Fellow Ode Brew Grinder – Burr Coffee Grinder Electric – Coffee Bean Grinder with 31 Settings for Drip, French Press & Cold Brew – Small Footprint Electric Grinder – Matte Black

It is frustrating to outlay several hundred dollars on a premium product that is supposed to be a class leader only for there to be issue after issue, which the vendor will happily ask you to pay for in order to get the quality product you bought in the first place. That’s the ODE experience, but also the nature of buying from Fellows, which is a crowdsource funding driven company, with a series of well received but distinctly iterative products to its name.

The ODE is a solid product and a good grinder. It is probably on its way to being a great grinder. But several of the novel choices made by its designers have proven to require further refinement to satisfy those very particular about their coffee experience as well as those who simply want a quality product that is a pleasure to use. Coffee nerds already know about the ODE, so let me instead speak to folks who might consider themselves coffee enthusiasts, but who’ve stopped short of making it a lifestyle. Here’s what I think those folks should know…

The ODE is not for espresso. By design it does not grind fine enough. But it will work very well for drip coffee, pour over, french press, siphon pots — basically most of your COFFEE coffee preparations Most of us aren’t making espresso at home. So as long as that’s you, this grinder is a good choice.

The ODE has a small, low profile bean hopper and is best for brewing 10 cup batches or smaller. Not having a big bean-holding receptacle on top (compared to say the Baratza grinders — also great) might be a feature for you (it was for me) but if you have one of these mega 12 cup drip coffee makers, you might get annoyed at spilling your beans as you try to fill it day by day.

The ODE is a pretty good grind experience. The grinder is marginally quieter than some competitors. It has a very handy auto-off function that works well. Just hit the button and it finishes on its own. This was a major selling point for me and I appreciate this functionality every single day over the Baratza grinder that it replaced. You’ll probably appreciate it too.

A small caveat — I did find that the front plate on my ODE rattled a bit when grinding (should this really happen on a grinder that uses great industrial design as a major selling point? I think, no), but tucking a little bit of insulating material underneath dealt with the issue easily.

The ODE is very messy. One place where I don’t think the designers really scored is in the catch basin. The grinder uses a small metal cup, with a removable rubber lid to catch the finished grounds. This cup is lined up precisely by magnets in the base of the grinder so, in theory, you just sort of push it in and the magnets do the rest. Unfortunately this system, in practice is problematic.

Given that grinds stick to the edges of the catch basin and the lid, these two are very difficult to match up. It is fiddley and annoying and the worst part of using the grinder, for me, If you don’t quite get the lid nestled correctly, the whole magnet alignment doesn’t quite work either. And you may not notice until after you’ve started your grind, which then clogs everything up and the ODE beeps at you angrily.

At that point, you’ve got to poke your finger (or the finger alternative of your choice) up into the grind mechanism to clear the backed up coffee grounds. This only takes a few moments but it is guaranteed to make a tremendous mess.

Even aside from this specific issue, the lid and catch basin aren’t a general pleasure to use. The experience is messy and fussy and did I mention messy? It’s messy. Much more so than the experience with some grinders at a similar quality and price point.

The ODE does come with a knocker on the right hand side (sorry lefties, no love for you) but this is more for show. It does nothing to help any of the issues above (in fact, Fellows already has a knocker 2.0 kit available, if you want to pay for it). Likewise, Fellows also has new grinder burrs and a bunch of other new tweaks for the latest version of the ODE — small comfort to those of use who bought in on the promise of a well-considered and well tested product in the first place.

If you purchase this grinder, you’ll enjoy it. And it will certainly perform well. It has features that other grinders in its class can’t match. But the experience is still rough around the edges in areas where Fellows has attempted to challenge the way everyone else has been making these tools. If you can live with that, there is a lot to like here that sets the ODE apart from its more traditionally designed rivals.

I don’t regret my purchase but my experience with the ODE has led me to be more cautious in the future about investing $$$ in other Fellows products until they have gone through several upgrade cycles. These folks are sincere in their high aims, but I would advise caution about being an early adopter.

Overall I’m enjoying this grinder. Two issues others will encounter. 1) The burrs are limited and you won’t be getting a fine grind out of this. 2) It seems to have static issues and can be quite messy.

Received and used for 10 days so far. Outlook is trendy, very easy to use, just 1 button. The only problem is the grinds spill all over the place when removing the container.

The Fellow Ode Grinder is a sleek and innovative addition to any coffee enthusiast’s arsenal. With its modern design, quiet operation, and sturdy build, it offers a delightful grinding experience that elevates the coffee-making process to a new level. While it boasts numerous strengths, i noticed a couple of drawbacks.
Starting with the positives, the Ode Grinder’s sleek design is a sight to behold. Its minimalist appearance complements any kitchen or coffee setup, adding a touch of elegance to the overall ambiance. The thoughtful design of the controls ensures easy and intuitive operation. The sturdy build instills confidence in its longevity. The materials used in its construction feel robust and well-crafted, ensuring that the grinder can withstand the rigors of daily use without showing signs of wear or degradation.

There are a couple of cons worth mentioning. Firstly, the Grinds knocker, which is designed to help clear any remaining coffee grounds, is made of plastic and feels flimsy compared to the rest of the grinder. This is a slight disappointment, as a more substantial and durable material would have been preferable.
Secondly, while the Fellow Ode Grinder is generally quiet, it’s worth noting that the larger unit can be louder than expected during operation. While still quieter than many other grinders on the market, the noise level might be a consideration for those who prioritize near-silent grinding.