Ode Grinder Gen 2: What Changed and Whether It's Worth the Upgrade
The Fellow Ode Gen 2 is the updated version of Fellow's popular single-dose electric grinder designed specifically for filter coffee. The original Ode launched with some well-documented issues, and Fellow addressed most of them in this second generation. If you're deciding between the Gen 1 and Gen 2, or considering the Ode for the first time, I'll walk you through exactly what changed, how it performs, and where it still falls short.
I've been using the Ode Gen 2 for about eight months now as my daily pour over grinder. Before that, I used the original Ode for a year, so I have direct hands-on comparison between both versions.
What Changed from Gen 1 to Gen 2
Fellow made several meaningful upgrades, and a few of them directly fix the most common complaints about the original.
New Burr Set (Gen 2 Brew Burrs)
This is the biggest change. The Gen 1 shipped with a set of burrs that many users found couldn't grind fine enough for pour over methods like the V60. Fellow sold aftermarket SSP burrs as an upgrade, which felt like an admission that the stock burrs weren't cutting it.
The Gen 2 comes with new "Gen 2 Brew Burrs" that grind meaningfully finer than the originals. I can comfortably grind for V60, Chemex, AeroPress, and flat-bottom drippers without hitting the bottom of the adjustment range. This alone makes the Gen 2 a different machine.
The particle distribution is also improved. The Gen 2 burrs produce fewer fines at medium settings, which means cleaner cups with better clarity. Side by side, the same beans ground on the Gen 1 (stock burrs) and Gen 2 taste noticeably different. The Gen 2 cup has more sweetness and less muddiness.
Anti-Static Technology
The Gen 1 had terrible static. Grounds would fly everywhere, cling to the catch container, and create a mess on the counter. Fellow added what they call "anti-static knockout technology" to the Gen 2, which uses a series of internal channels and a weighted knocker to reduce static cling.
Does it work? Mostly. Static is reduced by maybe 60 to 70% compared to the Gen 1. It's not eliminated entirely, especially on dry winter days, but the improvement is substantial. I still occasionally use the Ross Droplet Technique (one drop of water stirred into the beans before grinding), but I don't need to do it every time like I did with the Gen 1.
Magnetic Catch Container
The Gen 2 catch container is redesigned with a stronger magnetic connection to the grinder body. It also has a deeper design that reduces grounds from bouncing out during grinding. The Gen 1 catch container was too shallow, and grounds would escape during the last few seconds of grinding when the motor was winding down.
Load Cell Integration (Ode Gen 2 + Scale)
Some versions of the Gen 2 include a built-in scale that weighs your beans and displays the dose on a small screen. This is convenient for single-dose grinding because you can verify your 18-gram dose went in before you start grinding. The base model Gen 2 doesn't include this; it's a premium add-on.
Grind Performance
Pour Over (V60, Chemex, Kalita Wave)
This is the Ode's home turf, and the Gen 2 performs excellently here. The grind consistency at medium-fine settings is among the best I've used in an electric grinder under $400. My V60 brew times are predictable (2:45 to 3:15 for a 15:250 ratio), and the cups are clean, sweet, and well-defined.
For Chemex, I go about 3 to 4 settings coarser, and the thicker filter plus the coarser grind produces a bright, tea-like cup. Kalita Wave sits between the two.
Drip Coffee Maker
The Gen 2 handles drip grind sizes easily. The medium settings produce uniform particles that extract evenly in a basket filter. If you use a drip machine daily, this grinder will elevate your coffee without any hassle.
French Press and Cold Brew
Here's where the Ode still has a limitation. The coarsest setting is not as coarse as what you'd want for French press or cold brew. You can get a medium-coarse grind that works okay, but it's finer than what a dedicated all-purpose grinder produces at its coarsest.
For occasional French press, it's acceptable. If French press is your daily method, look at a grinder with a wider coarse range.
Espresso
The Ode is not designed for espresso and doesn't grind fine enough. Fellow is clear about this. If you need espresso capability, look elsewhere. This is a filter-only grinder, and it's better for owning that focus rather than trying to be everything.
For a wider selection of grinders across all brew methods, our best coffee grinder and top coffee grinder roundups cover options from budget to premium.
Single-Dose Workflow
The Ode is designed as a single-dose grinder. There's no large hopper for storing beans. Instead, you weigh your dose on a scale, drop the beans into the small cup on top, and grind. When it's done, the cup is empty and the grounds are in the catch container below.
This workflow has real advantages:
- Zero stale beans. No beans sitting in a hopper going stale from air and light exposure.
- Easy coffee switching. Want to grind a different coffee for your afternoon cup? Just weigh new beans and go. No purging needed.
- Minimal retention. The Ode Gen 2 retains less than 0.5 grams of coffee, which is excellent. This means almost everything you put in comes out.
The downside is that you need a separate scale and you're weighing beans every time you brew. For me, this is part of the routine and takes about 10 seconds. If you want a set-it-and-forget-it hopper grinder, the Ode's workflow might not suit you.
Noise and Speed
The Ode is quieter than most electric grinders in its class. Grinding 18 grams takes about 5 to 7 seconds, and the sound is a low, controlled hum rather than the screeching whir of many budget grinders. My partner has confirmed it doesn't wake her up when I grind at 5:30 AM, which was not the case with my previous grinder.
The motor also stops cleanly. No extended wind-down where grounds spray out of the chute. It grinds, stops, done.
Design and Footprint
The Ode is one of the best-looking grinders on the market. Fellow clearly put thought into the industrial design. It's compact, with clean lines and a matte finish available in black or white. The footprint is smaller than a Breville Smart Grinder Pro and about the same as a manual grinder on a stand.
The build quality is solid. Aluminum and steel construction where it counts, with some plastic for non-structural components. After eight months of daily use, mine looks the same as the day I unboxed it.
Cleaning
Weekly, I brush out the burr area with the included brush. The upper burr pops out easily for access. Monthly, I do a deeper clean with a vacuum and grinder cleaning tablets. The low retention means there's less residue buildup compared to hopper grinders, so cleaning is quick.
FAQ
Is the Ode Gen 2 worth upgrading from Gen 1?
If you're still using the stock Gen 1 burrs and you're frustrated with the grind range, yes. The Gen 2 burrs fix the biggest complaint. If you already upgraded your Gen 1 with SSP burrs, the difference is smaller, and the Gen 2's main advantage is reduced static and the improved catch container.
Can I buy Gen 2 burrs separately for my Gen 1 Ode?
Fellow sells the Gen 2 burr set as a separate upgrade. This is the most cost-effective path if your Gen 1 is otherwise in good shape. You get the improved grind range without buying a whole new machine.
How does the Ode Gen 2 compare to the Baratza Encore?
The Ode costs more but offers better grind consistency, lower retention, a quieter motor, and a single-dose workflow. The Encore is simpler, has a larger hopper for convenience, and covers a wider grind range (including coarse). For pour over and precision brewing, the Ode wins. For all-around versatility, the Encore is more flexible.
Does the Ode Gen 2 work with AeroPress?
Yes. The medium-fine settings work well for standard AeroPress recipes, and you can go finer for inverted or longer steep recipes. It's one of the brew methods where the Ode's precision really shows.
My Verdict After Eight Months
The Fellow Ode Gen 2 is the best electric filter grinder I've used under $350. It does one thing, filter coffee, and does it very well. The Gen 2 burrs fixed the original's biggest weakness, the anti-static improvements made daily use much cleaner, and the single-dose workflow keeps everything fresh. If you brew pour over or drip daily and you don't need espresso grinding, this is the one I'd recommend.