Fellow Prismo Review—Is This AeroPress Gizmo Worth It?

When I received my Fellow Prismo, naturally I was eager to try it out. I already love the smooth flavor the AeroPress delivers, so I was anxious to see if this little contraption could improve upon it.

Upon unboxing the Fellow Prismo, its design, albeit plastic, immediately impressed me. It’s a solid, easy-to-grip cap that screws onto the bottom of the AeroPress brew chamber. Also in the box is a reusable 150 micron etched permanent metal filter that promises to “stop sludge in its tracks”, as Fellow so boldly puts it.

To use, simply place the permanent filter inside the cap (logo facing toward you) before screwing it onto your AeroPress.

Obviously, before using, you’ll want to wash everything with warm, soapy water.

My first impression was that the fit was tighter than the standard filter cap that comes with the AeroPress. This is mostly because of the thick gasket surrounding the metal filter. Also, as I later discovered, it may have to do with design enhancements Fellow made so it better fits the more recent Standard AeroPress and AeroPress Go brewers.

While it doesn’t turn in nearly as much as the original cap that came with my AeroPress, I’ve had no issues with the Prismo falling off or leaking.

The major benefit of the Prismo is that you no longer have to use the inverted brew method with the AeroPress to brew full immersion coffee (if you’re not familiar with the inverted method for the AeroPress, check out this article on it). In short, the inverted method allows you to fully immerse your grounds with no extracted coffee falling into your mug before you want it to.

Another nice thing about the Prismo is the reduced waste by not having to purchase or rely upon a paper filter. This wasn’t as big a deal to me since the paper filters are quite affordable, but still a benefit, I suppose.

So, now that I have my new Prismo attached and some fresh coffee beans ground down to a very fine grind (number 1-2 on the OXO burr grinder are the best settings I’ve found so far), I’m ready to brew espresso style coffee.

I dump 20 grams of ground coffee into the brew chamber and start the timer on my gooseneck kettle. Now, I can reliably bloom my AeroPress coffee (40 grams of water) since the pressure actuated valve on the Prismo is going to hold all the contents in until I press the plunger down.

30 seconds of bloom will suffice, then I fill up the AeroPress the rest of the way. Setting my kettle back on its base, I stir the slurry up for 20 seconds—looking good so far!

After 90 seconds of total brew time (I’m using a medium roast here, FWIW), I’m ready to fill my glass.

In pushing the plunger down, I immediately noticed the pressure actuated valve didn’t require as much force as I had expected. In fact, it was quite effortless to push down—different from what I had been reading about up to this point.

After the plunger stops at the bottom, I remove the entire getup from the top of my mug, unscrew the cap with the filter, and plunge the coffee puck into the garbage (or compost bin). I then wash/rinse everything off and allow it to air dry in the bamboo AeroPress organizer (which works and looks fantastic, by the way).

Since I usually go for a regular cup of coffee, I fill my mug the rest of the way with hot water to suit my tastes. I typically use a spiraling motion similar to a pour over, intentionally trying to “mix things up” to get some aeration in there (hey, it makes a difference in my head).

So after it’s all said and done, how does the coffee brewed with the Prismo taste?

My conclusion is that the Prismo AeroPress filter performs just as well as the standard paper filter and cap, but produces a heavier body with more “thickness”.

Disclaimer: I’m no coffee cupping expert, but the coffee from both tastes excellent, with some slight variations between the two.

If you love French press, you’ll likely love the coffee from an AeroPress with the Prismo filter accessory. This is because the metal filter retains much of the coffee’s natural oils.

In addition, although the metal filter is very fine, it allows some trace amounts of sediment to get through. This may bother some people, but it phases me not.

What I really like about using the Prismo, which I use every day now, is that you no longer have to rely upon the inverted method to pull off a strict full immersion brew.

If you’re serious about your coffee and want to brew espresso style shots, the Prismo pressure actuated valve promises to deliver brewed coffee with a consistency closer to espresso than what the standard AeroPress filter/cap can pull off. It does this by creating a circumstance in which more pressure is needed in order to push the plunger down.

While the Prismo does help a smidgen with achieving barista-style espresso drinks right in your kitchen, the degree to which it helps is marginal.

It still works great for creating a no-drip seal for your full immersion brew. This assists you in properly extracting your coffee by keeping your coffee grounds in full contact with the water during the entire brew cycle, which is why I use it daily. It’s just easier.

However, you’re probably not going to get a thick layer of crema atop your “espresso”. For that, and to truly achieve authentic espresso, you’ll still need a pump driven espresso machine.

That said, you can still create some rich espresso-style coffee without the expense of a professional machine. Just don’t expect the same potency or viscosity you’d find in a traditional shot.

All in all, the pressure actuated valve designed by Fellow provides the following benefits:

French press lovers should absolutely love the Prismo. This is because the metal filter produces a cup of coffee that shares some similarities with the French press, such as retaining the natural oils found in coffee.

But regarding reusable metal filters, many people are turned off by the build up of fines (sediment) the coffee grounds leave behind in the bottom of their mug.

However, that’s not as much of a concern with Prismo’s 150 micron etched stainless steel filter. I can attest, it leaves very little coffee residual behind and the coffee is smooth and rich.

Among that, the other benefits are plentiful, including saving money on paper filters and the good feeling of making sustainable choices.

If you’re looking to take your AeroPress coffee brewing even further, the Prismo Fellow is an ideal accessory. Made of durable high grade stainless steel, this filter will give you consistent brews time and time again, resulting in delicious, full-bodied coffee.

Optionally, if you prefer a lighter and brighter coffee, you can filter out all the fines from your coffee grounds and a lot of the oils by using a paper filter with the metal filter. I’ve done this with great success (and the cap actually screws on easier too).

Overall, people have been extremely happy with the Prismo AeroPress attachment.

Many users love the flavor of coffee brewed with the Fellow Prismo accessory and say that it tastes better than when brewed with the stock AeroPress paper filter / filter cap.

Some have admitted they’re not able to produce the espresso-like crema that’s pictured in Fellow’s advertising. However, this also has a lot to do with the freshness of your coffee. You’ll always get a better crema if your beans are fresh.

Outside of this, you can still produce an intense, espresso-like drink, just perhaps not as picture-perfect as you may have expected.

The Fellow Prismo attachment for AeroPress is perfect for those who crave espresso-like specialty coffees at home without having to go out and buy all the expensive equipment and accessories.

It will simplify your morning routine and provide a flavorful and consistent cup of coffee every time without having to turn your world (or your AeroPress) upside down.

Hopefully, this Fellow Prismo review has answered most or all of your questions.

Thanks for reading and good luck on your coffee journey!
~Coffee Gear Gurus