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Bean & Burr

HUB 03 · Grinders

Fellow Ode Gen 2 Review

A grinder that refuses to do espresso — and is better for it. The filter-brewing specialist, reviewed.

By Stephen V.Updated How we research
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Most grinders try to cover everything and compromise everywhere. The Ode Gen 2 does the opposite: it is a filter-coffee specialist, and it says so out loud — its range simply does not reach espresso fine. In exchange, it brings hardware normally found in commercial shop grinders to a kitchen countertop: 64mm flat burrs that produce the uniform, clarity-forward grind that makes pour-over taste articulate instead of muddy.

The workflow is single-dose by design: weigh beans in, grind, done — near-zero retention, anti-static so the grounds actually land in the catch cup, and quiet, quick operation. Gen 2 specifically fixed the first Ode's complaints (louder motor, static cling, slower throughput), which is why the sequel earns the recommendation the original almost did.

Below it sits against the Encore — the generalist it out-resolves at a higher price — and the DF64, the flat-burr rival that doesdo espresso for buyers who can't accept the Ode's refusal.

The short answer

Quick picks

#ProductBest forScorePrice
01
Fellow Fellow Ode Gen 2
Fellow Ode Gen 2

The gorgeous single-dose filter grinder. Flat burrs, near-zero retention, filter-only.

Filter-coffee obsessives with counter pride
7.4
$399.95Amazon
02
Baratza Baratza Encore
Baratza Encore

The filter-coffee workhorse that's been the default recommendation for over a decade.

Filter, French press, and pour-over
7.6
$149.95Amazon
03
MiiCoffee MiiCoffee DF64 II Single-Dose Grinder
MiiCoffee DF64 II Single-Dose Grinder

The enthusiast espresso grinder that punches way above its price. 64mm flat burrs, single-dose.

Serious home espresso on a real burr set
8.0
$399.00Amazon

#ad · Live prices from the Amazon Product API, as of Jul 26, 2026. Where we have no verified live price, we show none — we would rather leave a gap than print a number that has rotted.

In detail

The picks, in full

01
Fellow Fellow Ode Gen 2

Filter-coffee obsessives with counter pride

Fellow Ode Gen 2

64mm flat burrsSingle-doseVery low retentionFilter-focused
7.4/10

The gorgeous single-dose filter grinder. Flat burrs, near-zero retention, filter-only.

Grind consistency
9
Grind range
5
Ease of use
8
Build quality
9
Value
6

Pros

  • The 64mm flat burrs and single-dose design deliver a cleaner, more even filter grind than the conical entry grinders
  • Near-zero retention means what you weigh in is what you brew — no stale carry-over
  • One of the best-looking grinders you can put on a counter, and quiet with it

Cons

  • It is a FILTER grinder — the Gen 2 extends toward the fine end but it's not built to be an espresso grinder
  • Expensive, and single-dosing is a little slower than a hopper-fed grinder

Don't buy this if…

…you make espresso. The Ode is tuned for filter — for espresso you want the Baratza Encore ESP, the Eureka, or the DF64. Buying the Ode for espresso is the classic expensive mistake.

$399.95View on Amazon

Price as of Jul 26, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Fellow Ode Gen 2

02
Baratza Baratza Encore

Filter, French press, and pour-over

Baratza Encore

Conical burr40 grind settingsFilter-range focusRebuildable
7.6/10

The filter-coffee workhorse that's been the default recommendation for over a decade.

Grind consistency
8
Grind range
6
Ease of use
8
Build quality
7
Value
9

Pros

  • The long-standing answer to 'my first burr grinder' for drip and press — consistent where blade grinders are chaos
  • Same Baratza repairability: parts on the shelf, not landfill
  • Simpler and cheaper than the ESP if you never touch espresso

Cons

  • Doesn't grind fine enough for good espresso — that's what the ESP version is for
  • Basic looks and a plastic body that feels its price

Don't buy this if…

…there's any chance you'll get into espresso. The plain Encore can't grind fine enough for it — spend a little more on the Encore ESP and keep the option open.

$149.95View on Amazon

Price as of Jul 26, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Baratza Encore

03
MiiCoffee MiiCoffee DF64 II Single-Dose Grinder

Serious home espresso on a real burr set

MiiCoffee DF64 II Single-Dose Grinder

64mm flat burrsSingle-doseStepless adjustmentLow retention
8.0/10

The enthusiast espresso grinder that punches way above its price. 64mm flat burrs, single-dose.

Grind consistency
9
Grind range
8
Ease of use
6
Build quality
8
Value
9

Pros

  • 64mm flat burrs and stepless adjustment deliver espresso grind quality that used to cost twice as much
  • Single-dose and low-retention, so each shot is ground from exactly the beans you want
  • A hugely popular platform with an active community and easy burr upgrades

Cons

  • Single-dosing plus a bit of grind-retention chaff means more hands-on fuss than a hopper grinder
  • Overkill for anyone brewing only filter coffee

Don't buy this if…

…you're a beginner who wants plug-and-play. This rewards fiddling — if you don't want to enjoy that, the Baratza Encore ESP gets you 90% of the way with none of the fuss.

$399.00View on Amazon

Price as of Jul 26, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to MiiCoffee DF64 II Single-Dose Grinder

Who the Ode is exactly right for

Buy it if your brewing is pour-over, drip, press or cold brew and you care about tasting the difference between coffees — the flat-burr clarity is the entire product, and it delivers daily. It is the natural partner for a V60 or Chemex habit and the endgame for most filter-only households.

Skip it if espresso is now or ever in the picture — the range restriction is real, not marketing caution. Espresso-curious buyers want the DF64 path or the espresso field. And if the price makes you flinch, the Encore brews the same methods honorably — the Ode buys refinement, not capability.

How we picked

We do not run a testing lab

We compiled published manufacturer specifications, computed what each option costs to run where relevant, and cross-referenced aggregated owner reviews, then scored each product against a published rubric. The scores are judgments from documented research — they are not measurements we took, because we do not have a lab and we are not going to pretend we do. Where a number came from a manufacturer or a standard, we name it in Sources.

Questions

Frequently asked

Why can't the Fellow Ode grind for espresso?
Its adjustment range deliberately stops short of espresso-fine — Fellow built it as a brew grinder and spent the design budget on burr quality and workflow instead of range. It's a feature disguised as a limit: no compromise settings, no espresso-range slop, just the best version of the coarse half.
Flat burrs vs conical — does it actually matter?
At this level, audibly yes in the cup: flat burrs like the Ode's produce a tighter particle distribution, which brews 'clearer' — more distinct flavors, less mud. Conicals (Encore, most hand grinders) are cheaper to make and more forgiving. It's the main reason the Ode out-brews generalists at gravity methods.
Ode Gen 2 or DF64 at similar money?
Filter-only: the Ode — nicer workflow, quieter, built exactly for your brewing. Any espresso ambition: the DF64, which brings 64mm flat burrs to the whole range at the cost of a fussier workflow. The two are the clearest fork of the flat-burr world; the split is entirely about espresso.

Keep reading

Related

Receipts

Sources

We do not run a testing lab, and we do not pretend to. Where a measured number came from a manufacturer spec sheet or a published standard, we name it and link it. Where we could not verify something, we say so on the page rather than quietly leaving it out. Read our full method.