Fellow Opus vs. Baratza Encore ESP - Best BUDGET $200 Do-It-All Grinder? 

A big thing I like about Baratza is that they make it very easy to do maintenance yourself. They're really big on repairing. You can find replacements for every single little part of every one of their grinders on their website, as well as instructions and very responsive customer service. I'm going on 6 years with my OG Encore and do a complete tear-down once or twice a year for deep cleaning, and have replaced the burrs only once. I think for that reason I might try the ESP over the Opus when it comes time to upgrade.

"Not much to complain about nor praise." Good way of putting it.

Thank you for the short and simple comparison video! Perfect for me.

I’ve seen several videos comparing these two, and you by far, have given the most clear review without been too snobby. Thanks, my friend.

Didn’t expect to see this!!! Can’t wait!

Nice video man. One grinder that never seems to be talked about but when on sale is the exact same price, the Mignon crono. With the flat burrs, I assume this one should be much better on the filter side (clarity wise) and flexible enough to pull some pressurized espresso?

For the ESP settings 21-40 do you know the microns per click?

Great review, thank you! Any plans on covering the Timemore Sculptor? Thanks!

Nice Review 👌 Between the Baratza Encore ESP vs Gaggia MD15 which is the better of the 2 in terms of espresso grind consistency and grinding fineness for espresso?

I would say this is the best seemingly unbiased, non-comprehensive comparison video of these two products that I've seen. Although, in my opinion taste test should not be included in a grinder review, as it is subjective.Grounds consistency and uniformity would be better information to provide. As I do not possess either of these products, this is the comparison information that I've gathered after watching many videos. Please correct me if I'm wrong. 1) Appearance - Opus looks better 2) Sound - Opus is much quieter 3) Grind Detail - Opus has finer adjustability across the scale. 4) RPM - Opus -350. ESP -550 5) Anti-static tech - Opus. 6) Magnetic Grounds Cup - Opus 7) Disassembly / Cleaning - Opus 8) Warranty - Opus -3yr. ESP -1yr 9) Out of the box espresso grind tuning simplicity - ESP 10) Overall Build Quality -comparable I really did enjoy your video, looking forward to watching more.

Hello, I have a gaggia classic pro and I want to buy a grinder for 200 dollars. I am between these 3- opus, encore ESP, and smart grinder pro from breville. which one do you recommend me to buy?

Do u get fruity notes when grinding for drip coffee in the encore?

How does it compare to the smart grinder pro

What grinder has less retention?

The straight through design of the Opus is more similar to the Sette than the Encore. My ideal setup would be something like the Opus but with Baratza burrs, or a Sette 30 but with the Encore ESP adjustment dial which allows for fine espresso adjustment whilst also going up to cold brew. They could call it the Sette 40?

Bro you gotta check out the Budan Espresso Grinder. I tweeted at Master Hoffman stating these micro adjustment 3-D printer clickers might be the answer the home barista community with stepped grinders is looking for! Thanks for your deep dive and gon check out your keebs now. I too enjoy espresso and clicky thoc sounds and habibi when you come to India, this ex-New Yorker will take you around.

Thanks a lot for such a good video Xris! I have a Delonghi Dedica EC685 and now, I have a doubt. I don't know what to buy. My principal option was the Graef CM-800, but I have seen the Baratza Encore ESP and it's a great option. What do you think? If anyone can recommend another grinder in that range of price, I would really appreciate!

Is that a Mode Designs hoodie? Didn't expect keyboard content in my coffee youtube video, nice!

With Opus... if I wanted espresso in the morning and I had it dialed. Can my partner do v60 pour over by just adjusting the top ring, or would she need to mess with the micro adjustments each time?

Great review. Would you say getting the ESP is an upgrade for the built-in grinder on breville machines? (breville barista pro, etc.)

Coffee stuck in Opus after 4-5 espresso grinds, so you need to disassemble it and clean with brush.

Was ready to order a Niche before the ETA is getting longer, but then heard that Opus is coming, Now I have to wait what the verdict is for Opus. If savings can be made here, then why not :) . Thanks for doing this.

one question: Fellow dropped the price of the Ode Gen 1 to $255 and right now you can get it refurbished for just $195. Curious how you would compare the Opus to the Ode Gen 1? Does the anti-static tech and wider range of grind adjustment (especially for filter coffee) put the Opus over the Ode Gen 1 despite its cheaper build? My use case is primarily V60 pour over and French press though; I don’t plan on getting into espresso, which is all the more reason why I’m not sure if the Opus is the better buy since you can now get the Ode Gen 1 on ReBrew for the same price. I’d really appreciate your help with this!! 🙏🏾☕️

My Fellow Opus stopped working after just 3 uses. Although it still makes the beep when I plug it in and reattach the loading bin, it doesn't grind anymore no matter how many times I press the button. This is incredibly frustrating and I am very disappointed with this product.

I guess i will stay with my Super jolly and i will upgrade it with SSP multipurpose burrs, high clarity espresso

Look forward to the review but I already started the return process for our Opus because of their horrible business decisions. I will have to rely on reviews like yours to see if it was worth it. We still want another budget grinder so maybe it is be the ESP or another 1Zpresso.

Just get the breville smart grinder pro

The video is a review of two budget espresso grinders: the Baratza Encore ESP and the Fellow Ode Brew Grinder. Here are the key takeaways: 1. **Build Quality**: Both grinders are mostly made of plastic due to their price points. The Encore ESP is almost identical to the original Baratza Encore, while the Fellow Ode has a similar finish but is entirely plastic. Both come with plastic grounds chambers. 2. **Performance**: Both grinders are advertised as espresso-focused but can also grind up to french press and cold brew. The Encore uses 40mm conical M2 burrs and grinds at 550 RPM, while the Ode uses C640 burly burrs. The Encore has 20 steps of adjustment for espresso, while the Ode has a hopper turning mechanism for grind size adjustment and a micro-adjustment feature for espresso. 3. **Retention and Cleaning**: The Ode has less retention due to its anti-static feature, but without a knocker, there's still some retention over time. The Encore has slightly worse retention and will require more regular cleaning. 4. **Espresso Quality**: Both grinders are capable of grinding for espresso. The shots pulled from both grinders are good, with a touch of astringency and muddiness expected from smaller 40mm conical burr sets. The Ode provides slightly more clarity and acidity compared to the Encore. 5. **Other Brewing Options**: For filter coffee, both grinders perform well, providing a richer, full-bodied mouthfeel with enough clarity. 6. **Conclusion**: Both grinders are excellent for their price and are suitable for those new to espresso. The Ode has a sleeker design and a less messy workflow, while the Encore has slightly better performance. The reviewer suggests that either would be a good choice for a budget machine like a Breville Bambino or a manual Flair lever. Please note that this is a summary of the video's content and the reviewer's opinions. It's always a good idea to do additional research and consider your specific needs when choosing a product.

the opus is terrible for dialing in espresso . only 2 nubers are for espresso range and it is annoying to mess around with. just modd the baratza to be more quiet and use a magnetic dosing cup lol

Owh i just want to correct you about the anti-static on opus. WORSE retantion ever. 0.2g -2grams. By daily use i have to clean the grinder everytime i use it.

you get what you pay for. buy once, cry once.. its worth stretching your budget for something like a Eureka Mignon Notte for a a bit more than a c-note more, you get flat burrs and higher clarity from the shots and much better build.

Baratza is made in Taiwan. Fellow products are made in China. Enough said

I have to say I am quite disappointed with all the coffee channels on YT. You dont understand what cheap or budget is. 200$ is not cheap - not at all. 50$ and we are talking. In no world I would spend more than 100$ on a grinder because.......IT IS a fucking grinder - not spacetech. These companies are selling coffee grinders for 500 or 1000 bucks. Last year I saw a promo for a Dacia Sandero hitting under 10000. Yes it is a small car but FFS in the cofee world that is like 10 "good" grinders. I can buy a solid electric moutainbike for 1000$. Or I can buy a good smartphone for 500$ - a piece of tech you would have called alien 20 years back.

Following your review bought the Fellow Opus. Parcel arrived next day and upon opening the outer box, the inner packaging was labelled "Made in China". Sent it straight back. I cannot believe you are peddling cheap Chinese tat on your channel and moreover I will never trust the brand again.

Conclusion: If you are on a budget just keep on saving and get something better.