Customer reviews from Fellow
Fellow - Espresso Series 1 Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with up to 9 bars of pressure and custom roast profiles - Black
Average customer rating
4.6
(138 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 138 reviews
5 Stars
105
4 Stars
22
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
1
1 Star
6
92%of customers recommend this product.
(
90 out of
98)
Customer Reviews for Fellow - Espresso Series 1 Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with up to 9 bars of pressure and custom roast profiles - Black
Customer Rating
4
Change can be scary
on March 23, 2026
Posted by: David
I switched from the Lalit Bianca to the series 1 and I’m really impressed by how seamlessly I was able to transition. While I loved the Bianca‘s look and adjustability on the fly. Being a Coffee geek this machine allows me to do all my geeky changes with an exact number and measurement, which allows for even more adjustability. And as good as I’ve gotten over the years at frothing milk. This machine can’t steam a bad cup of milk - no matter how I try lol. I’m Really enjoying the Series 1.
David
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Fellow
Customer Rating
5
Intuitive machine. Easy to use!
on March 22, 2026
Posted by: B56
I purchased this product when it was first offered. I can't say enough good things about it. Ultimately, it pulls a great shot. As it should. The beauty of the product is that it is intuitive to use, great to look at in any environment, and most of all, it really does the job nicely. As machines 3 and 4 time the price will do, this machine hits the right temperature consistently and allows for a creamy extraction that simply tastes great! I highly recommend this product whether you are new to pulling shots or a pro.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Fellow
Customer Rating
5
Excellent but needs software update
on March 20, 2026
Posted by: Baker
I love this thing. The only issues I have with it will likely be corrected by software updates and since it’s so new I won’t fault it there. The system default to volumetric dosing would be great for beginners if it was anywhere near being accurate. It was giving me 8ml shots when it needed to be near 36ml. I understand with all the variables it could be difficult to get it right, but the default is way off and I’m surprised nobody adjusted it before shipping. As a first-time espresso-maker I gravitated towards this machine specifically for these “smart” features but was let down. I quickly switched to manual dosing with a scale and the quality improved DRASTICALLY. If they can fix the volumetric dosing it would be a huge win for beginners. I have some other nitpicks like the group head rinse being too short no matter how much I extend it in the settings (and also someone on Reddit had to tell me it even had this feature since I never saw it mentioned). Otherwise I love the machine itself. It’s gorgeous, feels good to use, and does everything it says it will. After a good software update I would easily recommend this to literally anyone.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Fellow
Customer Rating
4
Great espresso machine
on March 20, 2026
Posted by: Pickles
The machine is fantastic and better than I expected. Out of the box it had strange presets including no shot feedback (it took me a while to find this on the menu), the turbo shot for espresso was already selected, and time dosing for the espresso shots. Once I changed settings and pulled shots without dosing I was able to begin dialing it in. Strangely, the grouphead rinse aborts after only a few seconds despite changing the default time. The menu button is sensitive and jumps around but is overall manageable.
I would have given 5 stars but it has some software quirks that need fixing holding it back from the perfect rating. Overall a great machine reminiscent of the Decent espresso machine
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Fellow
Customer Rating
5
Espresso Series 1
on March 19, 2026
Posted by: Shelley
Love the machine. We received a little over a month and have pulled around 70 shots and are still learning: Practice Practice
Makes a great latte in the morning
Happy customers
Makes a great latte in the morning
Happy customers
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Fellow
Customer Rating
4
Great Machine, Some bugs need to be fixed.
on March 19, 2026
Posted by: Will
To start with, this is an amazing machine with so much flexibility. I am loving it, and it allows me to do complex things even with medium to low skill.
Now here are the issues I have had with the machine, most of these are firmware, so I expect my machine to be 5/5 stars when some updates roll out, but if any of these things are important to you, take note:
Espresso:
- flow control is lacking
- Adjusting profiles can be annoying without the app working yet
- You can't pull a shot of a different profile without changing the active profile.
- "make a drink" is kind of lacking and weird
- Flow-based stopping is simply unpolished; you have to use a scale with the machine, even if you adjust flow parameters, they change for each coffee, so it is a waste of time. I am waiting for an update to play with this because, without the app, the UI is too bad to properly adjust this. It should be profile-based, not machine overall, and it should be far clearer what each adjustment does.
- because of this, some of the other smart features don't work (grind suggestions)
- flow control is lacking
- Adjusting profiles can be annoying without the app working yet
- You can't pull a shot of a different profile without changing the active profile.
- "make a drink" is kind of lacking and weird
- Flow-based stopping is simply unpolished; you have to use a scale with the machine, even if you adjust flow parameters, they change for each coffee, so it is a waste of time. I am waiting for an update to play with this because, without the app, the UI is too bad to properly adjust this. It should be profile-based, not machine overall, and it should be far clearer what each adjustment does.
- because of this, some of the other smart features don't work (grind suggestions)
Steaming:
-When steaming, water comes out of the tip first, even after auto purge; there is no way to manually purge without being hacky.
- The steam wand ball joint is very exposed, and I am worried about it breaking when a lot of coffee grinds inevitably end up in the mechanism.
- To adjust steam end temperature, you have to be steaming; there needs to be a menu for this.
-When steaming, water comes out of the tip first, even after auto purge; there is no way to manually purge without being hacky.
- The steam wand ball joint is very exposed, and I am worried about it breaking when a lot of coffee grinds inevitably end up in the mechanism.
- To adjust steam end temperature, you have to be steaming; there needs to be a menu for this.
Hot water:
- Flow slows drastically after 100ml, I initially thought this was a heater limitation, but you can instantly click off then back on, and hot water flows again full speed. The pump is slowing for no reason.
- The amount of water out is completely inaccurate; it is consistently 20% less than I ask for, and there is no way to adjust this, which makes me think the flow sensor is, in general, not accurate
- Again, there is no way to adjust the amount or temperature outside of when you dispense
- Cold water is dispensed for the first second, or two, it needs to be purged because the temperature is very inaccurate. With this being the case, if you only want 50mL of water, it's just cold water that comes out.
- water comes out relatively slowly, but if the other comment about it slowing over 100ml is fixed, this is a non-issue.
- Flow slows drastically after 100ml, I initially thought this was a heater limitation, but you can instantly click off then back on, and hot water flows again full speed. The pump is slowing for no reason.
- The amount of water out is completely inaccurate; it is consistently 20% less than I ask for, and there is no way to adjust this, which makes me think the flow sensor is, in general, not accurate
- Again, there is no way to adjust the amount or temperature outside of when you dispense
- Cold water is dispensed for the first second, or two, it needs to be purged because the temperature is very inaccurate. With this being the case, if you only want 50mL of water, it's just cold water that comes out.
- water comes out relatively slowly, but if the other comment about it slowing over 100ml is fixed, this is a non-issue.
Cleaning:
- There is a bug where the number of shots doesn't increase for backflushing, which means you get no backflush suggestion.
- groupheaad purge only goes for a second regardless of setting time, at this point, I just press the shot button to purge instead of using the purge feature.
- There is a bug where the number of shots doesn't increase for backflushing, which means you get no backflush suggestion.
- groupheaad purge only goes for a second regardless of setting time, at this point, I just press the shot button to purge instead of using the purge feature.
Personally, none of these are major to me, but I want to lay them out for potential buyers and for Fellow to improve. That being said, here are a few of my favourite things about the machine:
- Perfect steam wand, it is powerful but controllable, very ergonomic, and the temperature sensing makes it all a breeze.
- Fit and finish are excellent, feels sturdy and high quality (more than I expected)
- Consistency, every shot you want the same is the same, and when you change a parameter, it is easy to tell you changed it. The espresso pulling experience is dialled and accurate.
- Fit and finish are excellent, feels sturdy and high quality (more than I expected)
- Consistency, every shot you want the same is the same, and when you change a parameter, it is easy to tell you changed it. The espresso pulling experience is dialled and accurate.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Fellow
Customer Rating
5
Legacy brand in action!
on March 19, 2026
Posted by: Bullfrog
I love this machine. It was worth the wait and the investment. I have had nothing but joyous interactions with the Fellow brand. They are a well-thought-out company with solid product offerings. They truly care about what their name goes on, planned obsolescence be damned!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Fellow
Customer Rating
5
The smartest espresso machine
on March 18, 2026
Posted by: kyra26
Truly best espresso shot I’ve had. Super easy to work and love the real-time feedback. The only feedback is the portafilter is a bit snug and hard to screw in/screw out - makes a poor noise and not a seamless fit
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Fellow