Fellow Opus Grinder Assessment: Does It Meet Expectations?

It’s huge information within the espresso world each time Fellow releases a brand new product. The model’s beautiful and useful gear typically features a cult following. 

The Fellow Opus Grinder is Fellow’s second grinder however the first that claims to grind for espresso. We had been impressed however not blown away. Hold studying to see what we cherished and what left us wanting extra.

The Full Fellow Opus Espresso Grinder Assessment

Espresso fans have been clamoring for the Fellow Opus. An all-purpose grinder with an inexpensive price ticket is a lofty declare, however Fellow has a formidable monitor report (1).

We had been excited to get our palms on an early mannequin to carry you this first-look Fellow Opus assessment. Learn on for the main points, or begin by watching this video with Steven from Residence Grounds:

Design – 4.5/5

The Fellow Opus grinder has a spare, industrial aesthetic that instantly identifies it as a Fellow product. It options smooth curves and a matte black exterior, with a matte white model promised for later this yr (2). The compact footprint gained’t occupy a lot counter area at simply 8.27” deep by 5.07” vast and 10.55” tall. 

It slots neatly into the grounds catch cup and works for 58-mm and 54-mm portafilters. The catch cup has been redesigned to pour grounds extra cleanly.

The volumetric dosing lid is split into two chambers. The smaller holds roughly 20 g of espresso, the bigger holds 40 g, and the total lid holds 110 g – sufficient to brew a 12-cup carafe. Espresso nerds will cringe on the phrase “roughly,” however it is a good answer for entry-level customers. A grind information printed on the hopper lid guides you to the very best grind setting for various brew strategies.

Sturdiness – 3/5

Construct high quality is the very first thing to take a success when designing an inexpensive espresso grinder for residence use. Not like the aluminum steel casing of the Fellow Ode, the Opus is especially plastic. This consists of the catch cup, although it nonetheless has the much-loved magnetic attachment to the bottom. A plastic case doesn’t essentially imply this grinder gained’t final, however it’s essential to deal with it respectfully. 

Fellow is a good model with wonderful customer support. The Opus comes with a 2-year guarantee, three years if registered on-line.

Ease of Use – 4/5

The Fellow Opus is a single-dosing grinder with a timed autostop, making it straightforward to make use of (3). Simply add espresso beans to the load bin and press Begin. There are 4 pre-timed choices – press Begin as soon as for a 30-second grind, twice for 60 seconds, thrice for 90 seconds, and lengthy press for two minutes. You can even deactivate this function and grind manually.

Altering grind settings is equally easy. Simply flip the grind adjustment collar. Making finer changes dialing in espresso is extra sophisticated, and we’ll discuss extra about that beneath.

Cleansing

The Fellow Opus is a tidy grinder. The anti-static expertise on the output works properly for avoiding mess, although static tends to construct within the hopper. Fortunately, it’s straightforward to take away and rinse out.

Eradicating the hopper reveals a small steel deal with to take away the higher burr for inside cleansing and upkeep –  a small however considerate inclusion.

Grinding Functionality – 3.5/5

The Fellow Opus has a chrome steel 6-blade 40-mm conical burr set, a good-quality possibility at this worth level. There are 41 grind settings, from espresso to chilly brew and French press. In our particle measurement exams, this ranged from 400 to 1500 microns with good uniformity all through.

The highly effective motor spins slowly – at 350 rpm – however with excessive torque. That is excellent for a conical burr grinder because it crushes even dense mild roast beans with out producing a lot warmth. It’s comparatively quiet, round 80 dB in our exams.

Does it work for espresso?

We’ve come to the million-dollar query. And the reply is sure, but it surely’s not good.

The 41 grind settings from espresso to chilly brew espresso essentially have giant steps between them – too giant to dial in an espresso. An entry-level person is perhaps glad, however a critical espresso lover wants extra precision.

Fellow tackled this drawback with a second adjustment mechanism beneath the bean hopper that provides 5 steps between every setting. 

The brand new Baratza Encore ESP, as compared, addressed the identical difficulty by making the steps smaller on the espresso finish of the spectrum and bigger within the drip area. I’d argue it is a extra elegant answer.

Grind Retention

Low retention is a vital function of single-dosing grinders, and Fellow has completed properly with the direct drop-down design and anti-static expertise. In our exams, retention was about 0.5 g. It might be good to have a knocker just like the Fellow Ode, however the tight-fitting lid can be utilized as makeshift bellows to blow out trapped grounds. 

Worth – 5/5

The value of this Fellow espresso grinder is correct. Certainly, most of my complaints are inevitable compromises when making an all-around grinder for beneath $200.

Fellow Opus vs. Baratza Encore ESP

Baratza additionally launched an inexpensive all-around conical burr grinder this week, so we’d be remiss to not examine them. Briefly, the Fellow is healthier for filter espresso and has a extra environment friendly workflow. The Encore ESP is extra handy when dialing in espresso.

Steven from Residence Grounds makes a way more detailed comparability on this video:

Do Not Purchase The Fellow Opus Grinder If…

• You solely brew filter espresso: Go for a grinder with a pour over espresso focus. The pricier Fellow Ode Gen 2 Brew Grinder has an analogous aesthetic and superior burr set. Or avoid wasting money with the perennially well-liked Baratza Encore conical burr grinder.
• You solely brew espresso: Severe espresso fans will profit from an espresso-specific grinder, even when it’s a must to spend a bit extra. A prosumer-grade mannequin just like the Eureka Mignon Zero is a worthwhile splurge with an analogous single-dosing workflow.
• You desire a grinder with a hopper: If single-dosing isn’t for you, the brand new Baratza Encore ESP options related specs to the Fellow Opus however consists of an 8-ounce hopper and guide dosing controls.

The Verdict

The Fellow Opus is a wonderful grinder for the value. Regardless of some quirks, it delivers on its promise to grind for espresso and pour over espresso. And it retains the beautiful aesthetic and user-friendly design for which Fellow is understood. Together with the Baratza Encore ESP, it units a brand new commonplace for entry-level all-in-one grinders.