Specs
| Burrs | Stock V1 burrs with ghost-edge style teeth. SSP and Gorilla Gear 64 mm sets fit 15:58 |
| Adjustment | Large notched steps. To make it stepless, take out the detent disc, its spring and part of the knob, then wrap Teflon tape on the threads so it holds 15:58 |
| Zero | Turn to the chirp and set that (or slightly past) as 1 6:42 |
| Motor | 140 W and holds 1400 rpm under load 15:58 10:16 |
Starting settings
These are the settings each creator gave, measured from their own grinder's zero. Use them as a starting point.
| Method | Setting | Context | Confidence | By | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pour-over | 2 | 30 g to 500 g, light roast. It drew down at 3:20 and was a little weak, so James Hoffmann would go finer still | stated | Hoffmann | 10:53 |
| Pour-over | 4 to 5 (Fellow guide) | Fellow's suggested pour-over range, which James Hoffmann found far too coarse for light roasts | stated | Hoffmann | 10:53 |
| Immersion | 6 to 10 (Fellow guide) | Fellow's French press range, much coarser than James Hoffmann would use | stated | Hoffmann | 14:25 |
| Cold brew | 9 to 11 (presumed) | James's guess at what the coarsest range might be for | unclear | Hoffmann | 14:55 |
| Pour-over | about 6 | 4:6 V60 with 20 g | approx | Rowsell | 2:39 |
| Pour-over | 1 (finest) | Kyle Rowsell's blind-test cup. Sometimes still too coarse for a small V60 | stated | Rowsell | 4:48 |
| Espresso | finest point set only fine enough for lever-style profiles | SSP unimodal burrs, medium to medium-light roasts only. Going finer risks the motor | approx | Quan | 1:33 |
| Immersion | 5 | 2020, numbered dial scale. Reader-submitted and approximate | approx | Christensen | grind size chart |
| Pour-over | 1 to 4 | 2020, numbered dial scale. Reader-submitted and approximate | approx | Christensen | grind size chart |
| AeroPress | 1 to 3 | 2020, numbered dial scale. Reader-submitted and approximate | approx | Christensen | grind size chart |
| Moka | 1 | 2020, numbered dial scale. Reader-submitted and approximate | approx | Christensen | grind size chart |
Cup profile
- The stock V1 burrs make very few fines but can't grind fine enough, so single cups come out weak. They suit 35 to 40 g batches 15:58 11:48.
- SSP burrs give the cleanest cup, with high clarity and sweetness and less body. Gorilla Gear burrs are sweeter, juicy and silky 15:58.
Strengths
- Constant RPM, compact, quiet, with a magnetic cup 15:58.
Weaknesses
- Big steps and static. The shallow feed needs RDT, and the motor isn't suited to espresso 15:58 6:37.
Verdict
In 2021 Lance Hedrick rated it, with upgraded burrs, the best-value filter grinder before returns diminish 15:58. In 2023 he ruled it out for espresso 6:37. With SSP multi-purpose burrs it was hard to tell apart from an Encore ESP at filter sizes 13:49.
James Hoffmann's take
- In his 2020 review he liked the design and the clean cups. The interlocking burrs touch before the gap gets small enough, though, so it can't reach the fineness a single cup of light roast needs. About half the 1 to 11 dial is too coarse to be useful 0:38 16:56.
- A quick drawdown on a coarse setting only reflects the coarser grind. It doesn't mean a cleaner one 11:23.
Kyle Rowsell's take
- In 2021 it made the clearest cup he owned when the coffee suited it, and it's all metal and compact. It can't go fine enough for some coffees, though, and brews under two minutes tasted weak. It's still messy, and an Encore saves you money. Against the Lagom Mini it's about three times faster with an 80 g hopper, so it's best for big batches such as Chemex. By late 2022 he thought it worth buying only cheap or with a burr swap 2:47 2:15 30:37.
The Coffee Chronicler's take
- In 2022, with SSP multi-purpose burrs, it brewed very sweet, clean drip. It had the best looks and workflow, low retention and static, and it runs quietly. The stock burrs can't go fine. It sieved less evenly than a Filtro or a Wilfa with SSP brew burrs 11:17.
Brian Quan's take
- In 2021, fitted with SSP unimodal burrs, it pulled very clear espresso, especially at 1:3. Using it for espresso voids the warranty and strains the motor, though, and the stepped dial is too coarse for dialling in shots, since a third of a click changes the pressure. Static means you'll need RDT. Treat it as an experiment. He wouldn't use it as an espresso grinder 5:06.
Notes
- Seasoning data Lance Hedrick presented showed stock Gen 1 burrs giving only about 12% extraction at setting 1 for pour-over, though he questioned the method 6:39.
Sources
- James Hoffmann: The Fellow Ode Grinder: 2020's Most Anticipated Coffee Product (2020-11-06)
- Kyle Rowsell: Baratza Encore VS Fellow Ode Grinder | Which Grinder is Better for you? (2021-02-01)
- Kyle Rowsell: Easy V60 Recipe: V60 4:6 Method & Technique (2021-04-11)
- Brian Quan: Can you Grind for Espresso with the Fellow Ode and SSP Burrs? (READ DESCRIPTION, Unimodal vs. HU) (2021-04-15)
- Lance Hedrick: BEST FILTER COFFEE GRINDER?: Is the Fellow Ode Hype or Reality? (2021-12-17)
- Kyle Rowsell: Option-O LAGOM MINI vs FELLOW ODE: Battle For The Best Grinder under $400?! (2021-12-31)
- The Coffee Chronicler: The Best Grinder for Filter Coffee? (2022-06-19)
- Kyle Rowsell: The Best Budget Coffee Grinder Under $300?! (2022-12-20)
- Lance Hedrick: THE GREAT BURR BATTLE: Demythologizing the Conical vs Flat Debate (2023-05-02)
- Lance Hedrick: ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BUYING A COFFEE GRINDER (2023-08-21)
- Lance Hedrick: You Need To Season Your Grinder: Fact or Cap? (2024-03-31)
- Asser Christensen, The Coffee Chronicler (website): Grind Size Chart & Database (2025-08-29)
Summarised in our own words from the creators' videos, with every point linked to the moment it comes from. Notchbook isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any of these creators, so please watch the originals for full context. Sources
Dialling in from here
- Sour, thin or fast? Grind finer. Why coffee tastes sour
- Bitter, dry or slow? Grind coarser. Why coffee tastes bitter
- Espresso: how to dial in. Filter: pour-over grind size.
Compare with other grinders in the grind size chart, or see every grinder.
Notchbook is a free app that remembers the setting that worked on your Fellow Ode for each coffee and brew method, and keeps a journal of every brew. Get it free on Google Play. The iPhone app is coming soon. More about Notchbook.