Fellow - Ode Brew Grinder Series

I've been using the Gen 2 Ode since 2023. I previously used hand grinders (a Zassenhaus from 2007 to 2018, then a Lido ET from 2018 to 2023). While I love the routine of hand grinding, I really love that the process is overall less fiddly. The Ode 2 doesn't need a ton of adjustment. It is fairly easy to clean once a week. And the results have exceeded my expectations. As others have mentioned, with a little RDT it isn't too messy. I brew every day, grinding at least 30 grams of coffee and sometimes 60 to 75 grams. I typically go through a bag of coffee every 10 to 14 days, though sometimes have two or three in rotation at once. Most beans I grind are light to light-medium, though occasionally I have a very light roast. It doesn't struggle with any of those. The only major grind frustration is with a certain Nicaragua Pacamara with gigantic beans that are too big for the auger and don't always feed well.

I’m very happy with my 2nd gen Ode. I steered clear of the opus once I saw how much of it was made of plastic and how light it felt.

Honestly none of these are bad options. It's just going to come down to what you prefer. The K6 may give you the most options as it's supposed to be great for filter and also espresso capable, I haven't used it but I would wager that it's probably a better espresso grinder than the Encore. However if you're not interested at all in espresso then the Fellow Ode 2 is probably the best option here for filter coffee. It has flat burrs instead of the conical burrs you usually get in hand grinders and common electric grinders - and many people prefer flat burrs for filter coffee because they tend to produce a more uniform grind size, which can lead to a cleaner tasting cup with more clarity. The downside to the Ode 2 is it's obviously not as portable as the K6, it's more expensive and it's not designed for espresso at all so if you ever want to try making espresso you'll need a whole new second grinder. Obviously that's not an issue if you don't intend to use for espresso.

My recommendation is to save up another $150 and buy a fellow owed Gen 2. And I would avoid that website if you want a quality product in great shape. But that's just me. I feel like maybe some deferred gratification is in order. You'll be glad in the long run. You've saved up $200. Why not save up 200 more and get a quality product that will be exponentially better than what you can get at your $200 price point and will last you for decades .It's worth it to wait and get a superior product. IMO

I started with the ode. It was the best electric grinder for the money. I want focused on espresso and wanted the electric. Shortly after I purchased the KMax for travel. In love it. It is essentially the K Ultra. I highly recommend it but am 100% glad that I first purchased ode. If you want flexibility now…get the K Ultra. It is quite nice to use.

Ode gen 2 with stock burrs at that price range. Stock burrs are better all around than ssp. I researched this endlessly.

I have an Ode gen 2 but been really interested in the Casa. Do you use it for filter and espresso?

Start with the Encore. It's more than good enough for batch filter coffee. I used an Ode 2 for years and I can't say I was ever too impressed with it.

Yeah, it was a step up ik terms of clarity from the Encore, but it still falls into the jack of all trades, master of none category once you want to go further. I decided to go elsewhere instead of upgrading the burr set.

That's fair. From what I remember about briefly using a DF54, it was a nice grinder but the Ode 2 felt better to use. I also got my Ode 2 for $280 which probably made it seem like a much better value.

Ode 2 is small, quiet, looks pretty on the counter, and on sale for 320 this week and next.

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