739]

Even though Fellow didn’t nail it completely! You definitely nail it! This is a awesome review! Simple and easy to understand! Thank you for always providing coffee enthusiasts with the most straightforward and honest review! And definitely noticed the graphics in this video has been kicked up a notch! Keep up with the awesome work work Matt! 🙌🏼

[@LifestyleLab_]

Thanks for watching!

[@damnson6060]

You've got to be one of the best presenters I've seen on here. Really clear reviews without dragging on, I love your videos

[@LifestyleLab_]

Thank you!

[@jjlumagbas]

This was the best explanation so far of the micro-macro adjustment! vs Lance Hedrick, Kyle Rowsell, and even Fellow's official video. (Yes been binging the past few days.) Thank you!

[@LifestyleLab_]

It’s a tough thing to visualize!

[@Arch0n8]

I liked the visualization. But the example is not the best. +1 macro -2 micro is not the shortest way. Instead you can do -1 macro +1 micro. (-16) And the second step is 0 macro -1 micro. (-33) The third step is -1 macro. (-50)

[@mqrxhe]

I'm very happy you decided to begin showing your face in videos. It adds a more personal touch, and feels more like a person is talking to me rather than just my monitor.

[@blackforest_fairy]

got mine yesterday... still struggeling with adjusting the right grind size... i decided for the opus because i do both espresso and filter on a daily base and I was looking for an affordable grinder which a) can do both and b) where I can switch between both Options easy .

[@400080vikkash]

The macro micro adjustments is what killed it for me..

[@Mynameisgus94]

Great review, confident with my recent purchase of the Opus. Black Friday sale $156. Thanks!

[@bbbo85]

Not dividing steps evenly is not an issue but It would've made more sense to have micro outside and macro inside like how Breville did. You would set internal once for a brew method and fuss with outer ring for dialing in.

[@rxonmymind8362]

I'm glad you're an expert and you have a handle on the adjustments because I would have thrown it out the window.

[@MorganWhaley]

I am guessing there will be a "PRO" version to follow with the build quality we're used to with the Ode. Hopefully it will address the grind adjustment confusion as well. Thanks for the informative review. I always look forward to your clear, objective evaulations of coffee gear....

[@LifestyleLab_]

Ou interesting thought about the “Pro” variant. Let’s see if you’re right!

[@dkedavid]

I was eagerly awaiting the Opus but am disappointed in the reviews. Re a PRO version - I would be willing pay more if it was metal and had sensible espresso grind adjustment system. Hopefully they are already working on a v2!

[@MorganWhaley]

@@dkedavid Same here. I plan to wait a while and see what comes next, though I realize it may take quite some time.

[@joeriley6640]

I bought one and I hate it. Went back to hand grinding with my JX-Pro. It's too much of a pain in the ass to dial in, I'm either choking my machine or shots pull in less than 10 seconds.

[@theebadge]

Ahhh. The micro adjustment thing makes sense now. The graphic was helpful.

[@user-mx6me1yv1u]

They had me in the first part, then lost me at the grinder setting part which you had to take a full deep breath to explain 😆

[@MelbourneMeMe]

Is this really such an issue? You set it once, finish a bag of beans, then maybe adjust it next time with a new bag... How often are people honestly changing their grind setting at home?

[@Arcolyte13]

is 2/3 of a step really so complicated as to confuse people? That is what boggles my mind people are falling to pieces trying to add 2/3s together any number of times. Sure smaller steps would have bene nice, but also would have increased manufacturing and Q&A costs, I imagine quite substantially but they'd be the ones to know for certain.

[@goldencalf5144]

Fantastic review. Straight to the point without any fluff. I wish Fellow just made the Ode to be capable of grinding espresso. If they can make a cheaper grinder that has that capability, I don't see why it can't also be done in the Ode for not too much extra money. The DF64 proves you can make an affordable grinder with 64mm burrs that can grind espresso.

[@OSUBoxkator]

Because the ode is a flat burr grinder. You can't just snap your fingers and make a grinder do both. There is a reason that there are not many grinders that do both. The ones that do don't compete from a quality perspective compared to the grinders focusing on either filter or espresso coffee.

[@goldencalf5144]

@@OSUBoxkator DF64??? Actually, there are a bunch of grinders that do both. My Baratza Vario is flat burr and grinds espresso. Most Mazzer grinders are flat burr and they are mostly used for espresso here in Australia . The Chinese are making a heap of cheap flat burr grinders that can grind espresso. There's nothing magical about flat burrs or conical burrs. They just produce a different particle size distribution depending on the burr geometry.

[@OSUBoxkator]

@@goldencalf5144 I'm talking about ones with the range to do both well.

[@goldencalf5144]

@@OSUBoxkator Well that comes down to the burr set and the capability of the motor. With the Ode, you can swap out the burrs with SSP burrs that are capable of grinding espresso (and also provide a great filter brew). However, it seems the motor in the Ode is not powerful enough to grind espresso without risk of burning out.

[@OSUBoxkator]

@@goldencalf5144 I was under the impression flat burrs created too much resistance which is why they can't do espresso range. Additionally, ode has flat burrs because they preferred the flavor profile for pour over. End of the day: you can't do both without an incredibly high price point or making a a decision that clearly favors espresso like going with conical burrs and probably stepless OR having an incredibly powerful motor which would also be expensive.

[@louisd95714]

Wow, looks like, except for the micro adjustments, they really hit this out of the park. I can see this as a serious contender for the Breville SGP. To top it off, this is a much, much better grinder for espresso, when used correctly.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Absolutely outdoes the SGP in terms of grind quality 👍

[@evcisnso]

Another great video! I don't understand your grind settings section. You state that to go the smallest step finer you have to first move the macro adjustment one step coarser, then go two steps finer on the micro adjustment. Given that one micro step = 2/3 macro step, that gives you a total of +1 -2/3 -2/3 = -1/3 macro steps. But couldn't you achieve that more simply by just going one macro step finer, then one micro adjustment coarser? That's -1 +2/3 = -1/3 macro steps: the same result.

[@LifestyleLab_]

You are correct, two ways to achieve the same result, two ways that are more confusing than they should be

[@evcisnso]

@@LifestyleLab_ Thanks for confirming my understanding! I completely agree. It seems the position of the pointer doesn't reflect the final total grind setting, either, so you don't actually where you are without also examining the inner dial. Just too confusing for anyone dialing in espresso.

[@steph8408]

Thanks for the review and also for not glazing over the ridiculousness of the micro adjustment work flow. There may be a couple of good points about the Opus but on the whole it is a very compromised grinder especially compared to the Encore ESP in the same price bracket. I certainly wouldn't be recommending it. Thanks again & Cheers.

[@SteelyTheVan]

So once you understand the micro and macro adjustments, then the grinder works well. A small learning curve to "pay" for the grinder in my view.

[@LifestyleLab_]

I’d say that’s a fair way for putting it :)

[@dylan-nguyen]

Honestly I think the micro adjustments aren’t that big of a deal Find your espresso grind size then base your filter grind off of that since the filter grind won’t be as affected by the micro adjust ie: espresso is 1, 1 tick, 3 micro adjust filter is 4 clicks 2 tick, leave the micro adjust alone

[@josephjankowski1153]

That would be fine if every bean required the same setting for espresso, but that is usually not the case. I often do multiple types of beans in the same day, decaf vs. regular for example. Dialing in different beans for espresso requires making micro adjustments, which are quite frankly, way too confusing on this unit. I was interested in the Opus, but it's a hard pass for me.

[@dylan-nguyen]

@@josephjankowski1153 hmm I think for the price many people aren't going thru a bunch of different beans though that's just my thoughts probably one bean for espresso and one for filter brew we go thru around 4-6 cups of coffee a day and a 340g bag of beans lasts me like 3-4 weeks.. (I freeze it in ~110g increments)

[@Shazam_24]

after seeing reviews for this and the encore esp, i think fellow missed the mark. i was really considering moving on from my sette 30 but now i think ill just upgrade to the 270 ring adjuster

[@Cenot4ph]

Good review, clearly explained how the adjustment system works. Thanks 🙏

[@carrscoffee]

I love my opus it's a tank absolutely a tank it never stalls or nor does it wind down . Some higher priced grinders stall all the time but not this grinder I love it ❤

[@trojanhman8136]

Hi, I come to your channel because I completely trust you. In regards to this grinder, I am happy with all but the dialling in. I don't care that it is plastic and scratches because of the price. In Australia, the 1zpresso J Max is $349 and this Fellow Optus is $359. So I think this company is following a good strategy. There are two other more expensive grinders that I want to look at before I decide. They are the new range of Eureka grinders and another one I just saw yesterday called Timemore sculpture 078 but for espresso which has not been released yet.

[@ConradoDucommun]

Great Video! Looking forward to the comparison between the Opus and the Encore ESP.

[@harstar12345]

Once you have the beanie app you'll be perfectly happy with this grinder, solves the issue completely

[@LifestyleLab_]

All well and good, but an app shouldn't be needed for basic grinder functions to be intuitive

[@harstar12345]

@@LifestyleLab_ I agree, but I'm paying £200 for a grinder that can do what £500 grinders do, so I'll open an app once a week to dial in a new bean. Pretty sure 99% of people would be happy doing the same. Fellow should buy the app from the dev, though, have it as a QR code that comes with the device

[@Leland64]

This was great explanation of how silly the adjustment system is. Thank you! My mind boggles at why they chose this for a beginner audience.

[@MelbourneMeMe]

How often do you adjust the grind setting on your home grinder? Everyday? Do you wake up and taste test each step to see if it's changed from yesterday? Do you one day drink espresso, next day cold brew, next day filter your coffee? Or do you set it once, then leave it until you decide to change beans...

[@anthonytorgerson4175]

Great video. I guess this won't be my espresso only grinder. Have you had a chance to try the Stone espresso machine? I was just wondering your thoughts on it.

[@KrishnenduKes]

One needs to be a competent mathematician to calculate grind size on the Opus it seems. You did not much dwell on the espresso tastes... sweet/more acidic/body etc?

[@supremestarhawk]

I think the micro adjustment scale makes sense because once you changed the inner blue ring one tick finer, it moves the outer ring one tick coarser, but you have to switch it back to 5 because, now "5" is finer than before, and I think that will be enough for the target market for this grinder.

[@LifestyleLab_]

When you change the micro adjustment, it moves the burrs. If you were to then move the Macro adjustment as well, you’d have moved a total of 1.66 clicks

[@supremestarhawk]

@@LifestyleLab_ Someone made an app called "Beanie - Grind Size Finder" that helps dial in every possible incremental setting on the Opus . But if I'm understanding it correctly, by simply using the inner blue ring, that gives each outer setting a -6 and +6 level of adjustability. I think that will be enough for most people and the easiest way to think about it. BUT the confusion is there are actually -12 and +12 if you know how to set the two rings, and this app really helps dial those possibilities in.

[@pedros500]

Great review. I think I comment on maybe 1 in 500 videos, so take that. Exceptional.

[@erikroisland5016]

Love the comment about the Ode Gen 2. I completely agree that's the model that should have launched. The grind adjustment on the Opus is a no go and ridiculous. Encore ESP for the win. Let's hope the Opus 2 doesn't take another 2 years like the Ode gen 2...

[@dibrenn3432]

Got an opus. It ain’t that bad. It’s quiet sleek and cool looking and can grind both sets a beans very well. Haven’t even touched the second adjustment knob. It’s great. Encore esp is nothing special.

[@maciejrajewski2937]

At last! Fellow grinder for espresso. But we all already have an espresso grinder.

[@evandux]

That grind adjustment process for espresso is a deal breaker for me. Baffling design choice. Hopefully if they do a v2 of this grinder they'll fix that.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Gen 2 seems to be where Fellow grinders really shine, haha

[@steph8408]

@@LifestyleLab_ Save the embarrassment Fellow and just start off with the Gen 2.

[@LanceHedrick]

Great video!

[@LifestyleLab_]

Thanks Lance!

[@thelikotube]

Fellow opus vs MiiCoffee DF54??? which one is better?

[@rmainr9495]

Are you sure the micro adjustments move the burrs? I can't tell by looking but it seems like they wouldn't. Because let's say you want the outer ring at 0. The minimum on outer ring is 1 so in order to get to 0 you set the outer ring to 1 and then you move the inner ring all the way finer. The outer ring will now show you at 2 but you're still really at what 1 was previously so the burrs havent moved yet. Moving it back to 1 now effectively gets you to 0. So i think for espresso you move outer ring to the point to where it's flowing a bit too fast. Let's say that number is 2. Then do 1 or 2 micro adjustments and then move outer ring back to 2. Similar to above where 1 was finer by 6 micro adjustments, effectively being 0. 2 in this case would be a bit finer than it was before by 1 or 2 micro adjustments.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Yes, the micro adjustment moves the burrs. I’ve spoken to Nick himself (head hardware engineer at Fellow)

[@robojimtv]

Should note that conical burrs handle fine grinds with less torque than a flat burr would. An espresso friendly Ode probably needs something like a 250-300W motor and that would make it louder, bigger and more expensive. We may yet see that one day but I think Fellow are wary of pushing up their selling price as of yet.

[@bren.r]

Sound isn’t based on wattage. The things that matter are: brushless/non brushless, operating RPM, how well-insulated the internal components are from transferring the resonance to the exterior, wall thickness, bean density (lighter roasts will be louder) A high wattage, low RPM brushless grinder will be far quieter than say a cheap, thin plastic-walled low wattage grinder that markets a 1500 RPM motor as being a good thing to ignorant consumers.

[@Tass...]

It's a cheap grinder that can grind in the espresso range. Lots of compromises have obviously been made to achieve that. I would never want one myself (i'm not the target audience tho) and i think i f i was on a limited budget i would rather pick a good hand grinder rather than something like this. It's a pretty nasty bit of kit that looks very frustrating to use but there are plenty of people wanting to get into espresso who don't have the funds to do it that will pick this up.

[@steph8408]

The Encore ESP would be a far better choice in this price bracket for many reasons.

[@rxonmymind8362]

KitchenAid coffee burr grinder. I have one and it's ability to make grounds for my Moccamaster and espresso was a huge selling point. Trick is the micro burr adjustment inside the grinder has to be taken out reset at 1 then throw your espresso dial over to 65-67 and you are ready to pull a shot. Anti-static bean holder and being the quietest machine I've had the pleasure of using is a bonus.

[@tristanbishop34]

Can we get a comparison of the Ode vs the Barista Pro grinder? I am trying to decide if it is worth the upgrade since I would be using it for both pour over and espresso but if it's not worth the upgrade I would be inclined to keep my hand grinder for pour over and still use Breviles included grinder since it does a good enough job for me since most of my espresso drinks are milk based or americanos with vanilla

[@LifestyleLab_]

If only doing milk drinks, you might be best to just keep the setup you have. However, for both pour over and espresso, the Opus is better than the Barista Pro grinder I’d say. I’d maybe look into a dedicated flat burr grinder like the ODE gen 2 for your pour overs, and then only upgrade your espresso if you eventually upgrade to a machine without a built in. Seems like you’re happy with the Barista Pro grinder for now

[@paul-1124]

Fellow opus or timemore scluptor 64s? I have 7hrs to think until kickstart prices go up an i desperately need your opinion 😂 for majorly filter brews and espressos in the near future

[@AnkushNarula]

How do light/med pour overs compare with the Niche Zero? Any early thoughts?

[@LifestyleLab_]

I would say the Opus is actually slightly superior to the Niche for pour over. Seemingly lower fines, more clarity, less bitterness

[@AnkushNarula]

@@LifestyleLab_ I did my own filter coffee comparison today with two separate coffees - the Opus is definitely much clearer/brighter and less murky/muted than the Niche Zero

[@kombicoffee]

Great review! Thank you!

[@ronaldorodan6237]

Nailed it. I’m going in!

[@DFlo780]

If you could buy the Gen1 Ode for $100... or the Opus at its regular price point... which would you go for? I typically just brew for batch brew. Thanks love the content!

[@LifestyleLab_]

Hmmm, that’s an interesting question. I’d probably go with the ODE Gen1 because it allows for burr upgrades down the road if you wanted to, and will perform better for batch brewing than the Opus

[@DFlo780]

@@LifestyleLab_ wow thank you for the incredibly quick reply! I appreciate your advice.

[@MBergyman]

Stepless micro adjustment would've been the bees knees. I'm still hesitant to replace the Super Jolly on my counter, even though it takes up a massive footprint on my tiny counter.

[@Maybaby1959]

Don’t replace it

[@DeeDeeDanone]

You must've been eager to review this, couldn't even wait to change out your pyjamas. 😜

[@stephannguyen8]

Looking to upgrade grinder! I have a Breville Barista Express w/ built in grinder. With the Opus price point, how much of a change will my espresso taste?

[@LifestyleLab_]

It’ll be noticeable, and allow you to dial in more effective because of the smaller grind steps

[@jstavsky]

Hi. Thanks for the great review. For espresso I have a DF64. I am looking for something for making cold brew, drip and the very occasional pour over. Ability to do espresso as a backup could be nice. In this price range would the Ode Gen 1 be better?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Why not use the DF64? :) If you're looking for a dedicated just filter / coarser settings grinder, I do still highly highly recommend the ODE. However, I do think it's worth the price to get the new version over the 1st gen

[@jstavsky]

I (or wife) want to avoid always having to redial in, but without spending too much.

[@LifestyleLab_]

@jstavsky makes sense! If you're up for it, a hand grinder like the 1ZPresso K-### is also a good option. Electric, you'll be very happy with an Ode

[@jstavsky]

Even the gen 1 (for the price point)?

[@LifestyleLab_]

@jstavsky if you can get a deal on the Gen 1 sure! Can always upgrade burrs down the line

[@donykoh]

I am using eureka mignon specialita for espresso grind , it’s painful to set the adjustment therefore looking for another grinder for pour over. Is this opus good enough for that role ? Since ode gen 2 can buy two opus in Singapore

[@LifestyleLab_]

If you already have a Eureka for espresso, I would really push to get an ODE if possible. But if not, it did perform well. Could also look into a hand grinder from 1ZPresso

[@DrewCommins]

I got an Opus a few days early as a subscriber to Fellow's newsletter. It worked fine but the power button was so sensitive, it would sometimes restart after I stopped it. Fellow is replacing it with a new unit. You're absolutely right about the grind adjustment. So odd and it only seems to help at the lower end for espresso. Once you dial it in for that, you're essentially just re-homing the finest setting to be finer or courser.. I doesn't change the spacing between clicks on the main wheel, it only seems to adjusts the finest setting down from 1 to .6 or .3.

[@WMDistraction]

I don’t own one yet, but it seems to me that you only ever want to use the micro adjustment for espresso and “zero” it for anything else, and dialing in espresso would mean making an educated guess to get within 5-10 seconds of expectation and moving the micro adjustment diner/coarser to compensate. Does the manual include recommended espresso settings for different roast levels or no?

[@DrewCommins]

@@WMDistraction That's correct about setting it for espresso but you don't need to change it for anything else. It's all a matter of how you like other brew methods on where you put the main dial. For me, I have the blue ring set to 4 ticks toward the minus side. That gives me the best grind for the espresso I like. For pour overs, I just set the main ring to 5 or 6 (like they suggest on the lid). If I find that to be too fine or too course, I just move the main ring a few clicks. The manual doesn't have any grind setting recommendations for roast types but it does have dosage ratios for brew methods.

[@stephensmirke2146]

Mine stopped working after about 5 months of owning it. I would grind medium roast beans for espresso always starting the motor before pouring the beans in. The company has not replied to my warranty claim and it has been over a week.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Fellow are very good, they will get back to you :)

[@Arch0n8]

I can't find any other option for not noisy, not ugly grinder in stock. There's no alternative way up to $1000

[@LifestyleLab_]

For espresso? The Opus is definitely a good value under $1000!

[@davidvandruff9368]

Question. I'm primarily a French roast guy and I've hand ground for longer than I'd like to have. I'm looking to buy a good electric grinder that I don't have to be an engineer to operate. I'm hoping it will grind really well for a French press as well as an occasional pour over. What would be your suggestion. I've looked at the Ode gen 2, but it's fairly pricey. What should I look to be paying if you don't mind me asking?

[@LifestyleLab_]

If you’re just doing pour over and French press the Ode is always my top suggestion. It offers stellar performance at a great price The opus will also suit you if you’re looking to spend a little less. The grind adjustment complication really only applies to espresso where you need the absolute smallest steps. For pour over and French press, you could just use the outer dial with no issue

[@davidvandruff9368]

@@LifestyleLab_ What are your thoughts on other more available options like Encore and similar?

[@LifestyleLab_]

I would take the Opus over the Encore for what you’re looking for. Much quieter and better single dose workflow

[@epicbard]

Had they launched with a white version on day one I would have overlooked the shortcomings. However, I already have a grinder and have to wait to end of year for white... so pass. Maybe Gen2.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Yes, too bad the white finish is delayed, I know a lot of people really like it

[@illiniwood]

Clearly, an engineer is running the show at Fellow. I worked for an engineer for 22 years and dealt with engineers on almost a daily bases. They tend to make even the simplest things complicated as if they try too hard to make everything their own. If you let them, they'd even make getting lunch way too complicated on most days. It's quite apparent that whoever designed this ridiculous contraption to set a finer grind for espresso didn't bother with a consumer feedback panel before taking it to production.

[@dr6124]

Yeah and nobody wanted the headphone jack to be removed from flagship smartphones. Sometimes consumers don't know what they want

[@illiniwood]

@@dr6124 Those that are elite decided to not give us sheepsumers a choice.

[@harstar12345]

​@@dr6124 this only became a good decision because it moved other industries (Bluetooth headphones) because, trust me, they used to suck for their price. There is, of course, consumer industry interplay, i.e. more customers buying Bluetooth, driving prices down as more resources are feasible to put into BT technology Once you get a good set of Bluetooth headphones you'll never go back, but everyone knew that, it was just cost inhibited, before. Apple essentially used their market share to move industry, which enabled changed customer behaviour. Same with BT mice, everyone knew they were more practical to not have a wire, but the technology would lead gamers to be disappointed in latency and battery life. Once those issues were fixed consumers have happily adopted the tech, people aren't dumb, and better products at competitive prices will sell

[@JustNel]

I guess I'm sticking with my Breville grinder 😂.

[@LaurenF123]

It is a great price point, but I wished they focused more on making the grind settings for espresso easier to use. I'm willing to overlook plastic elements in that price point, but if I can't dial in espresso without hurting my head on math and having to open the unit... pass for now

[@Arcolyte13]

2/3 steps is breaking your mind? I'm not trying to be offensive but this is a pretty basic arithmetic.

[@LaurenF123]

@Arcolyte13 so if I want to make a 1/3 adjustment finer, I need to move the out burr one notch coarser and then the inner burr (which I need to remove the loading bin to access) one notch. So yeah, I can do the math but it shouldn't be so much work.

[@Arcolyte13]

@@LaurenF123 3 extra steps, every once in a while to save 300+ dollars or having to manually grind your beans. Ilseems like a decent trade off to me. But you do you.

[@timhanley4396]

Any advice this or the Baratza Encore ESP

[@LifestyleLab_]

Yes, my Baratza Encore ESP video compares them :) Fellow if you prefer single dosing and want an all around grinder for espresso and pour over. Baratza if you want primarily for espresso and hopper dosing. Both great options

[@timhanley4396]

@@LifestyleLab_most of the time I’ll use it for my Moccamaster but would like one grinder for espresso too. I have the encore great machine the opus looks interesting

[@timhanley4396]

And thank you for the reply

[@lins9534]

I would buy it if the offered a stainless steel version

[@LifestyleLab_]

I do definitely prefer the finish on the ODE, but I think they were trying to keep this as budget conscious as possible

[@avtawf]

What were they thinking about the micro adjustments? Seems like their engineers couldn't figure it out and had a date for launch lol

[@danielebergonzi8461]

Maybe he/she had a date for lunch

[@wretchedworm]

no white version?

[@LifestyleLab_]

There will be! But not for a few more months

[@WeAreBullets]

will the Opus make a better and more uniform french press grind than my Capresso then?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Yes, absolutely. This burr set has been very carefully worked on. Absolute bargain at this price

[@WeAreBullets]

@@LifestyleLab_ BUT would the Ode 2 burrs give me a better more uniform coarse grind than the Opus ? sounds like ppl r saying the Opus doesnt give as good uniformity in grinds..? im not concerned about espresso right now

[@nickterzulli8912]

@@LifestyleLab_ I appreciate this comment Matt. Thank you!

[@LifestyleLab_]

If not concerned about espresso, the ODE is absolutely the better choice. Flat burrs offer better uniformity

[@garymchone7172]

@@LifestyleLab_ I'm a newbie. Best grinder for Cold Brew as that is what I will mostly be doing other than an occasional pot of drip?

[@obedgonzalez106]

is it able to grind clear beans for espresso?

[@LifestyleLab_]

What do you mean by “clear beans”?

[@obedgonzalez106]

@@LifestyleLab_ light roast

[@LifestyleLab_]

Yes, it has plenty of torque for any roast level. They’ve even done demos of it easily grinding green unroasted beans

[@obedgonzalez106]

@@LifestyleLab_ Do you know where I can find those demos?

[@LifestyleLab_]

21:31 of this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/hom3mYyCeraWp5o

[@WilliamTucker-j6w]

great job

[@Myusernamehere33]

Grind adjustment is a deal breaker.

[@Trevtardius]

I was kinda hyped for this grinder but it’s such a letdown. I really hope for a v2 with better grind adjustment and maybe at least metal on the base. They completely missed the mark on this grinder. The grind adjustment makes it horrible for any beginner, and no one who would know how to dial in on this grinder will buy a grinder at this price point.

[@tgalidaVO]

Micro adjustments are super confusing. Lance Hendricks had to do a calculus lesson to explain it

[@jimroberts6176]

Gen 2 was a rip off at the price they charged for it. I can't believe they introduced the Opus shortly after at ~$150 less.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Completely different grinders The ODE Gen 2 is still EXCELLENT value even at the new price point

[@ckohlermn]

I'm still confused, how is this innovative? Breville Smart Grinder Pro did the same price point and would be way easier for someone new to espresso. Is this a matter of Breville just not getting the recognition it deserves, or is the new Fellow Opus that much better?

[@LifestyleLab_]

Several areas the Opus is superior - Biggest one, burr design. Much better grind distribution, better tasting shots, less muddiness. SGP isn’t a great grinder from an overall taste perspective - Workflow. Single dosing, low retention, excellent static control - Noise level. Far far lower and less irritating - Build quality of internal parts, the Opus is a tank

[@rivengle]

To this day I don’t understand why coffee grinders don’t have a standard measurement unit for grind sizes.

[@LifestyleLab_]

As in a standard grind step size? Because smaller steps are always better when it comes to espresso. So much so that the “gold standard” in many peoples eyes are stepless adjustment grinders

[@rivengle]

@@LifestyleLab_ But that’s what the metric system is for. Every machine has a degree of tolerance e.g. most home scales don’t go beyond 0.1g accuracy. I’d like to see something like milli/micro/nano/meters, etc. And it’d be helpful when I’m grinding for pour overs or other non-espresso devices.

[@Aurummorituri]

Sorry, but no way. I’ve been buying Fellow cups and doodads for a while and thought the Ode was a tank of a grinder. Why did they make a bespoke espresso grinder CHEAPER than the Ode with tons of painfully obvious cost cutting? I would have gladly paid $300 for a mostly metal construction with more adjustments. What a miss.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Price point and build makes sense as they're trying to make it accessible to as many people as possible in the entry level market. However the usability has me confused.

[@borzica]

You should annotate the KZbinrs you reference from or credit them in your video.

[@LifestyleLab_]

And who did I reference in this video?

[@borzica]

@@LifestyleLab_ Lance Hendrick ?

[@LifestyleLab_]

*Hedrick And how so?

[@jorhay1]

Baratza ESP

[@xasm83]

dialing in is a huuge pain it doesnt worth it, also all the details look flimsy and after multiple micro adjustments I think it would just tear down

[@LifestyleLab_]

No concerns about durability, nothing is going to wear down here. Just an odd micro adjustment increment choice. Nothing more than that. If you want simpler, check out the Encore ESP we just reviewed :)

[@xasm83]

@@LifestyleLab_ my concern is that hopper is fixed by two small plastic bumps located on the hooks inside so eventually it will tear especially when you have to do such amount of micro adjustments moving hopper on and off

[@ThomasPokerNL]

How can the video not be sponsored but they sent you the product for free. That is sponsoring..

[@LifestyleLab_]

No, that’s providing a product for review. Do you think Fellow would have been pleased if they paid to sponsor this and I was as hard as I was on the grind adjustment and build quality? And regardless of your definition of sponsoring, I am fully transparent, which is what is most important.

[@Max-zg7hm]

I think it's quite a shame they didn't give it the same aluminum build quality as the ode. Who wouldn't want the quality of the ode but just with the ability to make espressos?

[@tomspotley5733]

Wow, that’s a mess.

[@MelbourneMeMe]

The comments here are so lol. How often do you dial in espresso? The correct answer is once. You dial it in once. Then you keep your grind setting until you switch beans. If you are making your coffee 7 different ways with 4 different beans on the go, you are the problem, not the grind setting mechanism.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Not necessarily… subtle grind changes are often needed as the beans age, and even as the environment in your kitchen changes day to day… That being said, it isn’t even so much an issue of how often you use it, it’s an issue that when you DO use it, it takes a surprising amount of thought to just move one step up or one step down by the smallest amount. A task that is completely mindless on any other grinder.

[@AWHel]

I came here to decide quickly whether I want to buy this. I could not understand at all how the grind setting works. What a horrible idea and design. Definitely not buying this garbage.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Not sure I’d go THAT far. It’s confusing at times, but still an excellent option for the money.

[@AWHel]

@@LifestyleLab_ how will I be able to use it though if I can't figure out how it works at all? The grind setting is like its main function, not just an optional feature.

[@adamrahmel6794]

The Fellow video does a good job explaining the design decisions and a much better job explaining how it actually works than all other videos I've seen. That said, it's still confusing at first. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHnNopiQZ9F3obM

[@LS-ti6jo]

Maybe you could use your hands to make gestures a little more.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Great takeaway from the video.

[@jasonahlstrom769]

@@LifestyleLab_ I will say - I'm glad you are now including your head in your videos - back in the day when your reviews were all torso and motioning hands - well. I'm just saying I like it better now.

[@LifestyleLab_]

Definitely a big improvement, haha

[@KOPI-DAN]

enjoy watching your review! very clear and to the point! thanks!