Take Your Morning Coffee to the Next Level with the Fellow Ode Brew Grinder

We’ve been using the Prolex Coffee Mill (Ceramic) for years to grind our coffee beans for the most important drink of the day. It works perfectly and will remain one of our favourite coffee accessories. However, it has been gathering dust on the shelf since the arrival of the Fellow Ode Coffee Grinder.

The Prolex adds so much flavour and elevates the experience every morning. But we now reserve that luxury for weekends, when we have more time to enjoy the process. While it feels like battlegrounds every morning during the week, a quick yet consistent injection of caffeine provided by the Fellow Ode Coffee Grinder is greatly appreciated.

Grind Settings for Every Brewing Method

Finding a grinder that can produce a consistent grind for their preferred brewing method is one of the most difficult challenges for coffee enthusiasts. This problem is solved by the Fellow Ode’s precise grind settings, which can be adjusted to match your preferred brewing method.

It has a front dial panel with 31 grind settings that you can adjust to your liking. For pour-over, choose a grind setting that produces a medium-fine grind. Fellow recommends the setting between 4-8 for the Gen 2 to get the best flavour out of your light roast coffee beans. However, I set it to 6-9.

I’ve read reviews that said the Fellow Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2 was improved over the previous model because it couldn’t go very fine. However, I still won’t recommended it for espresso. This grinder was created specifically for filter use. It is designed with interlocking flat burrs, which produce a coarser result than standard flat burrs.

Maximum Functionality in a Sleek Design

The Fellow Ode is highly functional. Its 64mm flat burrs are made of hardened stainless steel, making them extremely durable. The machine is intended for single-serve use, but the hopper can hold up to 100g of coffee beans. This grinder is both convenient and practical due to its simple interface.

The Fellow Ode is designed with aesthetics in mind, in addition to great features and capabilities. Its clean lines and sleek matte finish combine to make it a stylish addition to any kitchen. I have the white one and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a coffee grinder and has a lighter colour scheme in their kitchen.

I purchased the Fellow Electric Kettle in matte black and am disappointed, primarily due to the poor craftsmanship. The walnut handle is supposed to be a plus in terms of both appearance and function, but it quickly loosened and needed extra attention every time I pour out the water.

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable

As coffee enthusiasts, we are all aware of the importance of sustainability and eco-friendliness in our coffee consumption. With its thoughtful design and commitment to sustainability, the Fellow Ode is no exception.

The hopper of the grinder is made of BPA-free plastic, and the burrs are designed to reduce coffee waste. Furthermore, the Fellow Ode’s energy-efficient motor is designed to save energy while still delivering the perfect grind every time.

So, whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or just starting out, the Fellow Ode coffee grinder is the ideal addition to your brewing setup. This grinder is sure to up your coffee game and improve your daily cup of Joe with its precise grind settings, minimalist design, and commitment to sustainability.

Vitamix vs Blendtec – Which One Comes Out on Top?

Vitamix is a long-time favourite brand for many smoothie fanatics and professional chefs. If you’re familiar with the brand, then you’ve probably heard of the Vitamix A3500. This high-end blender has been taking the blending world by storm, promising to blend anything from smoothies to soups to nut butter. I got this machine as a holiday gift and have used it quite a few times in the last three months. So it’s time to share a review.

Let’s start with the good. First and foremost, the Vitamix A3500 is an incredibly powerful blender, boasting a 2.2 peak horsepower motor. This means it can handle tough ingredients like frozen fruits, nuts, and seeds with ease, creating smooth, creamy blends every time. The blender also has five pre-programmed settings, allowing you to blend smoothies, hot soups, frozen desserts, purees, and self-cleaning with the touch of a button. This feature is especially convenient for beginners or busy individuals who want to whip up a quick meal or snack without having to fuss with manual controls, which is also added for you to customize your blends to your liking.

Considering how powerful the blender is, the Vitamix A3500 operates with very little noise. The motor of the Vitamix A3500 is designed with advanced sound-reducing features, such as a metal motor base that absorbs sound and vibrations, making it one of the quietest blenders on the market. This feature is particularly helpful if you like to blend your smoothies or make your nut butter early in the morning or late at night, without disturbing your family or neighbours.

I don’t particularly like the design. It’s better looking than the previous versions, but still looks bulky and clumsy and take up a significant amount of counter space in the kitchen. Its wide and sturdy base, along with its tall pitcher, can make it difficult to store the blender in cabinets as well. If you have a small kitchen, definitely go with another blender. Vitamix has a lot of options with sleek design. However, its size and sturdiness are also what make the A3500 a durable and long-lasting appliance that can handle heavy use and tough ingredients with ease.

And the 64-ounce low-profile container that comes with the blender is perfect for blending large batches of smoothies, soups, or sauces. The tamper is a great addition to the blender too. It is particularly helpful when blending dry ingredients that may get stuck, ensuring a smooth and consistent blend.

It’s also a bit on the pricey side, regularly selling at above CND$850. While it’s definitely an investment piece, it may not be worth the cost for those who only use their blender occasionally.

Blendtec Classic blender may be a better choice in this case. It’s not cheap, either, but more affordable compared to Vitamix A3500. I used one for about five years and I can say that you won’t regret your purchase. It is a high-quality blender without breaking the bank. At 1.6 peak horsepower, it’s still a very powerful blender that can handle tough ingredients with ease.

In conclusion, you can’t go wrong with either the Vitamix A3500 or the Blendtec Classic Blender. The ultimate decision comes down to personal preferences and individual budget.

Perfect dough with this Kitchen Aid Standmixer

Kitchen Aid Standmixer Series 5-Quart Lifted Bowl Stand Mixer

Kitchen Aid Standmixer is not a new addition in my kitchen. Actually, I’ve used it a ton since I bought it three years ago. If you are just looking for a verdict, then yes, I would recommend it to anyone who cook and bake regularly. It definitely lives up to the hype.

This mixer can handle everything from baking fluffy cakes and pastries to mixing up homemade pasta dough. Its powerful motor and multiple speed settings allow you to easily tailor your mixing to the needs of your recipes. You can also use the included attachments to transform your mixer into a versatile kitchen workhorse.

Personally, I use my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer mostly for bread baking. When it comes to kneading bread dough, which can be a real workout if done by hand, the dough hook is a lifesaver. It can quickly knead the dough into a smooth and stretchy dough for the perfect Japanese style bread. I’ll share the perfect recipe for our favourite bread in a later post. As an example, in the three years since I began making my own bread, we have not purchased a single loaf from a store.

One thing I particularly love about this mixer is the tilt head design. It makes it so much easier to add ingredients and scrape down the sides of the bowl without having to completely remove the bowl from the mixer. It’s a small feature, but it makes a big difference in terms of convenience and ease of use.

Another feature that sets this mixer apart is the included attachments. The flat beater is perfect for mixing batters and doughs, while the wire whisk is great for whipping egg whites and heavy cream. And, if you want to take your mixer to the next level, there are dozens of additional attachments available for purchase, from pasta rollers to meat grinders.

I do have a few gripes. People complain about the noise it makes, but considering it’s a powerful kitchen appliance, I don’t mind. The Series 5-Quart Lifted Bowl Stand Mixer that I purchased is only suitable for small batches. If you knead dough for three breads, approximately 780g flours, the machine quickly becomes hot, making it difficult to maintain an ideal dough temperature.

If you have a large family that consumes a lot of bread, you should definitely get one with a larger capacity and more power. It is not a small investment, but it will pay off in the long run.

Another concern is the warranty. It’s only for one year, which is absurd given the high price. Vitamix blenders are in the same price range but come with a 10-year warranty.

When using this mixer, keep in mind that it’s best to start on low and gradually work your way up to higher speeds. However, when kneading dough, don’t go above 4 or 5, especially if you have a large batch to knead. Give it a few tries and you’ll get the hang of it.

For good reason, this mixer has been a kitchen staple for decades. It is long-lasting, dependable, and consistently produces consistent results. Furthermore, with the variety of attachments available, you can tailor your mixer to your specific needs and preferences, although I don’t have any of these attachments. Overall, I would recommend this mixer to anyone who cooks or bakes on a regular basis.