Sometimes even the most die-hard coffee lovers just want a quick cup of coffee. Unfortunately, this often results in people drinking unsatisfactory coffee from traditional drip brewers. But now, after years of customer requests, Fellow is finally releasing a machine that claims it can deliver a pour-over experience at the touch of a button. And after seeing it in action, there’s a lot to like.
With a price starting at $365, the Aiden certainly isn’t cheap. However, this might seem like a bargain to some compared to the $500 grinders and expensive accessories that so many enthusiasts crave. However, the big difference between the Aiden coffee maker and traditional coffee makers is that, unlike a typical drip brewer, it features an adjustable shower head that mimics the process of a traditional pour over. Fellow also uses a thick-film heating element from Ferro Techniek that is designed to deliver accurate water temperatures (down to one degree and up to 210°F). Combined with the ability to adjust things like flowering time, amount of water used, and more, it gives you a ton of control over the brewing process. Fellow even offers two different baskets: a single-serve option that delivers a slightly more nuanced product, or a batch filter for large batches (up to 10 cups at a time).
The Aiden also features a guided brew process that walks you through different settings. However, you can always create your own profiles or download instructions directly from participating roasters via a QR code and Fellow’s free companion app. Still, I appreciate that the bright color LCD screen and large controls also allow you to set programs, start a brew, and enter data directly into the machine if you don’t want to just pull out your phone to make a cup of coffee.
But the best thing about Aiden is how easy and convenient it is to use. It has a 1.5 liter container and its heating element is completely silent, so you can prepare a cup in the morning without disturbing the peace. Once you’ve chosen your favorite drinks, you can easily start a batch by pouring in some coffee grounds and pressing start (and adding water to the tank if you haven’t already). The machine will remind you when you need to run a cleaning cycle or descale the machine. Since the shower head is very precise, it will be ready to use exactly when you tell it to run before you wake up in the morning. Not a minute too early or too late. There’s even a cold brew feature, where the water slowly drips through the coffee grounds over the course of the day (and of course you can choose how long or how short you want this to be), rather than relying on a longer immersion like usual.
However, the Aiden does not have a keep-warm feature, but this is because most coffee lovers avoid machines with built-in hotplates as this can result in scorched coffee beans. Instead, Fellow relies on a double-walled thermal carafe to keep things warm until you’re ready to get to it (which probably won’t be long if you need caffeine).
While your tastes may vary, I like the Aiden’s minimalist design. It’s short enough to fit under most kitchen cabinets, and its sleek lines and boxy shape make cleaning a breeze. And although I was only able to taste a single cup, the Scandinavian light roast I tried retained many of the subtle vanilla and hickory notes that would normally be obliterated by traditional drip brewers.
However, it’s important to remember that the Aiden is not intended to replace your V60 or Aeropress or whatever brewing method you prefer. It’s simply designed to deliver higher quality coffee than your standard drip brewer for situations where you don’t have the time or energy to brew a cup yourself. From what I’ve seen so far, it does exactly that.
Pre-sales for the Aiden open today, with deliveries scheduled to begin sometime in September. Additionally, anyone who pre-orders will receive a bag of coffee from Onyx Coffee Lab, La Cabra, and Verve Coffee Roasters designed specifically for this machine, as well as scannable brew profiles.