Fellow - Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2 with SSP MP Brew Burrs

Exclusively for pour over i recommend the 078 sculptor or the ode gen 2 with SSP MP, they're in the $500-$600 range, the other one would be the pietro but not necessarily an upgrade in the ease of use

For $300, I'd say get the idea of an electric grinder out of your head and roll with a zp6. The ode is okay but once you step up to SSP burrs, you'll how bad the ode really is and begin hating its stepped adjustments.

My 078 has never woken up my family as opposed to my much louder ode 2 with ssp burrs. Have you heard one in person?

I did it, it still works beautifully. I want to upgrade though because I'm trying to figure out something that will work with espresso too.

I’ve been using my gen 1 Ode with SSP burr for few years for pour over and french press still very happy with it.

I went back to my old trusty Baratza Virtuoso after years of disappointment using Fellow Ode V1 with SSP, and finally getting delicious and consistent cups again. Go figure

Thanks! Just got the ode 2 with SSP mp brew burrs - which burrs are you using? I haven’t recalibrated or aligned - things look pretty good from the factory. Wondering. What brew devices you use and grind settings? I’m moving between 6-7 for both chemex and switch atm, but still trying to work it out. Thanks!

I've had both. The price difference between an electric and a good hand grinder has narrowed. If I was starting over I would probably get an ode2 with brew burrs. I started with a 1zpresso jx. Not very good for filter. Then took a big step up to a comandante Mk 4. Now using ode 2 with mp burrs. Looking at varia vs6 but probably will wait at least another year or 2 to see what else comes out. Nearing end stage purchase.

I've had both. The price difference between an electric and a good hand grinder has narrowed. If I was starting over I would probably get an ode2 with brew burrs. I started with a 1zpresso jx. Not very good for filter. Then took a big step up to a comandante Mk 4. Now using ode 2 with mp burrs. Looking at varia vs6 but probably will wait at least another year or 2 to see what else comes out. Nearing end stage purchase.

I started with a hand burr grinder, and then stepped up to an affordable electrical burr grinder. I will never go back to a hand grinder.. although when I started taking coffee more seriously, I couldn't really justify the expense of the electric. Now a decade later I've settled on two electric burr grinders. One for light and medium roast (ode 2 w/ssp) and to me what is a more forgiving baratza encore for darker roasts.. Buy what you can afford, you'll eventually upgrade!

Ode Gen 2 with SSP gives similar if not better cups

I use my Ode2 with SSP and ZP6. I got the Ode first and after 2.5 years got the ZP6 just because I was curious. I like it because it's quiet when my wife is asleep and it also gives a bit of a different flavor profile. Certainly not a necessity but nice to have.

I’m going to try to answer your post directly here based on my opinions and experiences, but feel free to ask anything else. 1. 1zpresso X series unless you don’t mind a larger size. Then the K series is better. J is supposed to be better for espresso grind - you can dial in finer grind sizes. Q series can fit inside some of the aeropress models. It is small and uses a different adjustment and grinder that I did not prefer. So the K is the splurge or Cadillac. 1zpresso have great service, are widespread if you need new parts, and they are one of the many grinders entered in the Aeromatic app. For an electric grinder, Baratza Encore is reasonable (conical burr). I believe the splurge is the Fellow Ode gen 2. Cadillac is Fellow Ode g2 with upgraded SSP burr set. (Flat burr). Whatever you use to grind. The RDT method (a couple ml spray of water on the beans before you grind) does make your grind produce less static and helps with consistency- in my own experience. 2. For more available coffee recommendations, I like Stumptown Hairbender, or Blue Bottle stuff, Intelligencia whatever. All good, not great. For less accessible top notch: Stovetop Tilly in Grand Rapids MI, Brooklyn Roasting Company Tokyo blend, Anthology Coffee Detroit is very Fancy, CoffeeShop in San Francisco - their Columbia coffee. Dark Matter Chicago Unicorn Blood, Dark Matter Funk 17 (aeropress shot tasted like black cherry and dark chocolate. My head exploded.) Hope this helps. Always happy to chat coffee! Happy Holidays!

I second that. I've been using a comandante since 2020 and got this January an Ode gen 1 with SSP MP. It gets me just a different taste profile.

Will depend on your budget but I was in your same boat with a long time baratza encore and upgraded to a Fellow Ode Gen 2 with SSP burrs and am very happy with the upgrade. If you want another electronic grinder I think it will be hard to beat the Ode at the price point. You could certainly forgo the burr upgrade to save a few bucks

Ode 2 with RDT, or really any grinder with RDT. Clean up will be very minimal.

It would be impossible for RDT to cause mold in coffee. From the time you spray a dose to the time you brew, it shouldn’t be more than 5 minutes max? Mold cannot form in that time frame

Have still never heard of this nor does google yield any results. This sounds like OP is making assumptions

Well that’s the point of RDT, no retained grinds… it’s a very light spray. I googled this and found literally zero information on RDT and mold with retained coffee. Where did you hear or read this or are you just making assumptions?

Like others are saying, for electric Ode 2 w/ SSP or Timemore 064/78 are good bets. (I recently bought the 064S.) But if you don't mind hand grinding you'd get more value with your money there. I'd advise against the Niche. Just not worth that money.

Ode 2 ! And you can actually grind for espresso with the ode 2 with the SSP MP and by removing the clicks in the dial. It is not as precise as an espresso grinder but if it’s not your focus then that could work :)

Eagerly awaiting my Casa. I have the Ode 2 w/ Gen 2 and SSP MP burrs, but I get far more enjoyable coffee out of my Kingrinder K6. Richer fruit notes, more rounded sweetness. I experienced the same with pourover from a friend’s Niche Zero, so my current theory is that my palate just likes the profile of coffee from conical burr grinders better. Worst case, the Casa will do espresso duty and I’ll just hand-grind for filter.

See if you can find an 078 used, that would be a nice pickup.   I would probably go for an Ode with SSP MP if you want those burrs, even gen 1 is ok.

I have two Odes--a gen 1 w/gen v2 burrs and gen 2 with SSP MPs. I wouldn't recommend the SSPs. The newer Fellow brew burrs are easier to dial in IMO. I have just replaced my SSP MPs with SSP Lab Sweets. They're better than the MPs for filter brew. But, I can't really say if they're worth the price for the upgrade. Obviously, this is a subjective opinion, so YMMV.

Ode 2 with ssp. I’ve got one for sale with both burrs. Lightly used and well aligned

This might be good advice, but not accurate. Even some affordable options like Fellow Ode + SSP MP, Pietro Pro Brew /and/ ZP6 can provide a good contrast to the 078. Instead of changing other factors like recipe, water or ultimately beans.. a backup grinder (or two) can make achieving good cups easy instead of hard.

In my experience, some beans will play nice with the 078 and provide mind blowing cups. Some just won't. Before spending a ton more though I think it's prudent to try something like Fellow Ode + SSP MP or a Pietro Pro Brew to see how you like that style first.

For hand grinders: - 1zpresso any of their line ups are good - timemore c2 - commandante grinders After that it just gets exponentially expensive Electric Grinders - fellow ode or opus - df64 - baratza encore - varia - lagom p64 or mini - mahlkonigs -sk40 Just look for burr grinders either conical or flat burrs would do. Depending on the shape, geometry if blades, and type, they can affect the flavor profile of the brews. You can deep dive on this whenever. But you would want a burr grinder than a blade one any day as it cuts the beans better and more consistently than the latter. I guess if you are not that invested or just want a cup of hot joe you can go ahead with that as it is better than buying pre ground

I really like my X Ultra, but prefer my Ode 2 and not just for convenience. I’m getting a better more consistent grind from it as well.

Lateral for quality, huge ease of use upgrade. Cant imagine hand grinding 100g of coffee every day for me and my wife.

Ode 2 is better than a c40, but it’s still pretty expensive for the smallish jump up.

Really depends on her taste preferences. Some people upgrade from the C40 and try a few different electric grinders only to end up back at the C40 a year or two later. Other people upgrade and never look back.  Also just so you know the word quiet and coffee grinder only go together in expensive pairings. Like the Option-O Lagom P64, you'd want the original Mizen burrs (not the ES), or SSP MP burrs in that. A cheaper option would be the Ode Gen 2 as those burrs are somewhat similar to the C40. The other option is the Skope 2 mortiser kitbor similar for the C40. Takes the arm work out but you get much the same result.

Quick PSA if you're using dark roast beans that are oily you'll have to clean out an Ode every couple of weeks. Best way to avoid this is to light roast only

Assuming it's actually medium, not what Aussie roasters call medium, shouldn't be too bad.

Hard to beat the Ode 2 unless you brew espresso

He said all around. Ode (I have and love it for the price) is not for espresso.

Get an ode on sale and then buy an espresso focused hand grinder.

I am sure there are those here who made that upgrade. When I upgraded from my Capresso, I considered the Baratza first and then wiggled my way to ode2. I think it’s definitely an upgrade. After you unhappy with the Baratza? There is an M burr upgrade that would improve quality a bit. Of course the ode can be upgraded as well (I have not). I think ode2 is a great grinder and is rather peerless at the price point for electric.

Ode gen 2 is probably your best bet in terms of price and availability. Hand grinder would be cheaper…but I think ode2.0. If you are getting a nice grinder, you might as well consider a scale if you don’t have one. I assume you have a gooseneck kettle already?

Love my Ode 2!

For pourover, Fellow Ode 2. For espresso, DF64 Gen2 for best value. If you got money to burn, then Weber EG-1 or an EK43.

I had a Baratza Virtusoso and it was not quiet. I now have a fellow ode mostly because of how much quieter it is. I’m not sure how loud the opus is, but if a quieter grinder is what you’re looking for, I’m not sure that an encore will fit the bill.

The Ode 2 does everything except espresso, is relatively quiet and fairly quick. I bought one because I borrowed a friend’s and it was half as loud and twice as quick as my previous grinder. 70g takes less than 20 seconds I think?

Do you plan to make coffee for an entire house with the grinder, or just yourself? If you plan to eventually make coffee for more than just yourself get a Fellow Ode, if not the Timemore Chestnut is a great hand grinder.

There is no question that the J-Ultra is better than the Fellow Ode for espresso. There is also no question that electric is more convenient than manual, albeit it usually means it has a bigger footprint therefore less conducive to travel. I would suggest you look at the Turin grinders, perhaps some of the models positioned below the DF54. The lagom mini or Varia could also be an option.

You would need to mod the Ode by making it stepless and replace the burrs with an espresso suitable set in order to get a grinder that struggles with grinding light roasts for espresso. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IMNKwMoThg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IMNKwMoThg)

Fellow Ode 2 is a near-perfect electric grinder for moka, pour-over, French press, and filter drip...and looks the business while not breaking the bank.

I have a DF64ii, a Philos, a Gevi, and an Ode 2 for electric grinders. I've brought the DF64ii into work. At home, for pourovers, I almost always use the ZP6 hand grinder.

I love my ZP6. I also have a DF64ii, a Gevi, and an Ode 2. I rarely do batches as large as you do, but I usually gravitate to the ZP6. But the DF64ii is solid. I'm setting up a coffee station at work, and it'll be my go-to work grinder. My Gevi works really well when I use my v60 or Origami, but I still use the ZP6. I don't use my Ode very often.

I’m a pour over fan. I started with an OG Ode (from the Kickstarter campaign!) which I modded with the V2 burrs. Then I got interested in the Comandante C40, which my brother was raving about… so I got that. And then I bought a ZP6 because I was curious if I could taste the difference from its burr set. I’ve kept all three and I just rotate between them depending on my mood. The Ode V2 and the C40 deliver very similar results. Curious what you think of the K-Ultra as I’m eyeing that as another purchase that I’d bring to and then leave at my in-laws’ house, so I don’t have to carry a grinder when I travel.

I started with the Hario Skerton hand grinder or whatever it’s called…. Upgraded to the Encore. The biggest downside of that for me was the noise. Eventually an ill family member was getting into coffee and me and my wife decided to donate the Encore to him to make the rest of his time more enjoyable by having tools to really enjoy a cup. That’s when I upgraded to the Ode 2 and so far have zero complaints. I’m just using the standard burrs but that’s fine with me.

>Because you cut down on the cost of the electric components you can have better burrs? That's precisely it. Because why wouldn't you want freshly grounded coffee in seconds at the press of a button, if the quality is the same? That said, workflow and convenience isn't trivial, just like the burr difference isn't trivial. If you have guests over, and your only set up is a hand grinder, it'll be a struggle to serve coffee to everyone. My current set up is a Commandante C40 and a Fellow Ode. They cost about the same but are used differently. C40 is for the more expensive beans where I can really tweak it and get great cups. When guests are over, I use Ode to grind Costco coffee. I tried C40 before and guests were feeling bad about asking for coffee because it took so long to make one.

I did stop looking at gears after buying a C40. However, when I started having friends over for brunch, I had to buy an Ode because hand grinding just took too much time.

Why niche? OP wants to grind up to 80g in one go, and only uses French press, and sometimes V60 and aeropress. Why would they want an espresso grinder that isn't particularly great for filter brews? Especially considering that there's filter focused grinders like the ode 2 available for less money.

I mean, it's passable. It's very much a classic style espresso grinder and produces heaps of fines, this makes it super forgiving for dialing in espresso as it provides a pretty wide sweet spot, but isn't really ideal for V60 due to increased risk of clogging, or French press as it will result in a siltier brew. Not to mention the fact it can't grind those doses that OP wants to grind in one go. So if OP isn't brewing espresso, why spend more on a espresso focused grinder that does a worse job at filter brews than a filter optimised grinder that also happens to be cheaper?

I’ve been using a Capresso conical burr grinder for about 20y now (first one lasted about 12y - replaced it about 8y ago now) .. they’re cheap and effective - nothing fancy. Does well over 100g of coffee (4oz) per shot if you want. Cheap and effective, but a bit of a pain to clean .. always found it a tad noisy and never liked the timer knob (it runs slow and the numbers never made sense to me - I think it’s supposed to be “cups”) .. but it’s good for coarse grinds if you’re doing French press or medium to dark pour overs. Never used it much for fine grinds but will do Turkish level fine. Just recently I upgraded my workflow to an Ode2 and a nice scale which is fun to use and evolve into (used to just eyeball everything) .. auto shutoff is nice and the ability to swap out the flat burrs seems like a nice future option .. will see how this fares over time. I’m really enjoying fine tuning the overall setup and playing with extraction techniques to start dialing in the beans better.

What hand grinder did you come from? I have an ode gen 2 which I love but got a K Ultra for travel, espresso and pourover. I still gravitate towards my k ultra because it’s much quieter on early mornings, so I’m curious what hand grinder is louder than the ode. I like cups from both and for batch brewing with the Aiden, the ode wins for convenience.

Fellow Ode Generation 2. For dedicated pour over you really can't do better. And the price point is fair considering the quality of the grinder and the grind. I think you'll get a lot of confirmation on this. I think it's not really close to be honest.

Honestly the returns are diminishing in my opinion after Ode Generation 2. For pour over only I think that the Ode Gen 2 want it to do or need it to.do.

Fellow Ode Generation 2. It's all you will ever need for pour over. Honestly. It's an excellent excellent quality grinder. It is designed for pour over. And it's 20% off right now. Easy choice in my mind.

I am one of those people who went down the rabbit hole and got a Lagom P64 + unimodal v1 burrs. I will first say that it is amazing — the build, team support, everything. Could I get something close to that much cheaper? Probably. My brother has the DF64 with unimodal burrs and, while the polish is not there, it can probably do close to what my Lagom does. As long as you pick a grinder that 1) is generally reliable, 2) has okay customer support, and 3) lets you swap out burrs, that is pretty great! I've had many cafe filter brews from the Ode that impressed me. Your main limitation will probably be grind adjustment — depending on how "unimodally" your burrs are, 5-10 microns makes a huuuge difference because the sweet spot window is much narrower. Soooo Ode is great, but at that price point you should also consider DF64!

You can feed the Ode with beans for more than one dose. I like it. It's much better than the Baratza. There are mods to make a hopper. you can also put whatever you want for the catch cup.

Just got Fellow Ode 2 for filter. Can't recommend it enough.

1zpresso K series for manual or Fellow Ode for electric. Either should last long enough you'll feel you got your monies worth.

Ode 2 is probably the best choice in the 'not too expensive' category but it's sort of a lateral move to the C40 - different, but not necessarily better. Also consider whether an electric grinder is really an upgrade? Some people like hand grinding and if you're drinking 1-2 cups of pourover per day it's hardly a hassle to do that on something like the C40. 

The conversation around the ESP changes if you're looking for an espresso capable "all around" electric grinder. It's decent enough but hard to compare to hand grinders around/under that price point that can do a better job. Drop the espresso capabilities though, and I'd agree with the others: try to grab the Ode Gen 2. Last sale was around $275 in the US, and you get some great cups for light roast with a great workflow.

Pretty much. I got my parents the Ode 2 and their dark roast habit clogs it fairly regularly. Meanwhile I never have that problem because my beans are way lighter.

Spot on IMO. For two people, he will need to grind 2x to get the amount needed for the Chemex. Typically, the capacity is 30-35g on the largest handgrinders and guessing they're brewing \~50g at at time. OP, the Ode gen 2 is a great recommendation. Just go with the standard burrs it comes with. You could get the cheaper Encore (which I have and love), but my next upgrade will be the Ode Gen 2 to pair with my handgrinder.

So I have that (skerton pro)and a ODE and I actually like the hario more… for $300 less lol as it turns out conical and flat burr really do taste different. It just takes forever if I’m making 2L of cold brew

The fellow ode grinder (flat burr)

I started with a cheap-ass electric grinder with pseudo-flat burrs (Delonghi KG89). Unfortunately, it was robust enough to last me 4-5 years. Then I bought a Timemore C2, which served me well for another good 5 years. Eventually, I got tired of hand grinding. I decided to step it up and bought a Fellow Ode 2 — beautiful design, fits nicely on my counter, easy to dial in, and coffee tastes great. Why haven't I switched to a decent electric sooner, I asked myself each morning. 6 months passed. I realized I missed *feeling* the grind in my hands. So, I came full circle and picked up a 1Zpresso ZP6. What I’m trying to say is that only you can decide what’s best for you. And not a today you, but a future you. (That said, today me would probably start all over with a decent handheld.)

Easy. How many kidneys do you have? How many do you need? Go for the Zerno haha. In all seriousness, Ode is pretty affordable, relatively speaking. The SSP. MP burrs are fantastic . All the Niche reviews make it sound a little overrated (at least for the price).

Just got my Ode 2 for Xmas, I really like it. Quiet, fast, good looking, and solidly built

I have a ZP6 and an Ode2, it really depends on your cup preference. If you like tea like cups, bold fruity flavor and lighter roasts go for ZP6. If you like more body the Ode would be better. The ode is nice for low effort as well, the hand grinder takes a little time to grind and is harder then just pushing a button.

If you want electric I’d say Ode2. Avoid the ZP6 if you go manual, it’s very low body.

If she is ok with two devices that will just work honestly not sure you can beat ode and mocca master. Xbloom is neat (I want one!) but durability is tbd. The above have been reliable for years and will make a killer cup.

And because you mention that you’re looking for a better grinder to help you explore more coffees, I think that’s *exactly* what the Ode is geared toward. The downside is that it is considerably more expensive than the hand grinders (at least, in USD).

Interestingly I think the k ultra is pretty comparable to my first cups on the ode gen 2. Time will tell though, it's my first day with the ode.

Interesting. I have the k ultra and just got an ode today. So far it's doing good, although now I wish I had an electric espresso grinder to compliment it. I mostly got it to see if flat vs conical actually makes as big a difference as folks claim.

I went from baratza encore, to k ultra for the past year or so. I'd say it has been great for both espresso and filter, although filter is way easier to grind, obviously. Super solid if you want one that can do both well. I got the ode gen 2 today and it's pretty comparable on first cups, pretty quiet too, but nothing beats the silence of the k ultra.

If you’re not tasting differences between grinders, I doubt buying the best hand grinder you can afford is going to improve your experience. I owned both an $80 1zpresso Q2 heptagonal and the $200 ZP6 Special and they were very close in flavor profile, with differences only apparent after both coffees cooled to room temperature, which is not something I do day-to-day. The ZP6 is the most recommended grinder in this sub, but after using it daily for about 6 months last year, I ended up selling it and sticking with the Ode 2.

On my bar currently is a Fellow Ode, Baratza Vario, and a Timemore 064s. Had SSP cast in the 064 but probably swapping them to the Ode now. All that to say, I could have just one of any of these and be perfectly happy. Timemore is probably my favorite as far as quality and workflow, plus it can genuinely pull double duty. Ode is great but obviously you’re not getting espresso there. Vario is an old design with clunky workflow but the burrs are great—in fact, the Mahlkonig X54 is essentially just an updated Vario. All these are great grinders.

A big NO for a  Gen 2 by fellow. I've had three units they've all been well let's say  💩 I'm considering a different new one.

This is what I did and I am happy with it - Ode Gen 2 and DF54. I am a 75% pour over household but wanted the option for espresso. I thought getting a manual grinder just for espresso would be the best idea but quickly learned it was a huge mistake. I also like not having to do a huge adjustment range by having two dedicated grinders.

I have both. Enjoy both but I keep the casa just for espresso. I prefer the ode 2 but that may be because the espresso fines leads to less clarity through the casa. With that said the casa is great and you can use it for both of you are only willing to get one grinder.

Ode 2 for electric, and my KINGrinder K6 does a great job providing body when I use it for pourover.

Fellow ode is a solid option

It’s been mentioned but Fellow Ode really is a great grinder. Might have some decent deals with Black Friday. I bought a refurbished gen 1 Ode and it’s been great. Recently upgraded to the gen 2 brew burrs and it’s even better. Before this my grinder was a 1Zpresso JX. Which I still love my hand grind but not having to hand grind every time I want coffee is nice. But hand grinders will punch above their weight for similarly priced electric grinders. Can’t really go wrong with any of the 1Zpresso ones from what I’ve read and my experience with the JX

I wouldn't spend that big on a grinder again even if I had all the money. "Best" to me is something like the Zero Brew or Ode. Why? They do exactly what they are supposed to do, and they do it very well while being affordable and reasonable in size and weight. What more could I need?

Just bought an ode gen 2 and it’s been great. Grind consistency has been great across the board and it has a lot of great features. Not to mention I no longer have to hear my 2 and 4 year shout “too loud” in the morning when I’m grinding - It’s quiet. Highly recommend.

Ode user here. No complaints

It’s a common thought that the Niche does not do well for pour over, but better for espresso. If you’re looking into getting a consumer grade grinder for pour over like an Ode or Sculptor, then a 2nd one makes sense, just to simplify workflow and not either mixing grinds or wasting beans purging between them. If you’re looking more into prosumer/professional grinders, I’d lean to having it to replace both, since it’s better and hella expensive (unless that’s not an issue).

I had one of those and upgraded to a Baratza encore years ago. I'd get the newer encore esp now. I have the fellow ode gen 2 now and would not recommend it for your needs.

Personally just upgraded from a similar grinder to a fellow ode gen 2. I grind a similar amount every morning and I went from multiple cycles to being able to grind my coffee in under 15 seconds. If you don’t mind splurging a bit it’s a very nice grinder.

I had the ubiquitous Cuisinart, it was ok for dark roasts but anything other than that you could easily taste the fines and inconsistency. I got a hand grinder and while it tasted much better for pour overs, I hated having to do a mild exercise every morning just to get coffee. Enter the Ode 2. I know the price is much higher than the hand grinder you are looking at but: 1. The grind quality is fantastic 2. It’s fast, a pourover amount is 10 seconds? A pot of coffee is 30 seconds, maybe less? 3. It’s quiet, my wife used to hate that she’d get woken up by the cuisinart. She can’t hear the Ode in the bedroom. 4. It’s easy. I can weigh and grind in less than a minute. Heating the kettle takes longer and it happens in parallel, or filling the coffee maker’s reservoir in parallel. There is no way I’d want to hand grind the required beans for a pot. If you are ok with it then I’m sure you’ll be happy, the quality of the grind/brew is great.

So to start, I'd say you get a flat bottom dripper instead of a v60/conical dripper. Tho if you're steadfast on this brewer then thats fine, just know that v60 tend to require precision for good brews- unless you have the perfect particle distribution on your grinder. Which brings me to another point; Coffee Grinders. Depending on how you want your coffee to taste, a grinder with a specific type of burrset will be your best friend in that situation. • Hand grinders, albeit 99% of them are conical burrs, are the cheapest and yet most flexible option for the price range. [E.g. Comandante's Nitro-blade and 1zpresso's X-series have a more sweeter profile, and K-series are more acidity driven.] • Electric grinders on the other hand tend to have a gap between conical and flat burrs for different price ranges. For v60 sweeter profile, I'd go for a flat burr grinder like Fellow Ode, Timemore sculptor, or DF54. Keep in mind that no matter which grinder, it will vary alot in terms of clarity and roundness in the cup. Also make sure you use the right water quality for brewing, as it can decide whether it will make it more difficult for you or make it easier to brew.

u/kingseven Tangentially (but not really) related, but I picked up an Ode Gen 2 recently, and have been struggling to get the best out of it for pourovers. Using your one cup method, what kind of grind setting should I be aiming for on the dial? I noticed you were down in the 2-3 range on your testing videos, these come out a bit muddy and way over 3 minute drawdown for me. Any help would be hugely appreciated, from a huge fan!

I picked up an Ode Gen 2 recently, and have been struggling to get the best out of it for pourovers. Using your one cup method, what kind of grind setting should I be aiming for on the dial? I noticed you were down in the 2-3 range on your testing videos, these come out a bit muddy and way over 3 minute drawdown for me. Any help would be hugely appreciated, from a huge fan!

Same budget, £250. Electric, not looking for entry level, but the ones where the returns start to returns start to diminish significantly by paying more. Had been looking at the Ode 2, just wondering what the alternatives are these days. Haven’t been keeping up to date much in recent years.

Ode 2 or DF54. Both are really good. If you have any slight thought about trying out espresso, then for sure go with the DF54. Differences between them are minor, so go with your gut feeling or aesthetics.

+1 oh yeah, this made me realize that the Ode2 definitely has more body than the ZP6. I really like texture/body, so that at least helps me understand my preference for Ode2.

The slightly larger hopper on the Ode is kind of an underrated quality of life feature. Its the perfect size for doing a 60g batch brew, the catch cup is also appropriately sized to catch all of it. I have the 078S as my espresso grinder and it is def a single serve focused design. You'll be grinding 15g 4 times because you also want to cover the hopper while grinding or else the popcorning can be annoying. Also the catch cup I don't think would hold 60g so you'll be using a different one or also be doing that part in sections. Taste is king but these little things matter too!

Of the three, ode gen 2. While I get amazing cups from the zp6 regardless of roast, the ode gen 2 will probably be the best especially if you want French press too. I own both and gravitate towards the zp6 9/10 times as I value clarity and pour overs. But sounds like for your needs you would like something more versatile. Ode would be great for French press/pour over/moka pot. As for more tea like body with the zp6, not for me. My guess is there are a fair amount of people who are under extracting as I’ve yet to have a coffee ground by my zp6 that fit this description.

Personally I went with the K-Ultra over the ZP6 because I wanted more texture/flavor balance in my pourovers. As a fellow Robot owner, it's also convenient that the K-Ultra is a competent espresso grinder – I can take the Robot to friends' houses even if they don't have an espresso grinder, I can car camp with it, and I can pull shots when the power is out. As others have suggested, the Ode 2 is another option you might want to consider. I usually prefer pourovers on the K-Ultra, but sometimes I don't feel like hand grinding, and the Ode does a great job all around, and sometimes better depending on the coffee. (And to be clear, when I do prefer the K-Ultra, it's *preference* – someone else might prefer the Ode in the same situation.)

In a similar situation but I have an Ode. I bought a K6 and am preferring it - I only make coffee for myself, so I think I’m going to sell the Ode and reclaim some kitchen space.

I personally rely 100% on hand-grinders for pour over/filter coffee (including the occasional aeropress). I have an electric grinder for espresso, and it stays at the espresso setting. If you do not drink espresso or care for it, then getting the ZP6 for example and keeping the extra money from selling the Niche sounds like a good idea to me. You may choose to get the K-ultra instead if you like the Niche’s profile of more body/less clarity as the ZP6 is going to be starkly different. Alternatively, get a fellow ode 2 grinder. Less counter space and burrs more geared towards filter. Again, it might be a bit different to what you’re used to with the Niche in terms of the flavor profile it will produce in the cup.

One thing that’s not as discussed about the 078 is it’s build quality, esp. compared to the Fellow Ode. It’s miles better and feels far more sturdy. Only issue really is the popcorning in the hopper but that’s not too bad if you take some extra care during feeding

I'd personally get a filter-only grinder. Wait for a sale, grab an Ode Gen 2, and buy an espresso grinder when the time comes (DF54 is insane value). The best grinders for double duty are medium-high clarity conical grinders like Comandante, K-Ultra etc IMO. The Femobook A5 and Lagom Casa are a couple electric grinders that are in the same category (I haven't tried either, but they're well reviewed). I previously used a Lagom Mini for both filter and espresso and it was fantastic. The DF54 and 64 both do a decent job at filter, but it's not great. The 64 mm SSP MP burrs are often recommended as a do-it-all burr set, but they are for a very specific espresso profile and they are not beginner friendly for espresso. I didn't enjoy the espresso with them. SSP Cast are supposed to be decent for both, but you're giving up the clarity everyone is always seeking. A couple other decent options that I've tried are Ditting 54mm steel burrs in the Vario+ and Eureka's 50 mm brew burrs in an entry level mignon. The UX is not ideal with either of these setups compared to a grinder designed to single dose. If the Ditting burrs fit in the DF without crazy mods it would be a great option. Edit: I forgot to mention that there are now brew burrs available for the DF54. I'm planning to grab a set to try out once they're available in Canada.

If you want electric, I'd grab an Ode Gen 2 (regular, not SSP) and if you want a hand grinder, I can't recommend the C40 enough. Things I would stay away from; ZP6, SSP burrs, Timemore Sculptor. I don't think any of the 1zPresso give lots of body but I'm not familiar with their entire (and extensive) line up. What I do know is that the Ode Gen 2 still gives some body and is a really well balanced cup IMO. The c40 just makes fantastic coffee, all around, it's just a workhorse grinder that can make delicious coffee.

K6 best bang for your buck, ZP6 and K-Ultra best hand grinders (ZP6 for clarity, K-Ultra for more balanced profile). C40 is similar (taste-wise) to the K-Ultra but grinds slower and doesn't have external grind adjustment. Ode gen 2 is a great electric grinder if you can find it at a good price.

*Technically* the best bang for your buck would be hand grinders (ZP6, K-Ultra, C40, Kinu with POB, maybe even the Pietro if it's priced similarly to the Ode 2), but AFAIK the Ode 2 is still king at its price for pourover electric grinding

That’s a deciding factor for sure! Hand grinding for pour over is pretty easy, but an electric grinder will still be easier to use, not only for you but also for people who might not see coffee as a hobby. Enjoy the Ode 2!

Thank you! I’ve tried a wide range of coarseness/fineness and it is always watery. I use 15g of coffee for 250ml of water. I always used this ratio and always made great cups when I had a fellow ode gen 2. I’m wondering if it’s the heating element of the machine or something at this point. I know grinders are the most important, but I have a hard time believing that switching from the ode gen 2 to the esp makes it impossible to make drinkable coffee

Honestly Ode 2 is great, but the catch cup is a bit of a pain. That’s really the only downside imo. Makes fantastic pour over. You could get a hand grinder as well and then you’re really covered haha. ZP6 and K ultra are different flavor profiles but both fantastic

Just go for the Ode Gen 2. If you want more clarity from your brews spring for the Ode Gen 2 w/ssp burrs. Fellows usually has 10% off coupons.

I have an Ode 2 and I'm very happy with it

I use a V60 and moved from a Comandante C40 to the Ode 2 and very happy with it.

I have an Ode 2 and love it for pourover. It's below your budget, and there are other burr sets you can try if you want to experiment. I'm sure it's not perfect, but it's been a great grinder for me. It does have a small amount of retention, but nothing that would dissuade me from buying it again.

Honestly, man, don’t do it. I wanted to get one grinder for both applications and tried it for a while, but for just about any grinder fully capable of going fine enough in espresso, it is going to be a big pain in the ass switching between settings. Dialing in espresso is already trying to hit a moving target as your beans age, and you make it that much harder if you switch to a coarse setting routinely. It’s just far, far better to have a dedicated grinder for each. With your budget, I would recommend getting a solid grinder for pour over like an Ode or Encore and then save up for a separate espresso grinder. And, just my two cents, you’re probably going to want to go with a hand grinder or double your budget for the espresso grinder. An electric grinder under $400 is likely going to have some major drawbacks that you will notice over time.

You *can* grind for espresso with the Ode Gen 2 (or the Ode 1 if you switch to the Gen 2 or SSP-MP burrs). It’s just that Fellow claims that the motor doesn’t have the power to constantly grind for espresso, and you’ll shorten the life by doing so frequently. Adjustment is also not really granular enough for dialing in espresso, though that can be mitigated by doing the “stepless adjustment mod”. Hot starting (starting motor before dumping in beans) helps motor life as well as grind consistency.

This, I was flip flopping on this because of the price and decided to just bite the bullet on Black Friday since I use it almost everyday. This grinder is amazing and super happy that I picked it up. Highly recommend!

I’ve completed shifted away from espresso and the Moccamaster is currently my main source for coffee (also have a the French and Aero press). That’s part of the reason why I bought this grinder because I don’t have an espresso machine. But to your point I have read the same comments about it being bad for espresso. From the Moccamaster perspective it’s been phenomenal.

I’ve owned the Baratza Encore, Fellow Ode and now the 078. They clearly to me are bottom, mid and top in that order. The 078 is wildly good. 

Ode has the ability to switch out the 64mm burrs. Thats a positive for me even if its not espresso focused. No one really wants to switch back and forth between filter and espresso dial-in, even if it is possible.

Depends on the grinder and the dial distance changes. I would really dislike on my hg1 grinder going back and forth from fine to coarse. On an ode, thats not really a thing since ode doesnt really do espresso. Plus different burr-sets are more suitable for different output tastes.

I did a lot of research last month when I got my Ode 2 and it just seemed to be the right one for me as I don’t do espresso at home. I got on sale and it was a no brainer. Not only that there’s a lot of stuff on the internet about the Ode 2 so good reference material for what people are using for grind size. It’s well supported including Fellow Drops which gives some good brew guides for coffees in their program. If you will or also do espresso then probably better to up the budget but I don’t know there. I purposefully and willingly spend $5-6 a shot at my favorite coffee shops when I want espresso as I know I will go down a rabbit hole and end up with $3k of coffee gear on my counter if I start in on it :)

I have a Timemore C2, 1Zpresso K-MAX, DF64 gen 2 and for Christmas just got a Fellow Ode Gen 2. After hand grinding for 4 years; the Ode has been such a welcomed addition to my setup. I LOVE it. It's honestly such a joy to use. I use the DF64 strictly for espresso, I didn't want to faff around between espresso grind/filter grind and purging loads of beans each time. It can do filter quite nicely, but wasn't worth the faff when the KMax was giving me the results I wanted. The only real negative with the Ode is that if you're spritzing your beans, sometimes they can get stuck to the walls in the hopper. But I 3D printed a hopper with steeper walls and that's solved this. \*subjective\* As for taste, the Ode gen 2 is producing some of the cups I've ever had. A noticeable improvement in clarity and flavour separation in naturals. TL;DR - Ode Gen 2 still good - highly recommend.