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Small Appliances

Ode or Opus? We put these Fellow coffee grinders head-to-head

Find out which one is worth your investment

Fellow Ode & Opus Coffee Grinders side-by-side on top of marble counter. Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

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As much as our morning laziness might hate to admit it, coffee just tastes different when it's made with freshly ground beans. Whether your go-to brewing method is pour-over, French press, moka pot, or even a regular drip coffee maker, the grinder you use can make or break your morning joe.

Coffee gear brand Fellow is well aware of the intricacies of the perfect cup of coffee, specializing in high-end brewing products like gooseneck kettles (which we love!). The brand's newest coffee grinders—the Fellow Ode Gen 2 and Opus—both build on the sleek aesthetic of the brand with several grind options.

But which Fellow grinder should you buy? Short answer: It all depends on your particular coffee brewing needs and preferences. Luckily, we tested both to help guide your decision.

$345 at Fellow

$195 at Fellow

About the Fellow Ode Gen 2

White Fellow Ode Gen 2 coffee grinder on countertop next to jar of coffee beans.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

The Fellow Ode Gen 2 builds off its previous model with some impressive upgrades.

The Fellow Ode Gen 2 builds off of the capabilities of its predecessor (which is ranked in our roundup of the best coffee grinders), with a few upgrades.

It still features the same sleek and compact design, with a smooth-moving dial and magnetically aligned catch. But this grinder promises even more precision and better overall performance than the previous model, thanks to new technology.

This machine works with two 64-millimeter professional-grade flat burrs, which boast two-stage grinding geometry that's meant to upgrade the consistency and flavor of each grind. The new model also features a smaller hopper for quieter grinding and anti-static technology to avoid residual messes. $345 at Fellow

What we like

Person adjusting large dial on the Fellow Ode Gen 2 coffee grinder while looking at manual.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

We loved using the handy guide under the Fellow Ode lid.

Just like its predecessor, this machine grinds beans impressively well—for everything from fine Prismo to coarse cold brew. We noticed supreme consistency across a variety of batches during testing.

We also love the handy features that are included in this model, like the guided chart that's conveniently stored under the lid of the grinder for easy access, and the grind knocker that helps to move residual beans from getting stuck inside. This model also comes with a handy brush that's great for additional cleaning.

It's hard to ignore the look of this machine, too. Just like the earlier model, this grinder is sleek and compact, making it a fantastic addition to your countertop or coffee bar. You likely won't even want to stash it away after every use. Plus, it comes in matte white and matte black varieties to best suit your aesthetic.

What we don't like

Person pouring finely ground coffee beans into paper cone.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

Grounds frequently got stuck within the stainless steel funnel in the catch.

Although this grinder excels at its featured grind settings, it doesn't include an espresso grind function. So if you're looking for a grinder to support your moka pot or espresso machine habits, you’ll want to read ahead to the our review of the Opus.

The finest grind offered—labeled as "Prismo," Fellow's espresso-like Aeropress attachment—is too coarse for typical espresso standards.

We also don't love the design of the catch, which features a stainless steel "funnel" that we found actually makes it more likely for some grounds to get stuck.

This grinder is also the more expensive of the two. Considering it offers fewer precision settings than the Opus at a larger cost, you'd have to be confident in your daily coffee routine (sticking to pour-over or French press, for example) to make this splurge worthwhile.

About the Fellow Opus

Shot of the Fellow Opus coffee grinder on countertop next to jar of coffee beans.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

The Fellow Opus has a sleek new look to upgrade your countertop.

This newly launched grinder has a unique design to differentiate itself from the iconic Ode.

Instead of the round, front-facing dial, there is an inner ring that's easily adjustable to suit a whopping 41 grind settings—yes, that includes ultra-fine espresso. This model also features a conical grinder, which differs from the flat burr plates in the Ode model.

But the Fellow Opus has some features that echo the Ode, as well. It has the handy magnetic catch, compact footprint, and intuitive button with auto-stop technology. It also features a similar grinding chart under the lid that can help guide users towards their perfect cup. $195 at Fellow

What we like

Six small piles of finely ground coffee beans from both the Fellow Ode and Fellow Opus coffee grinders.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

We were impressed by the consistency in the Ode's grounds, and the wide spectrum of textures from the Opus.

This machine excels at an impressively wide range of grind varieties. As mentioned, this is the only Fellow grinder that can grind ultra-fine espresso coffee. And we found that it does so excellently, with a soft texture that even outperforms store-bought Italian brands that we're used to buying ourselves.

But this grinder isn't just for espresso lovers: It also excels at grounds of all sizes—from fine espresso to medium pour-over to coarse cold brew. And each batch we tested was impressively consistent, even if slightly less compared to the Ode.

Finely ground coffee beans being poured into container.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

The portafilter accessory and smooth funnel made the Opus catch a breeze to use.

We also appreciate that the catch container on this machine has a much more functional funnel, with smooth plastic edges that made pouring a cinch.

Given its focus on espresso grounds, the Opus also comes with a portafilter dosing cup that makes it easy to transfer fresh grounds from your catch to the portafilter on your espresso machine.

What we don't like

Spilled finely ground coffee beans from the Fellow Opus coffee grinder.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi / Monica Petrucci

We noticed the Opus spilling excessive grounds frequently during testing, which was wasteful and hard to clean.

The supreme functionality on the Opus doesn't mean it's without flaws.

Its smaller price tag means it doesn't offer all the same feature as the Ode. For example, there's no knock knob on the side to help remove residual grounds. And as a result, we noticed a large amount of grounds getting spilled out of the machine after grinding was complete, resulting in inaccurate dosages. Since this often didn't come out until after our coffee was already brewed, we were forced to waste the leftovers or save them for the next batch.

The Opus doesn't come with that handy cleaning brush, either, which made cleanup of spilled grounds even more of a struggle.

Which Fellow grinder should you buy?

Fellow Ode & Opus Coffee Grinders side-by-side on top of marble counter.
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

Depending on your coffee routine, either Fellow grinder will vamp up your home coffee nook.

It depends on your regular coffee routine (and how serious you are about beans)

For most people, we recommend the Opus. It comes with a cheaper price tag, and although it showed slightly less consistent grounds than the Ode, it still produced excellent results and delicious coffee during our tests. Plus, it has a wider range of granularity and produces impressively fine espresso—something the Ode can't do.

However, if espresso isn't your thing—and you value advanced technology for grind consistency—it might be worth splurging for the Ode. This state-of-the-art grinder produces a complex cup, especially when it comes to methods like pour-over. And we love that it includes bonus features like the grinds knocker and cleaning brush.

Product image of Fellow Opus
Fellow Opus

The Fellow Opus offers wide versatility for grinds ranging from espresso to cold brew.

$195 at Fellow
Product image of Fellow Ode
Fellow Ode

This grinder features two 64-millimeter professional-grade flat burrs for optimal consistency, but no espresso function.

$345 at Fellow

Alternatively, if you're not that fussy about your coffee beans, check out our list of more affordable coffee grinders.

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