“Too long home espresso machines have made you choose between convenience and control. We think you should have both.” Fellow
A few weeks ago, renowned coffee brand Fellow dropped their first exploration into the world of espresso coffee. And they were certainly ambitious. The Espresso Series 1 is advertised not simply as another option for home espresso but in their own words as “the new gold standard.”
In this article, we will survey the first impressions of this espresso machine and evaluate its claims.
Fellow Espresso Series 1
Espresso Series 1 is Fellow’s offering into the world of prosumer espresso. Featuring their patented booster boiler system, a boatload of tech, and high-quality components, this espresso machine is intended as the one-stop-shop for espresso, whether you are an uninitiated newbie or a nerdy espresso purist. Intuitive enough to take the beginner by the hand, and technical enough to satisfy even the most committed.
Specifications of the Fellow Espresso Series 1
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 17.24 x 12.4 x 10.98 Inches | 438 x 315 x 279 millimeters
- Weight: 21.7 lbs
- Max Capacity: 2.0 L
- Cord Length: 3 feet
- Power: 110-120V | 1700W | 60Hz | 15A
- Pressure: 15 bar pump calibrated for up to 9 bars of extraction
- Materials: Stainless steel, brass, silicone, high-quality food-grade plastic, Walnut wood (Cherry Red only), or Maple wood (Malted Chocolate only)
- Grouphead Material: Brass
- Pump: Ulka EP5 vibration pump
- Colour Options: Black, Cherry Red, Malted Chocolate
- Plumb in: No
Fellow Espresso Series 1 Overview
As mentioned above, the Espresso Series 1 is designed to be more than just another option. Instead, it has been designed from the ground up as what they hope will be a new era in home espresso. This seems to largely come down to a machine that really is a one-size-fits-all. That is simple and intuitive enough for the beginner and yet will satisfy all the technical criteria of the most invested purists.
So you can simply use this as a fairly gentle intro into espresso. There are pre-installed profiles for all your favourite drinks from Americanos to Cappuccinos and Flat Whites. You simply follow the steps, grind your beans, tamp, pull a shot, then steam milk if needed, and voila! A delicious coffee. The machine will even tell you if you need to grind finer or coarser, depending on shot time and flow rate.
However, on the other extreme, you can customize the temperature and flow rate of preinfusion, the temperature and flow through different parts of the shot, the temperature of the milk, and the volume and temperature of the hot water dispenser if needed. For those in the know, Fellow estimates that the Espresso Series 1 can do about 80-90% of what the Decent can do in terms of customization, and for a fraction of the cost!
The actual workflow of the machine is oriented around three piano-style keys at the top of the machine, and a circular screen and dial on the front of the machine that feels very iconic Fellow. The machine as a whole feels very minimalistic in look and flow. Part of this is due to the design decision to ‘hide’ the hot water dispenser behind the group head. This frees up space in the front of the machine for the LCD screen and, as an added bonus, means you can add hot water to your drink without even needing to move your cup.
Pros:
- Quite a remarkable price for what you get
- Amazing level of shot and brewing customization
- Beautiful aesthetic
Cons:
- A lot of plastic in design
- Is still really an elevated single boiler
- No doubt will have a few kinks to iron out, like most first version Fellow products
Key Features of the Espresso Series 1
Boosted Boiler
In many ways, the hero of this espresso machine is the patented three-point boosted boiler system. Fellow is very insistent that this isn’t simply a single or dual boiler, a heat exchange, or a Thermoblock. Instead, their boiler system is one deliberately designed to maximize both thermal and pressure stability.
The clearest advantage of their system is that you get commercial-level heat and pressure stability, but you don’t need to wait a minimum of 20-40 minutes to heat up. Instead, the entire system is fully preheated in under 2 minutes! Water temperature is controlled to 0.1 degrees, and the machine can shift from brewing to steaming almost instantly.
Assisted Steaming
The cool-touch steam wand is also a fairly sophisticated piece of tech. The first thing you will notice is that there is a little spike at the bottom of the steam wand. This is, in fact, a heat sensor so that you can choose your desired milk temperature, and when the milk reaches the temperature, the steam wand will automatically shut off. In addition, the steam wand automatically purges before and after use for optimal texturing.
Additional Features
There are a stack of other features and deliberate design decisions contained within the Series 1. In their own words, their goal was “as much performance in as little footprint.” So there are deliberate anti-splash measures, a whole heap of sensors, intelligent pressure control so that the machine autocorrects flow during the shot, shot guidance, a portafilter that lies flat as you tamp, shot clocks, a 750ml drip tray, and the ability to drain the boiler incredibly easily.
In fact, the entire design of the Series 1 is roughly in thirds. Looking at the machine front on, the first third behind the steam wand is dedicated to water and is where the reservoir is, the middle behind the group head is dedicated to the boiler, and the final third behind the screen and buttons is dedicated to tech. Fellow has sought to make this a machine you never need to take the cover off. No Mods needed, and all replacement and maintenance is simple and intuitive.
And make no mistake, this machine is more than a pretty face. Fellow claims that as long as you follow their 2-minute in, 1-minute off cycle, you can keep brewing with optimal consistency for as long as you like.
Evaluation of the Fellow Espresso Series 1
Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the Espresso Series 1. I have long been a fan of Fellow and have been willing to pay the price to enjoy their quality and aesthetic. However, espresso is a whole different ball game from pour over, and so I admit some trepidation. And to put all my cards on the table, I fully expect there will be a number of kinks in the Series 1 that will be improved or changed in the Series 2 and 3 that will no doubt follow.
However, this is simply an incredible machine that feels like it should cost at least $1000 more than it does. The level of customisation, the beauty and aesthetic, and the tech are simply a bargain at this price point.
So would I buy it? Absolutely. I firmly believe you should buy coffee kit that not only works well but brings you pleasure and pride. And for me, anyway, this ticks all the boxes. I love the look and feel. I love that you can either simply brew or get ridiculously nerdy. And I love that they have done more than simply parrot what other companies and brands are doing.
Will it stand the test of time? Well, only time will tell. But I am confident that this will signal the need for original and creative thinking in espresso machines.
You can preorder the machine now for an amazing $300 less than the list price here.
Well done Fellow!
