Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burrs: What Changed and Does It Matter

The Fellow Ode Gen 2 shipped with a completely redesigned burr set that fixes the biggest complaint about the original Ode: it couldn't grind fine enough. The Gen 2 burrs are 64mm flat burrs with a new tooth geometry that extends the grind range into the fine end, making the Ode usable for AeroPress, smaller pour-overs, and even some espresso-adjacent brewing. If you own a Gen 1 Ode and wondered whether upgrading the burrs is worth it, or you're comparing the two generations before buying, this is what you need to know.

I've brewed with both the Gen 1 and Gen 2 Ode side by side, and the difference is not subtle. The Gen 2 burrs transform the grinder from a limited filter-only machine into a genuinely versatile brewer's grinder. Let me break down exactly what changed and how it affects your coffee.

The Gen 1 Burr Problem

The original Fellow Ode launched with 64mm flat burrs that were designed exclusively for filter coffee. They could grind from medium to coarse, covering pour-over (V60, Chemex, Kalita Wave), drip, and French press. But the finest setting on the Gen 1 was still too coarse for AeroPress recipes that call for a finer grind, and way too coarse for anything approaching espresso.

This was intentional on Fellow's part. They marketed the Ode as a filter-only grinder. But a lot of buyers expected more range from a $300 grinder with 64mm flat burrs, and the community pushback was significant. Fellow responded by developing the Gen 2 burr set.

The Aftermarket Burr Ecosystem

Before the Gen 2 launched, many Ode owners installed aftermarket burrs from SSP (a Korean manufacturer known for precision burr sets). SSP makes 64mm burrs in several geometries: multi-purpose, high-uniformity, and brew burrs. These upgrades cost $80 to $150 and dramatically improved the Ode's grind range and quality. The SSP upgrade path is still available and still excellent, which matters if you're deciding between Gen 2 stock burrs and aftermarket options. I'll compare them below.

What Changed in the Gen 2 Burrs

Tooth Geometry

The Gen 2 burrs have a more aggressive tooth pattern with deeper channels and sharper cutting edges compared to the Gen 1. This allows them to grind finer without stalling the motor. The teeth are also spaced differently, which affects particle distribution at each grind setting.

Grind Range

The Gen 1 Ode had about 11 numbered settings (1 through 11), with usable filter grinding from about 3 to 9. Settings 1 and 2 were labeled "espresso" on the dial but didn't actually produce espresso-fine grounds.

The Gen 2 extends the usable range down to setting 1, which now produces grounds fine enough for concentrated AeroPress brews and even moka pot. It's still not true espresso-fine, so don't buy the Ode expecting to pull shots on a proper espresso machine. But for immersion and pressurized brewing methods that benefit from a finer grind, the Gen 2 delivers.

Particle Distribution

I've tasted the difference in the cup, and the Gen 2 burrs produce slightly more uniform particles across the entire range. Pour-overs brewed with Gen 2 burrs at the same setting and recipe as Gen 1 burrs taste cleaner, with better clarity and less muddiness. The improvement is most noticeable with light roast single-origin beans, where clarity matters most.

At coarser settings (French press range), the difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2 is harder to detect in the cup. Both produce acceptable results for immersion brewing.

Gen 2 Stock Burrs vs. SSP Aftermarket Burrs

This is the question I get asked most often. If you're already spending $300 on an Ode, should you add another $100+ for SSP burrs, or are the Gen 2 stock burrs good enough?

SSP Multi-Purpose Burrs

The SSP multi-purpose burrs are the most popular aftermarket option for the Ode. They produce extremely uniform particles with very low fines, resulting in the cleanest, most transparent cups I've brewed on any home grinder. They also grind finer than the Gen 2 stock burrs, getting close to (but not quite reaching) true espresso fineness.

The downside: SSP multi-purpose burrs can produce thin-bodied coffee if you're not careful with your recipe. The low fines mean less body and less sweetness in some cases. If you like a full-bodied, rich pour-over, the stock Gen 2 burrs might actually suit your preference better.

SSP Brew Burrs

SSP brew burrs are designed specifically for filter coffee and produce a balanced cup with more body than the multi-purpose set but still better uniformity than the Gen 2 stock burrs. These are my personal favorite for the Ode when I'm brewing V60 or Kalita Wave exclusively.

My Take

For most people, the Gen 2 stock burrs are good enough. They represent a massive improvement over Gen 1, they cover a wider grind range, and they produce excellent filter coffee. If you're a flavor chaser who wants maximum clarity and doesn't mind spending another $100 to $150, the SSP multi-purpose or brew burrs take the Ode to another level. But the stock Gen 2 burrs are not a compromise. They're genuinely good.

For a broader look at how the Ode stacks up in the market, check our best coffee grinder roundup.

How to Tell If Your Ode Has Gen 1 or Gen 2 Burrs

If you're buying used or can't remember which version you have, there are a few ways to check.

Purchase Date

Odes manufactured and sold after mid-2022 typically ship with Gen 2 burrs. If you bought yours before that, it likely has Gen 1 burrs.

Visual Inspection

Remove the top burr carrier (it lifts straight up after opening the hopper area). Gen 1 burrs have relatively shallow, widely spaced teeth. Gen 2 burrs have deeper, more tightly packed teeth with a noticeably different pattern. If you've seen photos of both, the difference is obvious.

Grind Range Test

Set the grinder to its finest setting and grind a small amount of medium-roast beans. If the grounds look like coarse sand (similar to drip coffee), you have Gen 1 burrs. If the grounds look like fine sand (similar to table salt), you have Gen 2 burrs.

Can You Upgrade Gen 1 to Gen 2 Burrs?

Yes. Fellow sells the Gen 2 burr set as a standalone upgrade for about $45 to $55. Installation takes about 5 minutes with no tools required. You remove the old burr carrier, pull off the old burrs, press in the new ones, and reassemble. Fellow has a video tutorial on their website that walks through the process.

After installing new burrs, you need to season them by grinding about 2 to 5 pounds of coffee through the grinder before they reach peak performance. Fresh burrs can taste a bit metallic or flat for the first week of use. This is normal and temporary.

Tips for Getting the Best Results With Gen 2 Burrs

Single dose. The Ode is designed for single dosing, meaning you weigh your beans and put only one dose in the hopper at a time. Don't fill the hopper and leave beans sitting there. The Ode doesn't have a hopper seal, and beans will go stale.

Use the bellows. The Ode includes a silicone bellows on top of the bean hopper that helps push the last few grounds through the burrs. Give it two or three squeezes after the motor stops. This reduces retention from about 1 to 2 grams down to 0.2 to 0.5 grams.

Start mid-range and adjust. For a new bag of beans, start at setting 5 for V60 pour-over and adjust from there. Finer if your brew is sour and under-extracted, coarser if it's bitter and over-extracted. The Gen 2 settings are spaced well enough that one click makes a noticeable difference.

Clean weekly. Pop off the top burr carrier, brush out the grounds with the included brush, and wipe down the chute. Coffee oils build up faster on flat burrs than conicals, and stale oil residue will muddy your coffee's flavor within a couple of weeks if you skip cleaning.

Browse our top coffee grinder picks if you're still weighing the Ode against other filter-focused grinders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Gen 2 burrs worth upgrading to from Gen 1?

Yes, absolutely. For $45 to $55 and five minutes of installation, you get a significantly wider grind range and better particle uniformity. It's one of the best value upgrades in the home coffee world.

Can the Fellow Ode with Gen 2 burrs do espresso?

Not for traditional pump espresso machines. The finest setting is fine enough for moka pot, AeroPress, and pressurized portafilters, but it won't produce the ultra-fine grind needed for 9-bar espresso extraction. If you need espresso, get a dedicated espresso grinder.

How does the Fellow Ode compare to the Baratza Virtuoso+ for filter coffee?

The Ode with Gen 2 burrs produces a cleaner, more transparent cup thanks to its 64mm flat burrs versus the Virtuoso+'s 40mm conical burrs. The Virtuoso+ produces a cup with more body. The Ode is better for light roast single-origins where clarity matters. The Virtuoso+ is better for dark roasts and blends where body and richness are the goal.

Is the Fellow Ode loud?

Moderately. It's not whisper-quiet like a Eureka Mignon, but it's not screaming like a Baratza Sette either. I'd estimate 70 to 75 decibels during operation. The grind cycle is short (5 to 8 seconds for a typical dose), so the total noise exposure is brief.

Bottom Line

The Gen 2 burrs fix the Fellow Ode's original weakness and turn it into a genuinely excellent filter coffee grinder. If you own a Gen 1, upgrade the burrs immediately. If you're buying new, make sure you're getting the Gen 2 version. And unless you're chasing absolute peak clarity with light roast single-origins, the stock Gen 2 burrs are all you need.