FELLOW OPUS - Can They Get It Right First Try?
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- Опубликовано: 30 июл 2024
- The Fellow Opus is the newest addition to the a growing lineup affordable, all-around home grinders looking to make the hobby of brewing coffee at home more approachable. The question is, after the shaky launch of the Ode, and a long delay for more capable burrs, can Fellow hit the mark with a grinder first try, out-of -the-box? Well, I aim to answer that today.
↓CHAPTERS↓
[0:00] INTRO
[1:02] STANDART AD
[1:46] FEATURES & PERFORMANCE
[6:16] USABILITY & BREWING
[8:01] FINAL THOUGHTS
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Thanks for the review. I have one, and so far it works well for my needs. My reason for buying this was I wanted to do occasional espresso along with my feeding my filter and Aeropress habits. I don't have space for 2 electric grinders. I couldn't splurge for a DF64 or Lagom Mini. I do mostly filter but I have started playing with Espresso (Flair58). This is replacing my venerable Baratza Encore, and it outshines the Encore as it will grind fine enough for espresso, the workflow is marginally better (for espresso) and it is much quieter which I love. I have a 1Zpresso hand grinder if I find I need to have more adjustability for espresso brewing. I can live with the plastic case on the OPUS, but that is so subjective I don't think it matters. (For instance, I couldn't live with the look of the new timemore electric, but hey - that's me). I doesn't take long to grind a 20 gram dose for expresso. I feel like everyone wants to compare this to grinders costing 50% to 75% more, and of course, can find it lacking. For what it does at this price point, I am plenty happy. Will I outgrow it? Probably, but I am making delicious coffee with it and that matters. I also bought it before the Encore ESP came out, and I may have considered that instead of this. But, I appreciate hearing your comment that the noise matters to you as well.
As always, great review!
Great review. I'm was ready to buy the Opus, but the plastic construction gives me pause. I'll use exclusively for filter coffee, so I'm now considering a refurbished Ode first gen from fellow, which has the same price point. Since this will be first grinder I'll leave on the kitchen counter, I'm leaning towards the metal Ode.
I do wonder about the Opus "Anti-Static Technology", which appears to be the same as the Ode v2, and most reviews agree works great. I'm already used to do a quick water spray on my 1zpresso daily routine, but is this function over form enough to reconsider?
I've been on the fence between the ESP and the Opus but I think this video pushed me towards the opus for sure. It's quieter, easier to clean with the removable burr, has a nice filter coffee profile and I wouldn't mind fussing with the internal settings to dial in espresso (considering that I presently cannot make espresso at all lol).
Great video, thanks for the content!!
I made an App called Beanie that might help you with the dialling in and adjustments :) It's free for iOS and Android!
Seems like a good entry level choice.
Does it seem like it would last? My first grinder in that price range had some plastic parts that would wear out and break. I got fed up with it, and before guests came over, I sprinted into town and picked up a Mazzer Mini, which was the prosumer grinder of the times.
These days, I might shop for a manual grinder at that price point though. Those coarse steps…
Been waiting on this!
The time has come!
I'm excited for the next grinder to use the non-linear style of step adjustments from the Encore ESP. Having too many steps is awkward for filter, but having too large steps can make espresso nearly impossible. What the ESP does seems like a great innovation, since the inner +/- seems more frustrating than I'd prefer (enough that I won't give up my hand grinder for it), but there's a lot of other things about the Opus which could be a superior overall.
Gave you a thumbs up except for your comment "there's a lot of other things about the Opus which could be a superior overall". Cheers.
They'll have to find a unique way to achieve it as I understand that Baratza patented their system.
A truly honest review
thanks for this and your Baratza ESP video. I'm trying to decide between the two. Seems like both do a good job for drip/pour over which is what I prepare. I prefer the look of the Fellow Ode in terms of pleasing appearance and size but I am having a difficult time getting past the plastic build. I think the tiny scratches would annoy me...I know, that doesn't affect the coffee but would bug me ! I haven't made a final decision and am waiting for some hopefully good holiday discounts...will see.
Would this be a good upgrade from an OG Baratza Encore? I’ve had it for about 5 years now and I’m looking for a replacement/upgrade. I do mostly filter, but i do have an espresso machine, although I’m not super invested into espresso. I like the Ode V2, but i would like something that could handle espresso.
Thank you my friend.
Of course. Thank you and have a great weekend.
Any idea if you can use this for a moka pot? And what size grind on the setting that would be? Thanks
this was great since i was heavily looking at the Ode 2 for purchase. how would you compare it to the Ode 2?? especially in the espresso department??
i know the Ode 2 is great for filter/brew coffee but not espresso. it seems like the Opus seems to work well?
also, is there a difference between this and the Ode 2 for filter coffee?? you said the opus lacked clarity, so i was curious, if the Ode 2 would be a better option then.
Fair review. I wonder if a bit more money and just get the sd40?? For espresso and drip single dose??? Starting out.
I just got my Opus yesterday. Still trying to find the right settings for my typical brews. i really don't like the "dosing cup" they give for Espresso. My other possible pick would have been the Varia VS3 but well... in the end i went for the "cheaper" option. if i made the right choice? time will tell...
Commandante and other 200+-$ HG will be better in consistency and taste for filter?
anyone have any suggestions on the grind setting for v60 or stagg? I've used 4.8 (ish) and 5 and it seems still too coarse
6:57 Hi. Thanks so much for all your great work. Always look forward to your videos and learn from them. As a home barista who does daily refractometry on my espresso, I was curious what software or app you use to plug in your numbers to get your percent extraction. I’m using the VST coffee tools app but maybe that’s outdated. Out here on the perimeter there are no stars to guide us home baristas so any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
The VST coffee tools app should get you squared away, but I’m not sure what it shows you. Essentially I just use a free app called Optimal Extraction and it just does the math for me turning TDS into yield percentage.
How does the Opus compare to the Esp in terms of taste for both filter and espresso? Or did already mention that and I just blanked haha.
Lol that tape measuring part of your review is awesome
I think is good to have the torque values known fir the motors, it is a solid parameter to know how consistent will be the turn against resistance, the more power the motor, the higher the torque, the more pronounce to consistent turn meaning crushing and breaking will be more controlled, this also affects directly to RPM the more torque the better will keep the same rpm when the motor is encounter with a resistance, translating into a consistent less fines brews, that is why on the higher amount of resistance (espresso setting) the grinders produce more fines and less consistent brews and also higher retention, normally translated on fines.
I agree with you ... the Opus is a decent first grinder, but not a good choice for anyone looking to upgrade from a first grinder.
I would suggest it to someone getting interested in coffee and not sure what they like best. I would not buy it for myself, even though I'm a 100% filter coffee maker. [I am looking at the Ode 2.]
I think the grind range is right for the intended customer ... they might be experimenting with everything from a moka pot or entry level espresso machine to French press and cold brew. In order to hit that entire grind range, the fine range has to suffer.
For sure, and I think the grind adjustments are like I said, as intended. For the entry level market it’ll get you where you want to be.
The Tinder analogy is classic. Well done!
What would you suggest for the next level of grinder above the Opus & ESP for espresso to drip and under $500?
Espresso option please.
I’ll be very interested to see if Fellow makes an “Ode quality” version at some point. All metal, simpler & finer adjustment system, more matching design aesthetic, etc. Dare I say a “Magnum Opus?” That being said (based on the many reviews I’ve seen on both), I think it’s really hard to find much fault with either the Opus or new Encore at this price. One can quibble about this quirk or that but what do you want at $200USD? Personally, I’m leaning toward the Varia, as it has some things about it that make it worth the 50% extra cost for me, and I’m willing to wait and save for the difference. But if I wasn’t, I’d be eyeballing these two pretty hard. It would be the tough choice between the simpler (in my opinion) grind setting of the Encore vs the quieter Opus. Now if budget permitted, with my requirements, I’d be looking at one of the Eureka single dosers…
Well said. And I’m with you. I’m more willing to dismiss quirks on grinders in this price range, and honestly they both perform very similarly. I don’t think generally one is better than the other. But an added $100 goes a long way with the Varia so that’s a solid choice.
I have to say I am a bit surprised that many of the main reviews I’ve seen for the Opus don’t mention a few issues I’ve been experiencing. A friend who also purchased the Opus is experiencing these too.
1. Significant retention. Retrieving about 1g from within the Opus after a single dose grind. RDT makes no difference on this in my experience.
2. The recommended grind settings have been completely off in my experience. I’m working with a Profitec Pro 400, which will choke on anything I grind below 4.5 ticks. For many coffees, I cannot get drinkable results below 5. Aeropress around 6.5 and pourover around 7.5. Really frustrating as all of the grind settings below 4 are essentially useless.
3. Very slow grinding. Takes me 2 to 3 rounds of 90sec grinds to get through 18g at espresso settings… seems like too much to me?
My take on the Opus is it’s a decent budget option for for filter coffee, but I would use something else for espresso.
Yeah the espresso leaves a lot to be desired, and if it was a secondary grinder it’s a solid option for filter, but for someone who wants it all on a budget it’s a solid one, before we get into handgridners of course.
I am now confused . Espresso is my coffee of choice generally and i though that the Opus might be the one . Maybe i should go for the Rok hand grinder instead - for the same price . What do you think ?
I’m kinda surprised you enjoyed the Opus. For me the adjustment system is the real kicker. Having to open it to use the fine adjustment is just too much hassle for what it’s worth.
When it comes to grinders in this price range I try to look at them from a lens that’s less experienced. To me I can see entry level folks being perfectly happy once they find the inner adjustment that works for them and then forgetting about it. For me, it wouldn’t let me reach the end results I’d want, but that’s after years down the rabbit hole and countless grinder experiences.
For people struggling with this I've actually written a free app to help make this much easier. It's called "Beanie - Grind Size Finder" and is available on iOS and Android (again, entirely free)
Is it really that big of a deal? Seems a little dramatic to make such a big deal about moving two dials instead of one.
@@bm-br3go It's too bad they couldn't make both adjustments external
I would love to see a comparison what it would be like to either spend 150$-200$ on a good hand grinder (which can do even Turkish) against having a grinder like the Opus. My opinion is that for doses up to 30gr it's a clear win for handgrinding.
That's also my opinion, unless you maybe have some kind of issues with your wrists or something. I recently got a Kingrinder K6 for about 100€ and grind 30g for filter in about 25 seconds. And 10g for espresso in about 15 seconds. I was shocked at how easy it is.
I have a 1Zpresso JX-Pro and it has way more adjustability and is easy to use. It can be somewhat difficult to grind light roast for espresso but for the short time period it’s not a big deal. For pour over its a breeze
I think the 110g hopper is for batch brews.
I have been using a Breville Dose Control Pro for like 5 or 6 years or something. Got it for $160 at the time. It has 60 grind setting plus internal burr adjustment (similar to the Opus). I would pit it against the Opus or the ESP. Funny how things are coming back around to that type of designe🤷🏻♂️
Yeah, for sure, trends are cyclical. Waiting for hoppers to make a big comeback. As soon as someone designs and airtight option so it preserves your beans better, it may be a big rush to make them again.
looking down at the burrs, it did remind me of the Breville DC,
You might do a 110 g single dose if you’re brewing a large pour over like a #4 Melita filter for a few people.
Eureka Mignon Manuale/Facile/Filtro. $200. I feel like a broken record, but I'm really surprised there isn't more buzz for this grinder. Flat burrs, metal housing, huge range for espresso or drip. Add a bellows and now you've got 0 retention and single dosing. I couldn't be happier with it. I recognize that not everyone wants flat burrs, but I'm shocked by the value when I see new grinders consistently missing the mark on build quality or aesthetics. (Older Filtros shipped with espresso-capable burrs, but newer ones can be swapped out easily.)
Eureka should stick to espresso - fully disappointed in the Mignon Zero for pourover - plus it was damaged when built (stripped screw head on burr housing from factory sealed box) -$500 f that. I couldn't even buy a replacement part! A screw! LOL!
I am only interested in filter coffee, which this one seems to handle well, hence yes, I could be interested.
Mate, I've been trying to decide between the Encore and Opus for my Dad. He just moved from a pod machine to a Moccamaster and is in need of a new grinder. He's not doing espresso now but i can easily see him dabbling in it later. I was leaning towards the Encore but I think you brought up a lot about the Opus that make sense.
Yeah I think when it comes down to it for the purposes you mentioned I’d just consider whether you think a hopper based option or single doser is better. They both perform very similarly. My brother likes his Encore because he’s not trying to get exact measurements on his pour overs, just grinds for a certain time and if that’s the case the Encore is great. But if they have a scale and don’t mind storing the beans separately the Opus is the way to go.
I was considering purchasing this grinder to keep at my parents house when I visit, but the grinder adjustment is a deal breaker for me.
Is the opus better, in terms of taste and build quality, than a 200-225$ hand grinder (or even a cheaper hand grinder like the 1zpresso x pro)?
No, it can’t stand up to a quality handgrinder in the same price range. So many of them have more adjustment, lower micron clicks, and of course are single dosing and low retention by design. The selling point here over a hand grinder is the motor.
@@Sprometheus thanks for the answer. So, if I don't mind the inconvenience of handgrinding should I just go with a higher end handgrinder?
Its me. I "single" dose 110 grams. Kinda. I batch brew cold brew as my backup so having a decent sized hopper is actually a godsend.
The Encore, everyone's first grinder.
It’s a legend for a reason for sure.
How's consistency?
I am about to start a coldbrew business.
Will it be worth buy?
what is a cold brew Business? do you mean making concentrate for cold brew and selling it?
Anyone know where to get the glasses at about 7:55?
Those are the Orea Sense glasses. In the US you can get them from Slow Pour Supply, or direct from Orea UK.
What grinder would you suggest for around 1500 - 2000 range
All day every day the Lagom P64. I love mine, the burr size gives you tons of options, adjustable RPM, and the design is so clean and sturdy.
I’ve watched a few opus reviews and you seem to be the first to not mention any difficulty using the inner adjustment ring. Would you say dialing in new coffees for espresso isn’t as bad as most other people are making it seem?
I mean it’s not as easy as it is to move the outside adjustment, but it’s not incredibly difficult. But in my mind the intention of having it inside the grinder is it’s not really intended to be used much. More so just to find the range that works and then left alone. And I also think it’s stiffness is also a factor as they don’t want it shifting during use because that could render the grinder unusable.
@@Sprometheus thats a pretty interesting take that I haven’t really seen anyone else have. I love you sprometheus ❤
@@Sprometheus I think most people's complaint with the inner adjustment has less to with how difficult it is to move, and a lot more with the fact that it shifts the whole dial range by some weird arbitrary factor of 2/3 a step, which makes it difficult to determine what setting you are at without a calculator or some sort of cheat sheet. It's incredibly counterintuitive to use. For example, to go one micro step finer, you have to move the inner dial one step in the positive (+) direction, and then the outer dial one step in the negative (-) direction. It's completely asinine. I can't believe Fellow actually thought it would be acceptable from a user experience perspective. Also, why call it a "low retention" grinder when that is clearly not the case at all grind settings? There are obviously places in this grinder where old grinds are getting stuck and retained, and that seems like a major design issue if this is supposed to be specifically a "low retention" grinder. Honestly, It seems like their marketing department is completely disconnected from product development. I get that they are making compromises to try to hit a low price point, but then they shouldn't hype it up as something it is not. This is not the espresso grinder that people were promised. It's a budget filter focused grinder, that can kind of do passable espresso in a pinch, and they should have marketed it as such. Fellow pushed the espresso capability way to hard in the marketing for what it is.
@@Sprometheus Spro I just see too many reviewers being way too easy on the Opus and almost making excuses for it. I'm finding it hard to hold my tongue. It may have some reasonably fair points as you mentioned however mostly negative especially for espresso which is what this grinder is marketed towards. Straight off the bat there's the grind adjustment work flow and even the inner ring adjust is stepped. Baratza have used their brain with the ESP which is such a simple, precise and straight forward adjustment for espresso. Also the overall look and finish of the Opus is cheap & lightweight. I know the ESP is also plastic but it just looks more solid and grounded. I'm a fan of the Ode Gen2 build so I'm not a Fellow hater even though it may seem so with my comments. Actually, there is really nothing I like about the Opus and they could have done a much better job for the $200 price bracket just as the ESP has done. No contest, definitely ESP over Opus. Cheers.
@@steph8408 actually, I made my own comparison and decided I was capable of using the +50/-50 outer with the +33/-33 inner system to dial in my espresso, as the Opus is superior to the ESP in every way once you master this. I will share the facts with you, of course appearance is subjective but most people would agree.
1) Appearance - Opus looks better
2) Sound - Opus is quieter
3) Grind Detail - Opus has finer adjustability across the scale.
4) RPM - Opus -350. ESP -550
5) Anti-static tech - Opus.
6) Timed grinding - Opus
7) Magnetic Grounds Cup - Opus
8) Disassembly / Cleaning - Opus
9) Warranty - Opus -3yr. ESP -1yr
10) Out of the box, simpler espresso grind fine tuning. - ESP
9 to 1 is an easy decision for me and even the one is overcome with experience.
II was excited for this release but now a little disappointed. So I'll be hanging out for a future Opus v2 / PRO / Plus version that hopefully has a sensible grind adjustment and a metal body. I would spend more money for better adjustment, materials and finish.
question is, are you going to use it everyday? are you going to replace your current grinder? are you going to keep us posted with maybe some short videos weekly?
thanks ponyboy
I mean no, it’s a downgrade from my daily grinder the Lagom P64 so it’s not going to replace anything. I may do some comparisons with it in the near future.
But it’s important that I review grinders that are more affordable and approachable by those looking to start out in brewing at home. In that market I’d say this is a solid option.
@@Sprometheus can't wait to see that video. Thank you for your reply.
SGP is still the best in this price range imo. The burr set adjustment is required for espresso but I would argue it has at least 60 espresso settings that are all viable
What is sgp?
I think he’s referring to the Breville Smart Grinder Pro.
I'm regularly single dosing 110g in my Robot. I can only get 5g of water in and get 0.05g of espresso out but it's the best espresso you'll ever taste.
The forbidden ristretto!
For me it's the retention on finer grind settings that's my only complaint. Anything 3 or above has minimal retention, but the finer you grind below that, the more retention you end up with. It's a minor inconvenience for me, as the lowest i go is 2.5. I also don't get the widespread hate on the micro adjustments, although they didn't need to provide as much granular control as they did. Pick an outer ring setting and if it's close but not quite there, just adjust one micro step up or down. Simple really.
Honestly, one micro step up/down would have been sufficient.
Less plastic would have been nice, but that would have just increased the price beyond the sub 200 price bracket that I wanted to stay under.
Overall though, it grinds my coffee perfectly for my espresso machine and i've been getting great shots from it. Happy is me!
Single dosing 110g is for batch brew
I guess that’s true, if you’re brewing a 10 cup, 56oz Moccamaster you’ll need 105g. But I guess I don’t think of a grinder like this being used in way commonly, but I’m sure it does happen.
@@Sprometheus I use my ode for that from time to time with my ~1.5L batch brewer. At 60g/L that's 90g so it's nice to not be overflowing the hopper with that much.
Lol not surprised Fellow didn't send you one. That's what happens when you give honest reviews these days
well here is my point id love to like the opus its cheap silent and making a high quality coffe as far as i have heard but i m a design person and i deppy hate loq qulaity design and i love the design of a niche zero grinde rbut thath would cost about 2,5 times the price so i dont now what to do
How come you are the only one to mention that espresso range is limited? Weird (or not). The micro steps seem to be super confusing.
I appreciate your honest reviews. We need somebody who doesn't give a crap.
☕☕☕
Love Is Important
Very nice video, superbly done, the Opus I’ll pass.
I know you don't like cold brew but that can easily be a single 110g dose
How does fellows warranty compare to baratzas?
Our (Fellow's) warranty for this grinder is 2 year standard, 3 years if you register the product.
@Nick Terzulli baratzas warranty/customer service is kind of legendary. At the end of the day. Durability and reliability should be paramount imo
Visiting my friend out here in TX and this grinder is annoying for espresso. Lol!
Usability in workflow is really important to me and the mechanism for fine adjustment on this grinder is just horrible UX, in my opinion. Even for a grinder at this price range, there could've been a better design solution that would drastically improve the joy of using it in the morning. Based on other reviews I've seen as well, I would go for the Baratza instead. Fellow missed the mark with this one...
100% the ESP over Opus.
ah yes, another fellow product that floods coffee influencers instagram pages but is forgotten about a week later
Except for the Ode and the Kettle, i agree. The rest just kinda vanished from the current coffee meta.
That’s true. But I think that’s the case with a lot of equipment unfortunately.
I couldn’t disagree more? I feel like the kettle and ode are seen all the time. It’s not like these influencers are just going to keep talking about it over and over again. Also the ode is always in the discussion when filter grinders go head to head.
@@allen.t
You’ve mentioned 2 of the 50 products they make.
The fact that you didn’t know about/couldn’t remember the other brewing equipment Fellow make kinda proves OPs point
@@Caffeine.And.Carvings the Stagg brewer also gets a bit of a shine but agree with the rest. You never see them show the non-EKG kettle, the Corvo, their glasses and mugs and such
Nice report, for me the drop in quality (materials) tendancy to scratch under the dosing cup and grind settings makes it a 200 dollar disappointment. From day one I would be questioning why did I not spend a little more for better. Thank you Fellow, nice try, looking forward to Opus two.
how does your microphone just float 😆
"the Grindr market seems to be rapidly expanding"
i prefer the fellow ode with ssp burrs
Calling Fellow a lifestyle brand and not a coffee company might be the reason
I said I could “only speculate” because I’m sure I know why, and it’s because I’ve been less than shy about my issues with them over promising and under delivering. Sure they make stuff that looks pretty, but if it doesn’t function as described that’s a problem, and it makes the item more of a countertop design than coffee equipment.
I bought this 5 months ago and it has already broken. Customer service is slow to respond.
I think we all know why Fellow didn’t include you in their launch…The only thing they can do to you is make you buy their products.
Haha yeah I mean those who’ve watched my most recent Fellow reviews surly know. Not bothered by it, just food for thought and something to consider when seeing how they choose their “influencers”.
Great video but second month on the run since being a Patron I've not had my name in the Roaster list - how rude 😀
Oh no! I update it every month with the active members. I’ll double check on my end and see if I missed it, apologies.
I'm just gonna go from my encore to a niche, why mess around.
Your review unit must have gotten lost in the post 🙃
A bad tinder date 😂😂😂👍
I don’t see any reason to get this grinder. PS. how would this and the encore compare to a Sette or even Gaggia MDF? PSS. I’m sure the used market also provides way better options.
I just don’t get this grinder at all. Was really looking forward to it but I’m just not impressed
If they had added an additional stepless knob for finer adjustments, this would have been a stellar grinder, the one to really rival the Niche,
You've got to be kidding if you're talking about the Opus. My apologies if you're not.
How can they get it right first try when it's their third machine? Even the first had a 2nd variant before the gen 2 dropped! So this is their 3.5th try 😂
S- Big fan of your efforts but I must offer some healthy critique. Taste, taste, taste, yes and comprehensive - that is what we are after and you disregard it. What?
Personally, I create my content around functionality and performance and not around taste for a reason, taste is subjective. I can sit here and sip on coffee and wax poetic, but I don’t find that helpful outside of broader terms and extraction percentages because it’s an extremely individual experience, and relies on so many variables (water, coffee, preparation, filter, temperature, etc.). What’s important in my mind to get across is a piece of equipment functions properly, what people taste is on them.
Why do you have to narrate this with that annoying tone and pause
☕☕☕
Love Is Important
Indeed my friend.
@@Sprometheus “All you need is love,” - John Lennon