I completely agree that the build quality feels cheap. It reminds me so much of the early-stage Teslas, with big panel gaps but cool technology on the inside. My Aiden's water reservoir lid came snapped off, which likely happened in transit. That gets you an idea of how I really question the machine's reliability. The plastic dial to change between the single serve/batch dripper feels incredibly finicky and lacks a satisfying "click," to the point that I could see it eventually giving out. I am also frustrated with the machine's dripping and mess daily. It would really benefit from a simple, universal on/off drip switch found in much cheaper machines. When I remove the brew basket to rinse, it always drips, which will get very annoying over time. I don't want to have to lift up the lid daily and wait prior to rinsing. $345 feels like a premium price tag when considering all the quirks mentioned. It may "look" like a Fellow product but I really have doubts about how long it will last. If you register the machine you can get a 3 year warranty, and certain credit cards can even extend that to 4 years. I will be surprised if many people will go 4 years without having to replace something in this machine. But the length of the warranty means I think I will keep the machine, because I am so excited about the ability to share brew profiles. Imagine just downloading James Hoffmann's brew profile...that's magic, and where the machine stands out. Of course, the app is still not ready, and I have doubts on the ability of the Fellow team to make a reliable app given it's their first venture in that area. For most people, my best recommendation is to wait for gen 2. Like the ode grinder, I could see this machine truly changing the game with a gen 2 that works out the quirks. Most notably, if you had someone feel all the hinges and use the machine, they would likely expect the machine to be much cheaper than it is. My former Ninja drip coffee maker was half the price and actually "felt" more premium and long-lasting. Moccamasters are known to last forever, and at a similar price point it's hard to recommend the Aiden until it feels more premium. However, since I am the only person in my house that drinks coffee, and I'm a tech/engineering nerd, I will keep the product. I expect a year from now to have a warranty claim on something, based on the way the machine feels, but the coffee it makes tastes great.
To be honest I haven't found the build quality to be that bad. I suppose the hinges for the water tank could be strengthened but the main coffee lid is pretty beefy to me and it probably has slack to move because it carries water via a tube... but who knows. I prefer the slack of the hinges as it feels like it would be more difficult to snap or break something when you can't easily stress the plastic without properly going at it. The main part of this machine that I hope they didn't cheap out on is the pump. The LCD screen is also, hopefully, long lasting but to not tempt fate I have avoided the always on clock, though I'm probably being paranoid on that front. On the drip front I don't really mind a few drops of water. As it's just water it's not like it's making an actual mess, and just wiping with a towel is all I've ever needed to do. A big part of the cost for this machine is probably R&D as it does have a lot of unique features like its software and the ability to push flow rates irrespective of temperature, or whatever it was they designed. My alternative to this machine was the sage Precision Brewer, being about $160 cheaper, but even with that I kept hearing issues with its build quality and it was obvious it wouldn't brew a great single cup compared to a manual process. So I guess it depends on how much you care about coffee quality.
@@Infermity Maybe less about build quality and more lack of polish? For instance, there is supposed to be a drip stopper on the batch brewer, but this morning I took the carafe out and had five little drips of coffee land on the machine. Just feels like more simplicity could have improved some of these minor issues. A gen 2 will hopefully be more polished.
I agree about waiting for the next version, but I also hate that the "quirks" you and the video cite make it seem like it's still stuck in the prototype stage. Sure, Fellow could benefit frown owner feedback, but you'd think that they would have tested it enough and ironed out those quirks before release.
I own a Stagg EKG kettle and an Ode Gen 2 - build quality on both are top notch with a premium look and feel. Your comments about Aiden's plasticky construction give me pause...sure I want delicious coffee but I also want my brewer to exude the same quality as my kettle and grinder. Thanks for your comprehensive and honest review.
Agree totally with your review! I ordered the Aiden nearly a year ago and received it just about two weeks ago. Rationale at the time I placed the order for the Aiden: we have lots of overnight visitors to our home that always want coffee right away very early in the am when I’m not yet up. I thought this might be the fix. I’ve played around with many different types of beans, grind sizes and programs on the Aiden, and, in comparison to my Mocha Master, for everything - as you’ve explained in your review - other than a single cup up or two, there is no comparison, the Mocha Master always produces far better, more consistent results. I had hoped it would be better, but the Aiden is just OK if you’re a coffee aficionado and insist on, especially, deep or well nuanced quality brew coffee with clearly discernible flavor notes. I also wouldn’t have purchased the Aiden to replace a pour over as it’s nearly as fast to make a good pour over cup or two that will always be better than what the Aiden can do. So far, I’ve had three coffee drinking people over and brewed some coffee with the Aiden on several different programs and grinds for them this week and, In general, their reaction to tasting the Aiden brewed coffee is that it is “drinkable” or “not bad” or “OK,” and is “like the coffee they might get in an upscale diner” and that they “could have several cups of it if they wanted without having to worry about too much caffeine” - like they do when I brew coffee in the Mocha Master for them. I’m kicking myself, of course, because, for far less money, I could have put a timer controller on the outlet where I plug the Mocha Master’s electrical cord in, but now I have the black box that I likely can’t return. As other’s have said about the Fellow Gen 1 and Gen 2 Ode grinders - which my spouse jumped the gun on to purchase when the Gen 1 Ode when it first came out, because the noise from my original burr grinder that worked very well for 15 years, was unbearable and would wake anyone else up in the house who was still in bed. (I bought the replacement burrs for the Gen 1 and gifted it to a friend so at least it’s being used and only the original burrs went to the recycle or land fill.) For now, I’ll pull out the Aiden when we have houseguests who want coffee early in the AM and have no clue how to work the “parts” of the Mocha Master even after a couple of lessons. The Aiden Brewer will be set up the night before and will have kind of OK quality coffee ready for them at the time they wake up and I’ll be able to sleep until a more reasonable wake up time. Not sure that the Aiden was worth the price for this though. I’ll continue to play around with the Aiden and see if I can get any better results, but as other reviewers have said, it might be worth to wait for the Gen 2 version of this Fellow product. I’ll also follow the Fellow site and a few others to see if they offer any “fixes” to improve the brewing performance for those of us who like deep coffee flavors that are not bitter. The issue by Fellow of the better fairly expensive replacement burrs for their Ode grinder were a big and useful fix for anyone with the Gen 1 Ode grinder from Fellow. Thanks for your review on this.
I'm surprised to hear that you found large batches to be similar between the Aiden and Moccamaster. I have always been underwhelmed with batches larger than 750ml in my Moccamaster. I assumed this was due to the very narrow shower head, as I end up with pockets of dry coffee. I assumed the Aiden would produce better large batches with the combination of wide shower head and flat-bottom basket.
I have had great big batches on the Aiden but I also adjust the brew parameters to a bigger batch. I love that I can make low temperature blooms even on big batches.
I always find it curious that the Moccamaster is virtually always recommended by coffee brewer reviewers as the standard for batch. I understand that the build quality is excellent, but the flaws and weaknesses are glaring. The Behmor Brazen is a much better batch brewer, as just one example. Looking forward to the arrival of my Aiden.
I have this machine and for water level I basically just open the lid and check its level that way. As I only really brew 300ml normally the tank lasts a while so I never think about it.
I’m so torn between Moccamaster, this and the xbloom. The Moccamaster would probably be the pick but we want the flexibility of having the ability to do one cup and a batch. Which is also why xbloom is probably out. This seems to fit that niche but nervous about it just coming out and being Gen 1. We aren’t people who buy expensive coffee products all the time but want a solid maker.
I'd say the decision should come down to whether you feel like you would want to mess around with dialling in specific recipes or not. If that doesn't interest you at all then just get the Moccamaster. If you feel like you want to experiment now or might in the future, then get the Aiden.
Agree with all thoughts. I have it, and what you paid for is the technology and wuality coffee outcome for those up to 3 cups. I dont tegreat it because is for me and my wife, but its hard to recommend for most people, specifically because of the price tag.
Great review! Thanks for this. I think you're getting a comparable deal compared to similar brewers at that price point (Moccamaster, Ratio 6, etc.). Most coffee makers are primarily made of plastic, so they're on par with their competitors. They obviously sacrificed function over form, but they did nail the Fellow aesthetic. The lack of app completion is disappointing and takes away from a lot of the control they claim to offer the consumer.
I've been using mine for a month now, ~3 brews/cups per day. I really enjoy nerding out with it, and the cups it produces. It does feel and function like a prototype still however. I've also run into an issue where it occasionally tells me there's no water, when it's full - so likely will be doing a warranty replacement soon, which after just 1 month isn't a good sign but maybe I'm just unlucky.
Just a week later, the error is back and can’t be resolved with troubleshooting, time for a warranty replacement. So frustrating and worrying for the overall longevity of the units.
This machine is wonderful. Idk why there are complaints about the plastic as it still looks great on the countertop. For $365 and the features this has. I find it incredible. However most people will inevitably feel that they want something to weight 30 pounds for it to “feel” like quality. As for the drip when removing the basket. Putting down a simple kitchen towel negates any dripping for me. I’ve seen many people’s countertop when attempting to make pour over single batch coffee. And that mess alone triumphs the little “mess” that this machine does. Considering the fact that it will make pour over to my standard by simply pushing a button. It’s great to note the small things, but in comparison of the entire picture. I have a great cup of coffee with a lot less cleanup than brewing with a chemex and having dishes to wash lol. It’s an excellent addition for anyone’s coffee adventure. And I’ll still use my v60 and chemex anyways.
I really enjoy watching these reviews and I’m not even a coffee drinker (my partner is). You’re very photogenic and I love the accent. I also appreciate how you speak calmly and at an appropriate speed. I enjoy how technology and design intersect in everyday items. Some are great (Nest thermostat) while others suck (WiFi enabled water pitcher?!?). I’m a sucker for great design and branding. And I appreciate your reviews.
It does not have any motion, the two settings just determine how many of the nozzles are active, depending on whether you select the smaller or larger batch basket
Nice seeing the Gevi Grindmaster in the background. I own it since June and really like the aesthetics and workflow. However I have quite high retention if dont slap the grinder to death. On a 12g dose, I sometime only get about 11.3 grams and then have to slap it quite hard everytime
My water reservoir lid came snapped off, and it is taking me forever to get a replacement. Overall the machine feels like it will struggle with reliability over time, but the 3 year warranty is helpful if you don't mind having to constantly reach out to support when things don't work.
@dez797 yeah that stinks for sure, mine the water isn't brewing enough. Say for example I set my brew to 250 grams, I'm getting like 90 and that's even with just water flowing through without coffee. I shipped my unit back but they still haven't shipped my replacement yet
Feels like a slightly rushed release that could use another 6 months of R&D to iterate and work out the kinks. Add a water sensor / visual level from the front, add a vent for steam, cost reduce the manufacturing to keep the price point the same, and dial in the injection molding to better match surface finish and dimensions. I’d expect the Gen 2 to be a better value proposition.
I have fellow ode gen 1, seriously needs Mods. Big mistake should have waited for gen 2. Now I have 2 x fellow Ode2. I have Fellow Atmos vacuum coffee beans canister. Big Big Mistake. Leaks all vacuumed air in few days. Now I don't can't use it. Ruined lots Lots my coffees. Now they have Atmos gen2 with battery self vacuum for like $85. I could buy that new Lid for $50+ tax+ shipping. I will never never never Gen 1 of anything from Fellows again.
^^ this Any vacuum canister will loose vacuum as coffee de-gasses. It can't be left for longer than a few days (usually not an issue if you drink coffee every day)
@@richardbae9975 Coffee beans I put in the Atmos cannister is usually 2+ months old after I ordered them from Amazon. I have like over 7 Avid vaccum containers as well. My newer dated coffee beans goes in those. BTW. My Atmos container is the Largest Size of that Model.
@@richardbae9975Also, if you have kept the vacuum lid charged, and the perimeter gasket that seals to the glass is clean and the glass perimeter edge is not chipped, the vacuum lid will, if pressure is lost, run the vacuum process again to clear the air inside the canister. Be sure to tell anyone visiting your home that that might happen as it always freaks people out when the lid runs on the canister on its own.
I would have paid more for a studio edition/metal Aiden but overall I think it blows the moccamasters, breville, oxo, and bonavita brewers out of the water. And it will only get better once the app is out
Same! I have a Stagg Pro Studio (and actually the Corvo kettle to use with the same stand). I assume one will come out later and it’ll be tempting not to upgrade. I am even considering the Aeropress Premium but I am too afraid I’ll break it.
I have Bonavita Enthusiast and Xbloom Studio. I also have CafeC Flower Dripper and Top rated Kettle. My Bonavita Enthusiast made me high end Pour Overs Quality many countless times. BTW, I have Chemex, Hario Switch as well.
I'm about three weeks in with mine and enjoy the coffee. Not world shattering but very good. Sadly it's just not ready for prime time! Obviously rushed out for the holidays when not 100% so they get to take some whacks for doing so! It stings a bit to pay $400 to be a beta tester. I emailed Fellow with this fact and received several boilerplate responses instead of thoughtful replies. Kinda scars me that this thing is NOT gonna last and at $400 should last many years but....I bought off Amazon and return option for another week so will see if by some miracle they actually get it together. NO WAY they get a free pass by charging us to be guinea pigs!
In my opinion I don't think it would sell well. Most people like me just want a decent cup of coffee without fiddling anything, as what the Moccamaster provides. There are far fewer coffee enthusiasts, who would drool for a machine like this, but as I previously said, most other people would pass.
Technically great concept. But I won't pay near to 400$ for a wobbly plastic bomber like this, which even bends. That's a no go for this price. I'd rather pay 500-550$ for this machine in a higher quality case.
So its plastic made, with most of the "features" of a normal dripper. Even the boxy black bulky design doesnt seem to fit in their line. Dont really see it blend into a normal kitchen. And if you want to nerd out about coffee, you take a manual dripper anyways. I havent looked at the price yet, but i rather stick with my moccamaster. Coffee in, one button, amazing coffee. And even ez to repair if need be. And lt even looks like a coffee machine (purposefull desing Objekt on the counter instead of a black box). If you are a coffee there are already very good granular batch brewers out there as well. Dont really see where the hype is coming from, other than the brand name
It has a lot more features than a moccamaster, and the main selling point is it does good single brew cups with a lot of customisation available. I think there is a demographic of people who like to nerd about coffee but don't want to always go through the manual process to get there.
I really dislike when reviewers say that early review units have "zero" impact on a review. Even if it's not conscious review units are highly likely to change your opinion on a product. I don't know the best solution to this as of course consumers want reviews and opinions of the product before it is released to the public so they can make informed purchasing choices. Maybe state your bias at the start and say you'll make every effort for it not to effect your review? Saying you are immune to unconscious bias is just unrealistic and obviously false
We're really talking semantics here. I have given you transparency on where the unit for review came from, and as you just did, you draw your own conclusions as to the biases that may impart. I state my disclaimer the way I do because I have a 4 year + track record of doing exactly that. Providing straight forward, fact based feedback on products. Almost 100k people follow because of that. As always, come to your own conclusions, one review is only one data point in a buying decision
@LifestyleLab_ yep you are definitely doing the right thing stating that it's a review unit. Just some honest feedback from a viewer that when you claim to have no bias it makes me cringe and take a much more cynical view to anything else you say in the review.
@Dan-uy2ld just as a counterpoint here. Bias also exists in the cases where I do purchase the units myself... Spending money on an object also introduces bias. Is that MORE bias than a demo unit? Less? Equal? There is no perfect situation... The best case scenario is to be as transparent as possible, and let the viewers make their own informed decisions. Period.
Sorry it looks ao cheap and you easily pointed that out early in the video. However i cant fathom why people would pay 100s for an auto brewer. If your buying this, it would hont that youre into specialty coffee. Stop being lazy and brew your own cup. Dont cave in into more gadgets, HE baskets, overpriced Weber products, $150 aeropress , more wdt tools.
Convenience has a price. "Just do it by hand" isn't a suitable counterpoint to those who don't have time for a manual pour over every time they want a coffee
I'm really sorry to say this but a machine with this design would never find a place in my kitchen. The Ode looks good but this.... blob.. somehow manages to look snobby and cheap all at once.
Interesting that you enjoy the ODE aesthetic but not this! As always, looks will always be completely subjective and there's nothing wrong with that :)
I love the look - right next to the Ode Gen 2 Fellows Grinder - looks great together and to clarify -the coffee "pot" is stainless steel which is much superior to glass for heat retention. The heating function of the apparatus is in the control of the temp of the water flow. The resting spot for the pot is not heated and therefore NEVER have that scorched, burned, too long on the heat coffee taste. Always second cup in any other coffee pot tastes worse than the first unless you gulp down your first cup. Bot the Aiden is literally "Good to the last drop"!
I find it absolutely mind blowing that they chose plastic as the main material. There are so many people that prefer glass / metal over plastic materials that claim to be food safe. This is part of the reason that the aeropress premium exists now. I won't buy this machine for the sole reason that it's essentially using boiling water in a fully plastic enclosure.
This confirms my suspicion that the overpriced Aiden wouldn't be a notable upgrade compared to my Bonavita big batch brewer that I use every morning to brew a full pot for my wife and I.
It’s not overpriced, it’s similarly priced to every other good batch brewer. Good luck getting any hardware support from bonavita, they’re basically bankrupt these days. Why do people have to come on channels and slag something out of petty jealousy?
I wouldn't call it overpriced, just not a worthwhile upgrade over SOME other batch brewers if you don't intend to take advantage of the smaller batch brewing or customization
@@Evan_Rodgers Jealousy? I am not at all jealous. If I wanted this I would have it. My Bonavita was $150 and I've had it for 7 years without issue, so I am not really concerned about getting support for it. Fellow is the "apple" of coffee products. Good, but too expensive and there are other offerings that perform just as well for less. This is coming from someone who has an Ode II grinder.
@@LifestyleLab_ You mentioned the Mochamaster in this video. I've been drawn to that, but that single line shower head just seems like it wouldn't saturate the grounds as well as a more circular shower head design. Also, don't hot plates tend to burn the coffee compared to a thermal carafe?
@Icipher4 I had the same concerns, but was always very impressed with the results. I think the conical brewer helped a lot to fully saturate the grounds, and a slightly slower flow rate as well. Moccamaster is available in a hot plate and thermal carafe versions, although I do prefer the glass carafe aesthetically. Pros and cons
How can you possibly say that receiving a T&E machine from Fellow has zero impact on your review? There is a difference between including a few downsides to the machine in a review versus evaluating a product that you have paid yourself.
Then don't take my reviews into consideration... that's completely up to you. I have spent 4 years objectively reviewing and serving the coffee community in an unbiased fashion. If you don't trust my statements or track record, then simply don't watch my videos
@6tuf get outta here- I paid full price for Aiden and wouldn’t have been as critical 😂 this was a great review doing a good job of pointing out all the downsides I’ve been living with (mainly build quality and the splash for using cups too short). I also am planning to try the lid propping trick. Can’t believe I didn’t think of that for the condensation before!
@@LifestyleLab_ that's not the point. You said nearly verbatim that receiving a T&E model had NO impact on your review. That's just not true, and it will never be true. You will never experience the frustration of dealing with faults in a product that you spent hard earned dollars on. That doesn't mean you can't put out quality reviews, but it doesn't make them 100% objective either. I'd just drop that statement from your reviews entirely, because it's obviously a blind spot for you.
@@6tuf85dyfuwhat you fail to see is that there is always bias, even if he would buy the unit there is still bias as he spent money for it. If you analyse in depth you can surpass bias therefore the in depth reviews are important from these content creators which was done in this video.
I'm not sure where my second response went, but this is exactly what I said in it as well. Spending your hard earned money on a product also introduces significant bias. Is that bias more or less than being given a review unit? In the end, it is up to the consumer to be informed by creators on where the products came from, and then they can take it from there in terms of how they interpret the review based on that person's track record and their own individual evaluation of the information presented. Transparency is key
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Moccamaster: geni.us/ugwMX
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I completely agree that the build quality feels cheap. It reminds me so much of the early-stage Teslas, with big panel gaps but cool technology on the inside. My Aiden's water reservoir lid came snapped off, which likely happened in transit. That gets you an idea of how I really question the machine's reliability. The plastic dial to change between the single serve/batch dripper feels incredibly finicky and lacks a satisfying "click," to the point that I could see it eventually giving out.
I am also frustrated with the machine's dripping and mess daily. It would really benefit from a simple, universal on/off drip switch found in much cheaper machines. When I remove the brew basket to rinse, it always drips, which will get very annoying over time. I don't want to have to lift up the lid daily and wait prior to rinsing.
$345 feels like a premium price tag when considering all the quirks mentioned. It may "look" like a Fellow product but I really have doubts about how long it will last. If you register the machine you can get a 3 year warranty, and certain credit cards can even extend that to 4 years. I will be surprised if many people will go 4 years without having to replace something in this machine. But the length of the warranty means I think I will keep the machine, because I am so excited about the ability to share brew profiles. Imagine just downloading James Hoffmann's brew profile...that's magic, and where the machine stands out. Of course, the app is still not ready, and I have doubts on the ability of the Fellow team to make a reliable app given it's their first venture in that area.
For most people, my best recommendation is to wait for gen 2. Like the ode grinder, I could see this machine truly changing the game with a gen 2 that works out the quirks. Most notably, if you had someone feel all the hinges and use the machine, they would likely expect the machine to be much cheaper than it is. My former Ninja drip coffee maker was half the price and actually "felt" more premium and long-lasting. Moccamasters are known to last forever, and at a similar price point it's hard to recommend the Aiden until it feels more premium. However, since I am the only person in my house that drinks coffee, and I'm a tech/engineering nerd, I will keep the product. I expect a year from now to have a warranty claim on something, based on the way the machine feels, but the coffee it makes tastes great.
To be honest I haven't found the build quality to be that bad. I suppose the hinges for the water tank could be strengthened but the main coffee lid is pretty beefy to me and it probably has slack to move because it carries water via a tube... but who knows. I prefer the slack of the hinges as it feels like it would be more difficult to snap or break something when you can't easily stress the plastic without properly going at it.
The main part of this machine that I hope they didn't cheap out on is the pump. The LCD screen is also, hopefully, long lasting but to not tempt fate I have avoided the always on clock, though I'm probably being paranoid on that front.
On the drip front I don't really mind a few drops of water. As it's just water it's not like it's making an actual mess, and just wiping with a towel is all I've ever needed to do.
A big part of the cost for this machine is probably R&D as it does have a lot of unique features like its software and the ability to push flow rates irrespective of temperature, or whatever it was they designed. My alternative to this machine was the sage Precision Brewer, being about $160 cheaper, but even with that I kept hearing issues with its build quality and it was obvious it wouldn't brew a great single cup compared to a manual process. So I guess it depends on how much you care about coffee quality.
@@Infermity Maybe less about build quality and more lack of polish? For instance, there is supposed to be a drip stopper on the batch brewer, but this morning I took the carafe out and had five little drips of coffee land on the machine. Just feels like more simplicity could have improved some of these minor issues. A gen 2 will hopefully be more polished.
Early adopters must be more patient and adaptable. And the more feedback they provide Fellow, the better for the rest of us. 😊
I agree with absolute everything above. Gen 1 products from this company are riddled with flaws
I agree about waiting for the next version, but I also hate that the "quirks" you and the video cite make it seem like it's still stuck in the prototype stage. Sure, Fellow could benefit frown owner feedback, but you'd think that they would have tested it enough and ironed out those quirks before release.
I own a Stagg EKG kettle and an Ode Gen 2 - build quality on both are top notch with a premium look and feel. Your comments about Aiden's plasticky construction give me pause...sure I want delicious coffee but I also want my brewer to exude the same quality as my kettle and grinder. Thanks for your comprehensive and honest review.
This is the review that I’ve been waiting for. Thank you for bringing it to us.
Best review of this so far! I agree, not the machine for dedicated batch brewing only.
Agree totally with your review!
I ordered the Aiden nearly a year ago and received it just about two weeks ago. Rationale at the time I placed the order for the Aiden: we have lots of overnight visitors to our home that always want coffee right away very early in the am when I’m not yet up. I thought this might be the fix.
I’ve played around with many different types of beans, grind sizes and programs on the Aiden, and, in comparison to my Mocha Master, for everything - as you’ve explained in your review - other than a single cup up or two, there is no comparison, the Mocha Master always produces far better, more consistent results.
I had hoped it would be better, but the Aiden is just OK if you’re a coffee aficionado and insist on, especially, deep or well nuanced quality brew coffee with clearly discernible flavor notes. I also wouldn’t have purchased the Aiden to replace a pour over as it’s nearly as fast to make a good pour over cup or two that will always be better than what the Aiden can do.
So far, I’ve had three coffee drinking people over and brewed some coffee with the Aiden on several different programs and grinds for them this week and, In general, their reaction to tasting the Aiden brewed coffee is that it is “drinkable” or “not bad” or “OK,” and is “like the coffee they might get in an upscale diner” and that they “could have several cups of it if they wanted without having to worry about too much caffeine” - like they do when I brew coffee in the Mocha Master for them.
I’m kicking myself, of course, because, for far less money, I could have put a timer controller on the outlet where I plug the Mocha Master’s electrical cord in, but now I have the black box that I likely can’t return.
As other’s have said about the Fellow Gen 1 and Gen 2 Ode grinders - which my spouse jumped the gun on to purchase when the Gen 1 Ode when it first came out, because the noise from my original burr grinder that worked very well for 15 years, was unbearable and would wake anyone else up in the house who was still in bed. (I bought the replacement burrs for the Gen 1 and gifted it to a friend so at least it’s being used and only the original burrs went to the recycle or land fill.)
For now, I’ll pull out the Aiden when we have houseguests who want coffee early in the AM and have no clue how to work the “parts” of the Mocha Master even after a couple of lessons. The Aiden Brewer will be set up the night before and will have kind of OK quality coffee ready for them at the time they wake up and I’ll be able to sleep until a more reasonable wake up time. Not sure that the Aiden was worth the price for this though.
I’ll continue to play around with the Aiden and see if I can get any better results, but as other reviewers have said, it might be worth to wait for the Gen 2 version of this Fellow product. I’ll also follow the Fellow site and a few others to see if they offer any “fixes” to improve the brewing performance for those of us who like deep coffee flavors that are not bitter. The issue by Fellow of the better fairly expensive replacement burrs for their Ode grinder were a big and useful fix for anyone with the Gen 1 Ode grinder from Fellow.
Thanks for your review on this.
I'm surprised to hear that you found large batches to be similar between the Aiden and Moccamaster.
I have always been underwhelmed with batches larger than 750ml in my Moccamaster. I assumed this was due to the very narrow shower head, as I end up with pockets of dry coffee. I assumed the Aiden would produce better large batches with the combination of wide shower head and flat-bottom basket.
I have had great big batches on the Aiden but I also adjust the brew parameters to a bigger batch. I love that I can make low temperature blooms even on big batches.
I always find it curious that the Moccamaster is virtually always recommended by coffee brewer reviewers as the standard for batch. I understand that the build quality is excellent, but the flaws and weaknesses are glaring. The Behmor Brazen is a much better batch brewer, as just one example. Looking forward to the arrival of my Aiden.
I have this machine and for water level I basically just open the lid and check its level that way. As I only really brew 300ml normally the tank lasts a while so I never think about it.
I’m so torn between Moccamaster, this and the xbloom. The Moccamaster would probably be the pick but we want the flexibility of having the ability to do one cup and a batch. Which is also why xbloom is probably out. This seems to fit that niche but nervous about it just coming out and being Gen 1. We aren’t people who buy expensive coffee products all the time but want a solid maker.
I'd say the decision should come down to whether you feel like you would want to mess around with dialling in specific recipes or not. If that doesn't interest you at all then just get the Moccamaster. If you feel like you want to experiment now or might in the future, then get the Aiden.
Agree with all thoughts. I have it, and what you paid for is the technology and wuality coffee outcome for those up to 3 cups. I dont tegreat it because is for me and my wife, but its hard to recommend for most people, specifically because of the price tag.
Great review! Thanks for this.
I think you're getting a comparable deal compared to similar brewers at that price point (Moccamaster, Ratio 6, etc.). Most coffee makers are primarily made of plastic, so they're on par with their competitors. They obviously sacrificed function over form, but they did nail the Fellow aesthetic. The lack of app completion is disappointing and takes away from a lot of the control they claim to offer the consumer.
I've been using mine for a month now, ~3 brews/cups per day. I really enjoy nerding out with it, and the cups it produces. It does feel and function like a prototype still however. I've also run into an issue where it occasionally tells me there's no water, when it's full - so likely will be doing a warranty replacement soon, which after just 1 month isn't a good sign but maybe I'm just unlucky.
Just a week later, the error is back and can’t be resolved with troubleshooting, time for a warranty replacement. So frustrating and worrying for the overall longevity of the units.
great review matt! agree with all the thoughts here
This machine is wonderful. Idk why there are complaints about the plastic as it still looks great on the countertop. For $365 and the features this has. I find it incredible. However most people will inevitably feel that they want something to weight 30 pounds for it to “feel” like quality. As for the drip when removing the basket. Putting down a simple kitchen towel negates any dripping for me. I’ve seen many people’s countertop when attempting to make pour over single batch coffee. And that mess alone triumphs the little “mess” that this machine does. Considering the fact that it will make pour over to my standard by simply pushing a button. It’s great to note the small things, but in comparison of the entire picture. I have a great cup of coffee with a lot less cleanup than brewing with a chemex and having dishes to wash lol. It’s an excellent addition for anyone’s coffee adventure. And I’ll still use my v60 and chemex anyways.
I really enjoy watching these reviews and I’m not even a coffee drinker (my partner is). You’re very photogenic and I love the accent. I also appreciate how you speak calmly and at an appropriate speed. I enjoy how technology and design intersect in everyday items. Some are great (Nest thermostat) while others suck (WiFi enabled water pitcher?!?). I’m a sucker for great design and branding. And I appreciate your reviews.
This was a very nice comment to read! Thanks for tuning in, and thank you for the kind worlds :)
Does that inner set of nozzles spin during the brew process, or is it just something you can set to a different position before the brew?
It does not have any motion, the two settings just determine how many of the nozzles are active, depending on whether you select the smaller or larger batch basket
Nice seeing the Gevi Grindmaster in the background. I own it since June and really like the aesthetics and workflow. However I have quite high retention if dont slap the grinder to death. On a 12g dose, I sometime only get about 11.3 grams and then have to slap it quite hard everytime
I'm primarily thinking of getting this for bigger batch brews and pre-programming things for wifey as well
It is still an excellent performer for both of those. Programming has lots of flexibility.
I wish this came with a premium model. The all plastic everything is keeping me from pulling the trigger.
Is it two to three times as good as the Breville Precision Brewer with Pourover adapter?
I haven't tried the precision brewer or that adaptor so unfortunately, I can't comment on that
Still waiting for my replacement. Mine didn't work right out of the box unfortunately
My water reservoir lid came snapped off, and it is taking me forever to get a replacement. Overall the machine feels like it will struggle with reliability over time, but the 3 year warranty is helpful if you don't mind having to constantly reach out to support when things don't work.
@dez797 yeah that stinks for sure, mine the water isn't brewing enough. Say for example I set my brew to 250 grams, I'm getting like 90 and that's even with just water flowing through without coffee. I shipped my unit back but they still haven't shipped my replacement yet
Feels like a slightly rushed release that could use another 6 months of R&D to iterate and work out the kinks. Add a water sensor / visual level from the front, add a vent for steam, cost reduce the manufacturing to keep the price point the same, and dial in the injection molding to better match surface finish and dimensions. I’d expect the Gen 2 to be a better value proposition.
I have fellow ode gen 1, seriously needs Mods. Big mistake should have waited for gen 2. Now I have 2 x fellow Ode2.
I have Fellow Atmos vacuum coffee beans canister. Big Big Mistake. Leaks all vacuumed air in few days. Now I don't can't use it. Ruined lots Lots my coffees. Now they have Atmos gen2 with battery self vacuum for like $85. I could buy that new Lid for $50+ tax+ shipping. I will never never never Gen 1 of anything from Fellows again.
@@larrywong7834 you sure your coffee isn't just degassing? I have 3 and they all work fine
^^ this
Any vacuum canister will loose vacuum as coffee de-gasses. It can't be left for longer than a few days (usually not an issue if you drink coffee every day)
@@richardbae9975 Coffee beans I put in the Atmos cannister is usually 2+ months old after I ordered them from Amazon. I have like over 7 Avid vaccum containers as well. My newer dated coffee beans goes in those. BTW. My Atmos container is the Largest Size of that Model.
@@richardbae9975Also, if you have kept the vacuum lid charged, and the perimeter gasket that seals to the glass is clean and the glass perimeter edge is not chipped, the vacuum lid will, if pressure is lost, run the vacuum process again to clear the air inside the canister. Be sure to tell anyone visiting your home that that might happen as it always freaks people out when the lid runs on the canister on its own.
I would have paid more for a studio edition/metal Aiden but overall I think it blows the moccamasters, breville, oxo, and bonavita brewers out of the water. And it will only get better once the app is out
Thanks for weighing in on the build aspect!
Same! I have a Stagg Pro Studio (and actually the Corvo kettle to use with the same stand). I assume one will come out later and it’ll be tempting not to upgrade. I am even considering the Aeropress Premium but I am too afraid I’ll break it.
I have Bonavita Enthusiast and Xbloom Studio. I also have CafeC Flower Dripper and Top rated Kettle. My Bonavita Enthusiast made me high end Pour Overs Quality many countless times. BTW, I have Chemex, Hario Switch as well.
I'm about three weeks in with mine and enjoy the coffee. Not world shattering but very good. Sadly it's just not ready for prime time! Obviously rushed out for the holidays when not 100% so they get to take some whacks for doing so! It stings a bit to pay $400 to be a beta tester. I emailed Fellow with this fact and received several boilerplate responses instead of thoughtful replies. Kinda scars me that this thing is NOT gonna last and at $400 should last many years but....I bought off Amazon and return option for another week so will see if by some miracle they actually get it together. NO WAY they get a free pass by charging us to be guinea pigs!
And I would bet, that the Moccamaster will still brew and brew and brew, when the Aiden will show its first error message...
Hope to see you review the ratio 4
Hope so too! Nothing planned yet
Wonderful and nicely done video, Moccamaster for me
Good review! When you said "out" I was immediately like, he's definitely Canadian haha (Not bashing, just found it funny is all)
I think the Canadian accent was out in full force on this video. Second or third comment on it 😂
@@LifestyleLab_ Just setup my Aiden myself. It made the first batch of Valor Cofee's Freethrow so well I just drank it black. (Which I usually don't)
I always just take the filer out, and not the filter basket😳
Very good review.
Hi! New to this channel. How did the batch brew of coffee stay warm in your experience?
The thermal carafe performed very well. Any volume of coffee using the batch brewing basket will stay warm for a long time
@@LifestyleLab_ Thank you for your quick reply!
Never thought a palm tamper could be used as a riser for the Aiden 😂
Who remembers back to the days where lifestyle lab started by selling hand turned 54 mm palm tampers? 😉
In my opinion I don't think it would sell well. Most people like me just want a decent cup of coffee without fiddling anything, as what the Moccamaster provides. There are far fewer coffee enthusiasts, who would drool for a machine like this, but as I previously said, most other people would pass.
As the owner of a Moccamaster this review has me completely flummoxed. Gah
Built in grinder and flow rate control and pattern control would be really good like xbloom😊
I would prefer single to 3 cup max
But then it would just be another XBloom. I think most people see the exclusion of the grinder as a positive on the unit
Technically great concept. But I won't pay near to 400$ for a wobbly plastic bomber like this, which even bends. That's a no go for this price. I'd rather pay 500-550$ for this machine in a higher quality case.
My commercial Bunn VP17 maybe just as good or even better :) A no non-sense coffee maker.
I’ll stick with my precision brewer until they make a premium metal edition in white!
Premium version in white would be 👌🏻
@ would look good next to the Bianca
So its plastic made, with most of the "features" of a normal dripper. Even the boxy black bulky design doesnt seem to fit in their line. Dont really see it blend into a normal kitchen. And if you want to nerd out about coffee, you take a manual dripper anyways. I havent looked at the price yet, but i rather stick with my moccamaster. Coffee in, one button, amazing coffee. And even ez to repair if need be. And lt even looks like a coffee machine (purposefull desing Objekt on the counter instead of a black box). If you are a coffee there are already very good granular batch brewers out there as well. Dont really see where the hype is coming from, other than the brand name
It has a lot more features than a moccamaster, and the main selling point is it does good single brew cups with a lot of customisation available. I think there is a demographic of people who like to nerd about coffee but don't want to always go through the manual process to get there.
I really dislike when reviewers say that early review units have "zero" impact on a review. Even if it's not conscious review units are highly likely to change your opinion on a product.
I don't know the best solution to this as of course consumers want reviews and opinions of the product before it is released to the public so they can make informed purchasing choices. Maybe state your bias at the start and say you'll make every effort for it not to effect your review? Saying you are immune to unconscious bias is just unrealistic and obviously false
We're really talking semantics here. I have given you transparency on where the unit for review came from, and as you just did, you draw your own conclusions as to the biases that may impart. I state my disclaimer the way I do because I have a 4 year + track record of doing exactly that. Providing straight forward, fact based feedback on products. Almost 100k people follow because of that. As always, come to your own conclusions, one review is only one data point in a buying decision
@LifestyleLab_ yep you are definitely doing the right thing stating that it's a review unit. Just some honest feedback from a viewer that when you claim to have no bias it makes me cringe and take a much more cynical view to anything else you say in the review.
@Dan-uy2ld just as a counterpoint here. Bias also exists in the cases where I do purchase the units myself... Spending money on an object also introduces bias. Is that MORE bias than a demo unit? Less? Equal? There is no perfect situation... The best case scenario is to be as transparent as possible, and let the viewers make their own informed decisions. Period.
the build quality is really bad with that flex of the entire chassis, that should not be allowed to be released to the public imo. A deal breaker
شكرا لك 🎉
How much??? For a filter machine!!! Oh cmon That build quality is shocking in a product at this price I’ll buy the sage/breville instead
Good thing we explained this in depth in the video :)
4 minutes in I still don't know what this machine is for.
That's impressive
Sorry it looks ao cheap and you easily pointed that out early in the video. However i cant fathom why people would pay 100s for an auto brewer.
If your buying this, it would hont that youre into specialty coffee.
Stop being lazy and brew your own cup. Dont cave in into more gadgets, HE baskets, overpriced Weber products, $150 aeropress , more wdt tools.
Convenience has a price. "Just do it by hand" isn't a suitable counterpoint to those who don't have time for a manual pour over every time they want a coffee
I'm really sorry to say this but a machine with this design would never find a place in my kitchen. The Ode looks good but this.... blob.. somehow manages to look snobby and cheap all at once.
Interesting that you enjoy the ODE aesthetic but not this!
As always, looks will always be completely subjective and there's nothing wrong with that :)
I love the look - right next to the Ode Gen 2 Fellows Grinder - looks great together and to clarify -the coffee "pot" is stainless steel which is much superior to glass for heat retention. The heating function of the apparatus is in the control of the temp of the water flow. The resting spot for the pot is not heated and therefore NEVER have that scorched, burned, too long on the heat coffee taste. Always second cup in any other coffee pot tastes worse than the first unless you gulp down your first cup. Bot the Aiden is literally "Good to the last drop"!
I can see from this video even without closeup that this machine is like some chinese cheap knock off.
It's definitely nothing of the sort...
I find it absolutely mind blowing that they chose plastic as the main material. There are so many people that prefer glass / metal over plastic materials that claim to be food safe. This is part of the reason that the aeropress premium exists now. I won't buy this machine for the sole reason that it's essentially using boiling water in a fully plastic enclosure.
Or you could just get a Mr Coffee and be done with it... 😅
🙄
This confirms my suspicion that the overpriced Aiden wouldn't be a notable upgrade compared to my Bonavita big batch brewer that I use every morning to brew a full pot for my wife and I.
It’s not overpriced, it’s similarly priced to every other good batch brewer. Good luck getting any hardware support from
bonavita, they’re basically bankrupt these days. Why do people have to come on channels and slag something out of petty jealousy?
I wouldn't call it overpriced, just not a worthwhile upgrade over SOME other batch brewers if you don't intend to take advantage of the smaller batch brewing or customization
@@Evan_Rodgers Jealousy? I am not at all jealous. If I wanted this I would have it. My Bonavita was $150 and I've had it for 7 years without issue, so I am not really concerned about getting support for it. Fellow is the "apple" of coffee products. Good, but too expensive and there are other offerings that perform just as well for less. This is coming from someone who has an Ode II grinder.
@@LifestyleLab_ You mentioned the Mochamaster in this video. I've been drawn to that, but that single line shower head just seems like it wouldn't saturate the grounds as well as a more circular shower head design. Also, don't hot plates tend to burn the coffee compared to a thermal carafe?
@Icipher4 I had the same concerns, but was always very impressed with the results. I think the conical brewer helped a lot to fully saturate the grounds, and a slightly slower flow rate as well.
Moccamaster is available in a hot plate and thermal carafe versions, although I do prefer the glass carafe aesthetically. Pros and cons
How can you possibly say that receiving a T&E machine from Fellow has zero impact on your review?
There is a difference between including a few downsides to the machine in a review versus evaluating a product that you have paid yourself.
Then don't take my reviews into consideration... that's completely up to you. I have spent 4 years objectively reviewing and serving the coffee community in an unbiased fashion. If you don't trust my statements or track record, then simply don't watch my videos
@6tuf get outta here- I paid full price for Aiden and wouldn’t have been as critical 😂 this was a great review doing a good job of pointing out all the downsides I’ve been living with (mainly build quality and the splash for using cups too short). I also am planning to try the lid propping trick.
Can’t believe I didn’t think of that for the condensation before!
@@LifestyleLab_ that's not the point. You said nearly verbatim that receiving a T&E model had NO impact on your review. That's just not true, and it will never be true. You will never experience the frustration of dealing with faults in a product that you spent hard earned dollars on.
That doesn't mean you can't put out quality reviews, but it doesn't make them 100% objective either. I'd just drop that statement from your reviews entirely, because it's obviously a blind spot for you.
@@6tuf85dyfuwhat you fail to see is that there is always bias, even if he would buy the unit there is still bias as he spent money for it.
If you analyse in depth you can surpass bias therefore the in depth reviews are important from these content creators which was done in this video.
I'm not sure where my second response went, but this is exactly what I said in it as well. Spending your hard earned money on a product also introduces significant bias. Is that bias more or less than being given a review unit?
In the end, it is up to the consumer to be informed by creators on where the products came from, and then they can take it from there in terms of how they interpret the review based on that person's track record and their own individual evaluation of the information presented. Transparency is key