If you’ve ever browsed the ‘Fellow’ website, you’d know it has long been a go-to for coffee lovers. The San Francisco-based company manufactures everything from brewers, scales, and grinders to kettles, drinkware, and other accessories. Yet, for all its impressive gear, one thing noticeably missing from its repertoire was an espresso machine. That gap was filled on April 22 when the retail company unveiled its first-ever espresso machine, the Espresso Series 1.
I’ll admit, I’m a bit late to the occasion, considering all major blogs have raved about the coffee machine weeks back. I was on my honeymoon so I couldn’t cover it. But better late than never, right? Now that I’m catching up, it’s clear this machine deserves the spotlight.
From an aesthetic standpoint, the machine boasts a sleek design and is available in striking cherry red, malted chocolate, or matte black, which looks pretty sexy as a coating for an appliance. The Espresso boasts an aluminum body, walnut accents, and stainless steel components that give the machine a robust look. But Fellow Espresso Series 1 isn’t just about looks. It’s an absolute workhorse when it comes to pouring your favorite drink.
The biggest highlight of the espresso machine is the Fellow’s patented ‘Boosted Boiler architecture’, a multi-point heating system that unlocks capabilities never before available in a machine at this price point. As per the company, “Conventional home espresso machines are typically extremely limited in their ability to match the thermal stability and flow rate that commercial machines can produce. With Series 1, you can bring the multi-thousand-dollar commercial espresso experience into your home; unlocking true consistency and cafe-quality taste.” In simple terms, the Boosted Boiler system helps heat water faster.
Other standout features of Fellow Espresso Series 1 are the ‘Adaptive Pressure Profiling’ and ‘Guided Brewing & Intelligent Shot Feedback.’ The former helps users dial in the perfect flavor, while the latter provides real-time insights and feedback to guide both beginners and seasoned baristas to their ideal shot. Early feedback from testers like Bon Appétit highlights its knack for blending accessibility with precision, making it a standout for home baristas.
Espresso’s are not just about style and aesthetics, which is why they can be daunting to operate, especially for newcomers who tend to struggle with grind sizes, tamping pressure, and the art of steaming milk. Fellow tackles these challenges head-on with the Espresso Series 1, marketing it as a ‘beginner-friendly machine.’
Series 1 features three shortcut buttons, a color LCD, and a smooth dial that puts control at your fingertips. All you need to do is lock in the portafilter, push a button, and sip your favorite coffee with ease. As was the case with De’Longhi’s Primadonna Aromatic Coffee Machine, multiple users will be able to create specific profiles for their espressos.
Priced at $1,500, the Espresso Series 1 isn’t cheap, but it promises to deliver café-quality results. I know the price point is a little hard to digest, but when you see De’Longhi selling the same stuff (more or less) for $2,000, Espresso Series 1 seems like a feasible option, given that early buyers will receive a special launch price of $1,200 only.
Looking beyond the price point, the Espresso Series 1 is a visual stunner. Unlike bulkier espresso machines that dominate countertops, this one is designed to be a centerpiece without overwhelming your space. No wonder Gear Patrol hails it to be a machine “made to be seen, not stashed away”.
To put that into context, steaming milk is often a stumbling block. Too hot, and it’s burnt, too cold, and your latte lacks foam. Fellow tackles this problem with a temperature-sensing steam wand that automatically stops at the target temperature and purges itself afterward, eliminating guesswork and mess. Tom’s Guide confirms that the steam wand not only has “a built-in thermometer but also has a self-purging function to clean itself after each use.”
On a little downside, the Series 1 is only capable of producing up to nine bars of pressure, which is low compared to other espresso machines in the market, but Fellow makes up for it with a ‘boosted boiler system’ and ‘adaptive pressure profiling.’ There is no built-in coffee grinder incorporated within the machine, and understandably so, given Fellow doesn’t want to kill one of its product lines.
Nevertheless, the Espresso Series 1 comes packed with features that cater to coffee connoisseurs. It includes proper pre-infusion, which lets coffee grounds bloom for fuller flavor extraction, along with precise pressure ramping and temperature control for dialing in the perfect shot. These are hallmarks of high-end commercial machines, setting the Series 1 apart in the home market.
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