Fellow Ode New Burrs: What the Gen 2 Upgrade Actually Changes
The Fellow Ode Gen 2 ships with new 64mm flat burrs, and if you own a Gen 1 Ode or are trying to decide between the two, the burr upgrade is the most meaningful hardware difference between them. The short answer is that the Gen 2 burrs produce a noticeably better grind for filter coffee, particularly for pour over and batch brew, and they do it with less fines generation than the original burrs. But the broader question of whether the Ode (in any version) is the right grinder for you depends on what you're brewing and what you're comparing it to.
I want to dig into exactly what changed with the new burrs, what that means in your cup, how the Ode Gen 2 sits against competing grinders in its price range, and whether upgrading from Gen 1 is worth the cost.
What Changed: Gen 1 vs Gen 2 Burrs
The Fellow Ode Gen 1 shipped with 64mm flat burrs that performed well overall but had a known fines problem. Fines are the very small particles produced during grinding that fall below the intended particle size range. Too many fines cause over-extraction and muddiness in the cup, particularly noticeable with slower filter methods like pour over.
Fellow released the Gen 2 burrs (also sold separately as an upgrade kit) to address this. The new burrs use a different cutting geometry that reduces fines generation. The result is a cleaner, more uniform particle distribution that allows water to pass through the coffee bed more predictably.
In testing, the Gen 2 burrs show a meaningful improvement in bimodal distribution, which refers to the spread between the two main particle size peaks. The Gen 1 had a more pronounced secondary peak in the fines range. The Gen 2 brings that secondary peak down considerably.
For filter brewing, this translates to:
- Better clarity in the cup without muddiness
- More consistent brew times on pour over
- Slightly faster flow rates since fewer fines are blocking the filter
- Better representation of the coffee's actual flavor notes, especially in light roasts
How the New Burrs Affect Different Brew Methods
The Ode is explicitly designed for filter coffee. Fellow made a point of this in the original Ode marketing, and it shows in the grind range. The Ode doesn't grind fine enough for espresso. This is intentional.
Pour Over and V60
The Gen 2 burrs are at their strongest here. The reduced fines mean the coffee bed in a V60 or Chemex flows more predictably, and the resulting cup has better clarity. If you're brewing light roasts with bright acidity, the Gen 2 burrs let those flavor characteristics come through more cleanly than the Gen 1 did. The difference is real and noticeable in a side-by-side comparison with good beans.
Batch Brew and Drip Coffee
For automatic drip machines, the improvement is less dramatic but still present. Drip brewing is more forgiving of grind variation than pour over, so the cleaner particle distribution makes a smaller perceptible difference. Still better, just more subtle.
Aeropress
The Aeropress tolerates a range of grind sizes and extraction variables well. Both Gen 1 and Gen 2 burrs work well here. The Gen 2's reduced fines matter slightly for inverted Aeropress with longer steep times, where fines can over-extract. For standard Aeropress recipes with short brew times, the difference is minimal.
French Press / Cafetiere
The Ode's coarse grind range covers cafetiere well. The Gen 2 burrs maintain this capability. Reduced fines is actually a benefit for French press too, since fines pass through the metal mesh filter and make the cup gritty. Less fines means a cleaner cup in the press.
The Upgrade Path: Gen 1 to Gen 2
If you already own a Fellow Ode Gen 1, the Gen 2 burr upgrade kit sells for around $50-75 and is a direct drop-in replacement. No modifications needed. You remove the old burrs, install the new ones, calibrate the zero point (where the burrs just touch), and you're done.
For a Gen 1 owner who grinds pour over daily, spending $50-75 for the upgrade is one of the better value-per-improvement purchases in home coffee. The installation takes about 20 minutes with basic tools.
If you're buying new, the Gen 2 Ode sells for around $195-215 and includes the new burrs from the factory. The difference in price between Gen 1 (sometimes still available) and Gen 2 is usually small enough that buying Gen 2 new makes more sense than buying a used Gen 1 and paying for the upgrade.
How the Ode Gen 2 Compares to Competitors
The Ode Gen 2 sits in a competitive space around the $200 mark for dedicated filter grinders. Here's how the main alternatives stack up:
Baratza Encore ESP: Around $170, uses 40mm conical burrs, covers filter and light espresso. The Ode Gen 2 has larger burrs and produces a noticeably cleaner filter grind, but the Encore covers a wider grind range.
Wilfa Svart Aroma: Around $100-130 depending on region. Good value filter grinder, smaller flat burrs. The Ode Gen 2 is meaningfully better at the high end of filter coffee, particularly pour over.
Baratza Virtuoso+: Around $250, 40mm conical burrs, strong all-around performer with 40 grind settings. The Ode's flat burrs give it an edge for pour over clarity; the Virtuoso+ covers more methods reliably.
Niche Zero: Around $700. Uses 63mm conical burrs in a single-dose design. Significantly more expensive but covers the full grind range including espresso. Not directly comparable since it's a different product category by price.
For a broader comparison of where the Ode fits in the full market, the best coffee grinder guide covers options at each price point.
What the Ode Gen 2 Gets Wrong
The Ode is a strong filter grinder, but it has real limitations worth knowing:
No espresso range. This is deliberate, but it means the Ode can't serve households that want both filter and espresso from one grinder. If you have or plan to get an espresso machine, the Ode doesn't cover you.
The hopper is relatively small at 70g. For most households grinding one pot per morning, this is fine. For anyone grinding large batches, you'll refill frequently.
Single speed motor. The Ode runs at one speed, which is fine for home use but means it can't slow down for fragile light roasts the way some grinders with speed adjustment can.
Retention is around 0.3-0.5g, which is acceptable but not outstanding. Some competing grinders in this price range retain less.
The top coffee grinder guide covers these tradeoffs in more detail if you're comparing across multiple options.
Gen 2 Burrs and Light Roast Coffee Specifically
Light roasts deserve a separate mention because this is where the Gen 2 upgrade shows its most obvious benefit. Light roasts require a finer grind than medium or dark to extract properly, and their complex, delicate flavor compounds are more sensitive to over-extraction from fines.
With the Gen 1 Ode, light roasts could come out muddier or flatter than expected because the fines generated at finer settings were over-extracting while the coarser particles under-extracted. The Gen 2 burrs reduce this conflict. Light roasts on the Gen 2 Ode extract more cleanly, and the characteristic fruitiness, florals, or brightness of a well-sourced light roast comes through in the cup rather than being hidden under muddy extraction artifacts.
If you drink specialty coffee and prefer light or medium-light roasts, the Gen 2 burrs are worth the price difference on their own.
FAQ
Can I use the Fellow Ode Gen 2 burrs in a Gen 1 Ode?
Yes. The Gen 2 burr upgrade kit is designed as a direct replacement for Gen 1 burrs. The physical fit is identical and no modification is required. Fellow sells the upgrade kit for roughly $50-75.
Does the Ode Gen 2 work for espresso?
No. The Ode's grind range doesn't go fine enough for espresso. The coarsest setting is around cafetiere and the finest is around fine drip or some Aeropress recipes. If you need espresso capability, you need a different grinder.
Is the Ode Gen 2 worth $200+ compared to a $100 filter grinder?
For daily pour over brewing with quality beans, yes. The grind clarity difference between a $100 option and the Ode Gen 2 is real and noticeable, especially with light roasts. If you're brewing supermarket medium roast in a drip machine, the difference matters less and a less expensive grinder makes more sense.
How often should I clean the Ode Gen 2 burrs?
Fellow recommends cleaning every 60-90 days for home use. Use a dry burr brush or a Grindz tablet designed for burr cleaners. The burrs disassemble easily for manual cleaning when needed.
The Bottom Line
The Fellow Ode Gen 2's new burrs represent a real improvement over the original, particularly for pour over and light roast coffee. If you were on the fence about the Gen 1 or if you own one and find your pour over results muddier than you'd like, the Gen 2 burrs are the right fix.
Buy the Gen 2 Ode if filter coffee is your primary method and you care about grind quality. Buy the upgrade kit if you already own a Gen 1. If you need espresso capability or want a single grinder to cover everything, look elsewhere and budget accordingly.