Read this comment after skipping that micro-steps part, sipping from my filter coffee made using my ode. Yeah.. I'm happy too, no need to change anything.
bro I watched this video, decided to buy, got this thing in the mail today and here I am again watching it after a WHOLE DAY of FAILURE trying to pull an okay shot
The macroadjustment is giving me hard-core Breville Smart Grinder Pro vibes with the 10 internal adjustments. They drove me crazy. Im even more hopeful for the Encore ESP now.
@@LanceHedrick Could you do a grinder showdown later this year. Theres been a lot of new grinders showing up on the market and it would be great to see how you think they all stack up to each other at separate price points
As soon as I saw the burr set I raced down to the comments to see if people also thought this looked like a Breville knockoff. I wonder how the burrs differ seeing that they look and operate almost exactly the same.
@@LanceHedrickinformative and entertaining as always! I’d be interested to see what an actual espresso dial-in would look like in practice with the Opus (vs the ESP?). I wonder just how annoying the micro adjustments might get (or maybe not that bad?)
Thanks for being able to release such early, same-day reviews. Great technical and entertaining content. I watch nearly all of your vids with my kids. Most of us enjoy them. 😂
I want to tell you how much I appreciate the quality content that you put out. There is so much thought and effort put into each of your videos. Thank you!
Thanks for the great video, I think I'm going to get the grinder as I did do some maths and the adjustment seems pretty simple, if it works like I think. Wanted to share so people can either use it to make sense of their grinders, or tell me if I'm just missing something as to why there's 4 micro adjustment levels? Maybe there's some extreme use cases at the ends of the grind size spectrum like Turkish or infusion for desserts, but: I think Fellow could have the same 16m setting options across the grind range with just +1 and -1 "micro" adjustment": I think that if you choose a normal setting on the main dial (with the micro adjustment centred on 0) that is close to what you want, we will call this 'start'. Then to dial it in: 50m step finer = 1 full step down from start, Micro adjuster at 0 33m step finer = Leave at start, Micro adjuster to -1 step (33m finer) 16m step finer = 1 full step down, Micro adjuster to +1 step (33m coarser) Start 16m step coarser = 1 full step up from start, Micro adjuster to -1 step (33m finer) 33mm step coarser = Leave at start, Micro adjuster to +1 step (33m coarser) 50m step coarser = 1 full step up from start, Micro adjuster at 0
I feel like we (myself included) are over-complicating their adjustment mechanism. In practice, you should know if you need to make your current setting coarser or finer. Just adjust the inner ring in the direction you need to go to refine your shot. No math required.
Lance, thank you for a really detailed video. I found this video after I had owned the OPUS for approximately 6 months. I am pleased with my decision and have had no issues with it. Some of the minor flaws you point out are not deal breakers for me, and I'm satisfied with my decision. (Price was a factor to me.) The adjustment system has been no issue after you become familiar with it. And possibly because my previous experiences were primarily with hand grinders. I had no specific explications or habits carrying over from previous models.
Howdy. I usually don’t comment or like on RU-vid videos, but man watching this at 7am made me laugh and enjoy watching this video and learning about the two to make a decision! Thanks brother!
Thank you for the amazing review once again, Lance! One thing I’d like to point out regarding your choice of comparing the Opus to a handgrinder: I think you can’t disregard the fact that people might pick an electric grinder just because of the convenience. It’s unfair to compare an electric grinder only to a handgrinder of similar price point. In my opinion you should have included another electric grinder in the comparison. Other than that, wonderful work! This was a pleasure to watch.
I love watching you nerd out on coffee and I appreciate the content as a home enthusiast starting to explore espresso. I’d be interested in seeing some cold brew content.
Not gonna lie, I've watched and rewatched reviews of the Opus from you and other people multiple times and this is the first time the internal adjustment mechanism fully clicked for me. I thought it was just like the Preciso or Vario's microadjustment lever where you make a macro adjustment first then use the microadjustment to dial in further. Instead this system is just... Inelegant for dialing in different brew methods or beans if you like to change things up on a regular basis.
Honestly at the price point, it seems like a great value for many who would’ve gotten one of the myriad of crappy electric grinders available under $200.
thank you lance, just got into espresso and my ode can't do it. So, i think this will be perfect for my aesthetic of my coffee bar and hopefully when opus 2 comes out they listen to ya!
Thanks for the review. Interesting that Fellow chose to provide a lower priced grinder with such complex grind settings to add versatility to the unit. Had the machine been built with more premium materials instead of plastic...it could be a Niche killer.
That with that retention, frustrating dial in and additional faff for additional dialing in after having to take the Hopper off... nah, not even with comparing as they will always be in different leagues. I do like the Aesthetics though! I wanted to love this or anything sub 500 (Eureka mingnon fan for years) but settled for the Niche Zero as a long term investment in the end 🤑 for the robust and most simple operation. Also, shocked and so happy with how quite it is! I really wish there was something that competed directly with the Niche Zero for its cleanliness, simpleness and lack of waste coupled with the high-quality fluffy output... and it's dead easy to disassemble and reassemble quickly to clean
Not sure I understand how this grinder makes sense within Fellow’s brand or line of products. But it looks like a great beginner grinder, especially for the money!
@@LanceHedrick yeah, they surely thought outside the box. A grinder that doesn’t jam, and can do espresso at $200 is pretty insane. They should sell a bunch of these!
OK folks - the micro-adjuster. Lance is right in that when you turn the micro, it reads the wrong way by a bit and that's ... well, confusing. BUT, he missed a step. They tell you do do the adjustment way up on 6 on the macro ring for a reason. Once you change the micro, you *must* move the outer macro a decent bit to re-sync things (micro just adjusts the range of the macro - it doesn't move the gears). After moving the outer a bit, you're back in sync on the lines and all is happy. ru-vid.comgM5ZYrSRuFA?feature=share
Seems like a fantastic entry level budget grinder. I’m surprised you didn’t compare it to the breville smart grinder but I’m curious how it’ll be vs the encore esp. thanks for the video!!
Thank you for the review! Looking to find a replacement for the built in grinder in my breville. Was hoping this was going to be the budget option. But not sure now
Fellow is too cheap to make anything that can compete with the Niche. They don't have it in their heart to spend the money. If they did, Ode Gen2 would have been their best shot and they know it.
My work is getting rid of the Opus line and because of that we’re offering a 50% discount, after that discount we have our employee discount, and then after that we have a rewards program that allows me to take $20 off. I’m going to potentially get this grinder for next to nothing
The 3D chess game to dial in espresso took me a few replays to understand, but I think that's fair given how fiddly it is. You did a great job explaining it in the amount of time taken!
I feel like they should have put more focus on the espresso side because that budget category is so small. I have a hunch the Encore ESP might edge out the opus in that area, BUT I think it’s great to have a solid budget grinder like this to recommend to friends getting into coffee. V thorough review and I really liked the cutesy skit. Thx God bless
Exactly the same flaw as my Breville Barista Express which caused me to buy a Niche. The macro steps were too big and the micro steps were too hard to change. The opus is easier (on the BBE, you have to remove the collar burr and that little metal handle to change the micro steps), but still too hard to do before you've had your morning coffee. Hopeful that the Baratza response to this is great. Thanks for the awesome and honest content, Lance.
PS: Thanks for showing it running through 20g of beans. The timing is nice to see and it's a great opportunity to hear how the grinder actually sounds in use.
Competition at this price point: The Breville Smart Grinder Pro has a few more features, but looks worse and also doesn't have the durability/longevity this is promising. The Baratza Encore is a little cheaper, but looks very cheap, and the motor can't match. I think Fellow might have a winner here just on good looks (their usual forte)
It fees like all of their R&D went into a powerhouse motor and then they had to fit 50 dollars worth of grinder around it. Feels like the VS3 is the way to go for 100 more in that budget espresso category
That's too much work to dial in your grind. They should have found a way to have both Micro and Macro adjusters on the outside. Excellent video though!
Wow, I just emailed you yesterday for $200 grinder advice. Saw your video this morning (very well done) and was hoping this would be the answer. I'm worried that being such a new to coffee person, this grinder will take a little more effort than others of close price and quality. I also worry about it being such a new item on the market that parts won't be as readily available as other choices and that the tried and true test of time hasn't really been established since the general public hasn't had this in their hands yet. Thank you for the video. That being said, I'm still a little confused as to which is my best $200ish choice.
Thanks Lance. They lost me with the adjustment system and the plasticky materials, but I'm pretty sure there is a big market for this product out there. I´ll wait for the Encore ESP review.
Hey Lance, just wanted to say, I love your new look. I love watching content creators kind of find themselves and I loved all your early stuff but now you really seem to have found your zone, and it's like you've grown into yourself, and you seem to be more comfortable with who you are now, which I love. PS I love the random singing and rhythmic tapping, as someone with ADHD I love the genuine feeling of your videos. I really look forward to what you do moving forward, you're an inspiration to all of us in this crazy coffee world. PPS I love your hair, you and I have incredibly similar curly hair, and I love mine longer as well, feels like a thick lions mane!
Another fine video, Lance. I think there's enough good stuff going on with the Opus, to make me consider a purchase. I much prefer drinking filter anyhoo, so the Pythagoras Prinicple feature on espresso, is not particularly relevant to me...thank goodness, though at least the extreme headache I'd get, trying to calculate it, could be alleviated with a great follow-up filter... 🤨
My Coworkers: “Hey, James, whatcha watching?” Me: “Young Ron Jeremy showing me how to dial in my espresso grind using integral calculus.” My Coworkers: “……”
I'm disappointed they did an interference pattern for the fine adjustment. Great for manufacturing, but really confusing for the average consumer. I thought it was going to be on a finer thread and that entire fine adjustment range being between external clicks.
I've been looking for a good all purpose grinder for my beginner's setup and this video settled my internal debate. Kinda wish it was as nice built as the Ode, but I for one would take the cost reduction 100 times before that. Thanks for your thorough review, Lance.
I was in the same situation as you 2 months ago and bought the X Pro he used in the video. I think the X Pro is still the better choice because it feels more premium, its easier to use and gives great cups. Yeah the downside is that it's manual but I don't mind and the plus side is that I can take this with me when I travel instead of grinding before hand.
I was just just about to order a Fellow Ode for my pour overs recently, but I fell into the rabbit hole of coffee grinders. With the timemore Sculptor 64 also awaiting release and being a filter coffee grinder, would you rank the Sculptor above the Ode and place the Opus as third? And are they worth the money for filter coffee only? I am very curious about the new grinders and quite unsure which one would make the best fit.
Do you think this would do the job for filter coffee? Or it would be better getting the ode 1 or 2? What do you think? I’m trying to decide if it’s worth spending 140dollars more. Or it would be cool with this one ? I’m not an expert in coffe I prepare myself a lot of v60 and chemex.
It’s a shame it didn’t meet the fellow mark. Big fan of their products, but still looking for a higher end espresso grinder within budget Loving the cinematography and intros 😎 👌🏼
The espresso dialing seems like a pain. Seems like for a little bit more money the option o mini, especially with their upgrades to the motor that have allegedly fixed stalling, is ideal for the espresso and filter combo market.
Not sure what to get as an electric grinder. This is an interesting option. The more I use my 1zspesso hand grinder, the more I want to just make a base for it with a motor and not worry about getting another one.
I came for a review to see how well this thing grinds and got a massive headache from the micro/macro explanation. I appreciate the amount of detail you put into this. But definitely too complicated for an average consumer that just wants a decent espresso grind from an affordable grinder
Curious to see how you think it compares to the Varia VS3. I see it sitting back there on your counter top. Looking forward to that review. Great work as always!
@@LanceHedrick sweeet! looking forward. I was planning to go for the df64s with the cast sweets or multipurpose. will see how the timemore one goes before i make my first flat burr purchase.
I was super interested in this grinder and when Fellow gave me early access I was ready to pounce. I’m glad this review was available already. This would be a great grinder for someone, but not for me. I guess I’ll stick with my Sette 270 for now.
I purchased this grinder.. its great. But I have a pretty cheap espresso machine that claims it has 15 bar.. but I find it cant pull shots on grounds smaller that the 3 setting on this OPUS grinder..
Lance a suggestion, may be create a Playlist for grinders, you got one for product reviews but it's a lengthy one. May be Lance's pick for espresso, or French press something g like that..
So hard to clean, needs a knocker. My partner who is never going to learn how to use it makes a huge mess and it’s a pita to constantly be tapping the top and wiping the grinds away just to slide the container back under. It’s a great price for an entry level grinder though so as long as you’re happy yo live with this then its okay
Hey Lance. Love your videos. I’m fairly new to all the world of fresh coffee. I have a small cuisinart grinder and looking for a new budget grinder. Looking at the Fellow Opus or Urbanic 070s as a replacement. I primarily drink chemex pour over and moka pot. Any thoughts?
12:51 Wrong, you actually have granularity down to 2 microns! Now imagine this, each macro step is 50 microns so if we take 4 steps we have moved 200 microns (4x50 microns). Since each micro step is either positive or negative 33 microns and we have 6 steps in both directions, if we move the micro steps in the negative direction 6 steps we have now moved -198 microns (-6×33 microns). 200 microns - 198 microns = 2 microns.
I think The Fellow Ode was probably what I'd recommend to folks who like coffee and want a capable home grinder that's easy to live with and doesn't come with some of the hassle associated with something like a hand grinder or a Lagom Mini. The MSRP of $300 was just a little steep for a lot of people though, so having a cheaper electric grinder from Fellow is really great. I was originally an Ode backer and was disappointed to realize the original stock burrs couldn't even grind fine enough for some V60s, and in general it wasn't as good as my hand grinder. I put it back in the box for about a year until I finally gave up waiting on updated burrs from Fellow and picked up SSP burrs. With SSP burrs it's been great, and I've since picked up a DF64 with SSP HU burrs (mainly for espresso), but I don't plan on moving on from my Ode. The changes that Fellow has made to the Ode have been really great to see.
About burr movement vs burr gaps: With flat burrs they are the same. Say the burrs are touching, move the top burr 1mm up and the gap is also 1mm With conical burrs however the angle of the burrs is different from the settings movement (up or down). If the burrs are at a 45° angle (from the vertical axis) a movement of 1.41421mm would result in only 1mm difference in gap. The formula for this is: Gap = V / sin(angle) Where V=vertical movement angle = angle of burrs towards the vertical axis If the angle is 15° (wild guess) than 1mm of vertical movement will increase the gap by only 0.26mm
Correct! Burr gap isn't helpful as all, as the mathematics show, since you have to assume thay a) the measurements are traversable grinder to grinder (which they aren't) and b) perfect alignment to assume exactly same aperture across total gap area. Just nonsensical. Vertical movement is much more helpful. Thanks to orphan espresso for really leading the way with this.
Hey Lance! I was wondering why you decided to compare this to the Xpro rather than a grinder in the K-series. Would you consider the Xpro better than the Ks as an all-around grinder?
I went from the popular Cuisinart coffee grinder to this one. So far, I like it a lot. I'm not quite the coffee nerd you are, but I wanted to start making better coffee. I recently started roasting my own coffee beans. So, for me it was a perfect step and upgrade for me. My only disappointment was with the espresso cup being 54 and 58 mm. My machine is 51 mm so I have to rely on a funnel to get the coffee into the portafilter. Overall, a great economic grinder.
Great video very informative thank you. I am just looking into getting into grinding my own beans. I generally drink 2 to 3 cups a day and use an Aeropress. This may be sacrilegious but could you make a recommendation on an electric grinder. Can’t use hand grinders because of arthritis. Thanks for you help.
I'm at the point where I'll be very disappointed if there's no singing in a video from Lance! It always makes me smile :) Great review as always, Lance!
