The Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder is a single-dose electric burr grinder that Fellow positions for every brew method, from espresso to cold brew. Fellow sells it for $199.95 in black or white on its US store, with wood-trim versions at $249.95.
What is the Fellow Opus 2 conical burr grinder?
It is an electric conical burr grinder from Fellow, a San Francisco company, designed for households that brew more than one way. Fellow describes it as grinding for everyone in the home: cappuccinos in the morning, pour over in the afternoon and cold brew on the weekend. The Opus 2 replaces the original Opus, and Fellow's own FAQ lists what changed: larger 48 mm conical burrs in place of 40 mm, a faster grind of about 9 seconds for an espresso shot, an upgraded ionizer for anti-static performance, a stepless adjustment dial and two dedicated catch cups.
It is a single-dose design. You weigh or measure the beans, pour them into the load bin, press the power button once and the grinder stops by itself when the beans are gone. Fellow says not to store beans in it.
Fellow Opus 2 specs
| Spec | As published |
|---|---|
| Burrs | 48 mm stainless steel conical |
| Adjustment | Stepless dial, fine (0) to coarse (10) |
| Load bin | Single dose, 100 g with the plastic lid filled to the top |
| Catch cups | 100 g for brewed coffee, 30 g for espresso |
| Power | 120 V, 60 Hz, 300 W |
| Weight | 2.27 kg (5.0 lb) |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 266.5 x 130 x 202 mm |
| Warranty | 2-year limited, extendable when registered |
| Made | Designed in San Francisco, made in China |
Fellow does not publish a retention figure, a noise level or the body material, so those are unknown. Its guide only says the grinder leaves little behind, with no number attached.
How the Opus 2 grinds and catches the grounds
The grind knob turns from fine at 0 to coarse at 10 with micro-steps in between. Fellow's FAQ calls the dial stepless, yet the same page also speaks of 48 adjustable settings, so treat any single count with care: what is clear is that the knob is not a coarse click wheel. A grind guide is printed under the load bin lid as a starting point, and Fellow says most espresso dials in around settings 0 to 2. The lid also flips over to show 20 g and 40 g measuring compartments.
Two catch cups ship with it. The 100 g coffee cup snaps magnetically beneath the chute for brewed coffee. The smaller 30 g espresso cup is made to pour into a portafilter, and Fellow says it works with 54 mm and 58 mm baskets. The power button has two modes: a short press grinds until the beans run out, and a long press grinds for 45 seconds. A brush clips magnetically to the rear tower for cleaning, and the safety manual warns against putting fingers in the chute, advising a brush for the ionizer pins instead.
Fellow's ratio guide in the box gives starting doses: 18 g for a double espresso, 25 g for an AeroPress, 20 g for a single pour over and 80 g for traditional cold brew. These are recipes, not a statement about grind quality.
Fellow Opus 2 vs Baratza Encore
The Baratza Encore ZCG485BLK is the budget comparison at $149.95. It uses 40 mm conical steel burrs with 40 settings and a 300 g hopper, draws 70 W and is made in Taiwan. The Opus 2 costs $50 more, has larger 48 mm burrs, a 300 W motor, a stepless dial and a single-dose bin instead of a hopper, and it ships with a dedicated espresso catch cup. Both carry espresso on their spec lists, so the question is workflow rather than capability.
Choose the Encore if you grind a full hopper for several cups and want the lower price. Choose the Opus 2 if you weigh a dose each time, switch between brew methods and want the catch cup that is sized for a portafilter. The Opus 2 also carries a 2-year warranty against the Encore's 1 year.
Fellow Opus 2 vs Baratza Sette 30
The Baratza Sette 30 sells for $299.95, which is $100 above the Opus 2. It has 40 mm conical burrs, a 200 W motor, a 300 g hopper and a 0.1 second timer, and it is also made in Taiwan. The timer is the clearest difference in workflow: the Sette lets you program time, while the Opus 2 stops when the load bin is empty or runs for a fixed 45 seconds on a long press.
If you want a timed, hopper-fed grinder, the Sette is the match. If you prefer to weigh beans on a scale and pour them in, the Opus 2 does that at a lower price with bigger burrs. You can see both next to other models in the grinder category.
Fellow Opus 2 vs Baratza Encore ESP
The Baratza Encore ESP is the other espresso-capable grinder in this bracket. It has 40 mm conical steel burrs and 40 stepped settings, half of them for espresso, a 300 g hopper and a dosing cup with a 58 mm adapter ring. The Opus 2 has larger 48 mm burrs, a stepless dial, a single dose bin and a 2-year warranty against Baratza's 1.
Is the Fellow Opus 2 worth it?
At $199.95 it costs more than the Encore and less than the Sette 30. What the price buys on paper is a 48 mm burr set, two catch cups, an ionizer for static, a stepless dial and a 2-year warranty. What it does not buy is a published retention number, a noise rating or a built-in scale, and no one has tested this grinder for this site. If you pull espresso on a machine with a 54 mm or 58 mm portafilter and also brew filter coffee, one grinder that covers both and comes with the right cup for each is the case for it.
If you only brew filter coffee in batches, a hopper grinder at a lower price covers the need, and a grinder with a timer suits anyone who dislikes weighing beans.
Who should buy the Fellow Opus 2 (and who should not)
It suits home brewers who switch between espresso, pour over, AeroPress and French press, who weigh each dose and who want a compact grinder with a tidy catch system. The wood-trim versions at $249.95 are for people who care about how it looks beside a kettle.
It does not suit anyone who needs a large hopper for grinding many cups at once, a programmable timer or a built-in scale. It also does not suit buyers who need a published noise level or retention figure before they commit, because Fellow gives neither. The manual limits use to households in the USA and Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Fellow Opus 2 grind for espresso?
Yes. Fellow says it handles the range from espresso to cold brew and includes a 30 g espresso catch cup that fits 54 mm and 58 mm portafilters. Fellow adds that most espresso dials in around settings 0 to 2, depending on the machine, basket and beans.
What is new in the Opus 2 compared with the original Opus?
Fellow lists 48 mm conical burrs instead of 40 mm, a faster grind of about 9 seconds for an espresso shot, an upgraded ionizer, a stepless dial and two dedicated catch cups.
How much coffee does the load bin hold?
Fellow says the lid can be filled to the top for 100 g, and the 100 g brewed coffee cup matches that. The espresso cup holds 30 g.
Does it have a timer or a scale?
Neither is listed. The power button grinds until the beans are gone, or for 45 seconds on a long press, and Fellow's guide tells you to use a scale or the lid compartments to measure the dose.
How big is the Fellow Opus 2 and what warranty does it have?
Fellow's safety manual gives 266.5 x 130 x 202 mm, 2.27 kg and 300 W at 120 V. The warranty is 2 years limited, with an extended warranty available for purchase when you register the grinder.
Which colors does it come in?
Black and White at $199.95, and six wood-trim combinations at $249.95: Malted Chocolate + Maple, Cherry Red + Walnut, Sesame + Maple, Woodland + Walnut, Black + Walnut and Marine Blue + Walnut.
