2024 Fellow Ode Grinder Review—Can It Grind To A Fine Some Of The Time?

In this Fellow Ode grinder review, we take a thorough look at this modern marvel—a fast, compact, and unique spin of the conventional coffee grinder.

Fellow has been making quality coffee gear for over 8 years, and have created quite a stir with their creative and solid product lines.

At a Glance: Fellow Ode Grinder

Excellent grind consistency
Extremely quiet
Very fast
Small, compact size

The grind consistency of the Fellow Ode is unparalleled at this price point. It’s quietness, size, and quality make it a no-brainer for those looking to brew fantastic coffee at home.

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Table of Contents

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An Overall Look at the Fellow Ode Coffee Grinder

Fellow Ode Grinder - Large Grind Settings Dial

Photo by Erin Agius

Grinding your whole beans on the Fellow Ode brew grinder is as easy as turning the dial to your desired grind size, pushing the start button, and waiting for it to grind.

You won’t have to wait long either. The monster 64mm stainless steel burrs get the job done quickly and will chew through 30g of beans in around 8 seconds. Compare that to the Virtuoso+ Baratza grinder, which takes around 30 seconds for the same task.

Also, the lack of noise with this grinder is astounding. It is very quiet (like a gentle purr), even when compared to the upscale Virtuoso+ grinder.

The Ode brew grinder features a large, convenient stepped dial with 31 grind settings so you can quickly and accurately adjust grind size. This is a somewhat limited range of grind settings when compared to the competition though, but it does a fantastic job for medium-fine to coarse coffee grinds.

If you’re looking to grind super fine for espresso, this is not the coffee grinder for you. It can’t grind fine enough to pull that off.

One unique attribute of the Ode coffee grinder is its smart speed PID motor, which, without getting too geeky, ultimately contributes to the Ode’s outstanding grind consistency distribution.

The controller is also responsible for the automatic shut off function. When it detects there’s no more resistance in the flat burrs (no more coffee beans), it automatically turns the grinder off—a very nice-to-have feature in a single-dose grinder.

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Unique Compact Design

The Ode brew grinder has taken on a pretty unique design approach—looking nothing at all like most other coffee grinders.

It has a modern design aesthetic that is quite compact. Measuring only 4.2” wide, 9.5″ deep, and 9.5″ tall, it's one of the smaller grinders on the market.

It’s been designed as a single-dose grinder, and therefore, only holds around 80g of beans. This may not bother many users (like myself), who choose to grind their beans right before brewing to keep them as fresh as possible.

Other Features

Photo by Erin Agius

Fellow has also incorporated the following features into this burr grinder:

A magnetically aligned catch bin that snaps into place
Fins in the grinds receptacle to help guide the ground coffee out smoothly (many users don’t care for this)
A “grinds knocker” to remove extra trapped grinds from the chute

They’ve also included a grind chart on the inside of the lid with suggested grind settings for various brew methods like AeroPress, Pour Over, Brewed Coffee, and French Press.

However, some have stated that these suggestions aren’t entirely accurate, particularly when brewing with light roasted coffee.

Some Drawbacks

The Ode brew grinder has a couple of drawbacks, though, including being a bit of a Pigpen and more susceptible to static.

Fellow is aware of the issues and is reportedly working on a new catch bin to minimize the mess. This was initially in the works for the spring/summer of 2021, but it’s looking like it’s going to be closer to 2022 – 2023.

The little “knocker” lever (which is used to knock out any remaining grounds in the chute) also came up a little lackluster. It knocks some grounds out, but you’ll have to hit it an infinite number of times to get all the residual grounds out.

Grind Quality of the Ode Brew Grinder

The Fellow Ode grinder boasts large 64mm flat burrs (FYI: typical size for entry-level commercial grinders) with feedback controlled PID motor to ensure grind consistency and no fluctuations in RPM.

The result? Excellent grind quality, with very few fines and/or boulders.

Fellow has designed this machine for grinding specifically for manual brewing methods, and it performs admirably in that regard, with a few exceptions. To reiterate, it isn’t suitable for espresso. It doesn’t grind fine enough.

Regarding the 31 grind settings, there has been some criticism. With such a limited range, some users have claimed the Ode brew grinder struggles with achieving a grind fine enough for lighter roasted coffees. Particularly, grinds intended for brewing methods such as pour over and AeroPress.

However, if you prefer medium and dark roasts, it’s an outstanding grinder.

Fellow Ode grinder - monster 64mm flat burrs

Fellow has introduced a new set of SSP Red Speed Coated 64mm Flat Brew Burrs that promise a grind 200 microns finer (still no espresso), but given the price tag of $185, it won’t be for everyone.

Along with the new catch bin in development, a new set of burrs capable of grinding finer than the stock burrs is supposed to be in the works as well, although presently, there’s no sign when those will be available.

Craftsmanship

So what about the long-term reliability of the Fellow Ode?

While Fellow is synonymous with quality and innovation, they are still a relatively new company. Also, this is their first coffee grinder ever.

And while it appears they’ve put a lot of thought into research and development, only time will determine how long this grinder lasts.

On a positive note, Fellow offers a fair amount of spare parts to repair your machine in the event it does break, but not nearly as many as Baratza offers for their line of burr grinders.

Is the Fellow Ode for You?

Fellow has done an excellent job at creating a high-quality burr grinder that’s functional, compact, and offers superior grind consistency.

It’s very fast, extremely quiet, and looks fantastic. It’s an excellent choice for manual brewing methods like pour over with medium to dark roasts and really excels at coarser grinds.

We recommend Fellow’s new coffee grinder if:

You who understand how imperative a consistent grind is—which is extremely consistent on the Ode brew grinder.
You have limited counter space and prefer a tidy kitchen.
You wish to keep the coffee grinding noise down so you can have a conversation and/or not wake others while sleeping.

The Good

Superior grind consistency
Very Quiet
Extremely fast
Compact size
Auto stop feature

The Could Be Better

Struggles with very fine grinds
A bit messy
More expensive

Bean Hopper Capacity: 80 grams (2.8 oz)
Dimensions: 9.4″x 4.2″x 9.5″
Weight: 4.5kg (10 pounds)
Burrs: 64mm stainless steel flat
Burr Speed: 1400 RPM
Grind Settings: 31

If you love drip coffee and manual brews with medium and dark roasts, the Fellow Ode coffee grinder is the perfect fit for you.

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We hope this grinder review has shed some light on the Fellow Ode’s strengths and weaknesses, and helps guide you to a pinnacle cup of coffee that’s second to none.

All the best (coffee)!

From a very young "growth-stunting" age, Clint Doerfler has had a deep-rooted love for coffee. As a result, he founded Coffee Gear Gurus® to share his passion for incredible home brewed coffee with others. When he's not watching true crime shows with family or playing music, he's devoted to helping fellow coffee feins make amazing coffee at home - regardless of their experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fellow Ode Grinder Worth It?

If you’re looking for a compact grinder that makes less noise, and excels at coarser grind sizes – then yes. The Fellow Ode is formidable competition to some of the best grinders available today.

Just be aware that it has rather limited options in terms of finer grinds. Some experts have claimed it doesn’t grind fine enough for pour overs and AeroPress when used with light roasted coffees.

Can the Fellow Ode Grind Espresso?

No. The Fellow Ode is a brew grinder, and simply cannot achieve a grind fine enough for espresso. Even at its finest setting, it only has a resolution of around 500 to 600 microns, which is still far too coarse to pull it off successfully.

Is Fellow Ode Good for AeroPress?

Be wary if you intend to grind light roast coffee for use with the AeroPress. The Fellow Ode struggles a bit with the finer grinds required for lighter roasts when combined with manual brewing methods like pour over and AeroPress.

This article was last updated: August 11, 2022

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2024 Fellow Ode Grinder Review—Can It Grind to a Fine Some of the Time?

An Overall Look at the Fellow Ode Coffee Grinder

Unique Compact Design

Other Features

Some Drawbacks

Grind Quality of the Ode Brew Grinder

Craftsmanship

Is the Fellow Ode for You?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fellow Ode Grinder Worth It?

Can the Fellow Ode Grind Espresso?

Is Fellow Ode Good for AeroPress?

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