Expert consulted: 
Fellow recently launched their new Series 1 espresso machine, and while the design looks minimalist, it’s anything but basic. I was lucky enough to be one of the first to try it before it launched, and this high-tech gadget blew my mind.
In the Good Housekeeping Kitchen & Cooking Lab, we’ve been testing espresso makers for decades and I’ve been testing coffee and espresso makers year-round for the last six years. It's rare that a machine catches me off guard, but this one did, thanks to the amount of precision and control it offers. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Fellow Series 1 Espresso Machine?
There are two ways you can brew with this espresso machine: Use a simple guided brew, or become a coffee nerd and experiment with all the various controls this machine has to offer.
The Fellow works like most semi-automatic machines, all you need to do is add your grounds to the portafilter, tamp, and brew. I found the guided brew to be a no-brainer. It walks you through each step on screen, making the whole process effortless. A single dial controls the interface, and you can choose your roast level (light, medium, or dark) and drinks like espresso, latte, Americano, and more. Plus, it has a built-in steam wand for frothing.
If you want to skip the guided brew and become your own barista, this is where things get interesting. The machine goes beyond the usual semi-automatic features, with advanced controls like pre-infusion timing, temperature, pressure, flow rate, and even the ability to set declining brew temperatures. Fellow takes it even further with what it calls “nerdy settings,” which are designed for serious coffee tweaking. You can fine-tune details like boiler and volumetric offsets or water percentage for extra precision, taking your coffee experimenting to the next level.
If this sounds like fun but you’re worried about doing all the work for all those steps, don’t worry, Fellow has you covered. Once you set this up in the espresso machine’s menu, it runs hands-free, giving you the freedom of a manual espresso machine without the hands-on work.
How it performed in our tests
This machine performed just as well as it looks, delivering consistently balanced espresso with silky crema. Not to mention, it heated up in just about two and a half minutes, which is remarkable compared to manual machines that can take over 15 minutes to fully heat. I found that it brewed a strong yet well-balanced shot of espresso when I used the guided brew.
The milk frother is just as thoughtfully designed, with options for dairy and plant-based milks and a smart steam wand that stops automatically at the right temperature. I made froth with whole milk and oat milk, and both came out silky and smooth.
The guided brew is straightforward and on par with most semi-automatic machines, with a slight edge thanks to its step-by-step on-screen prompts. That said, I found navigating the extensive customization menus slightly confusing at first with several layers to dig through, so there is a small learning curve.
There were a few other downsides, but none were deal breakers. I noticed minor splashing with smaller espresso cups, and it also requires more cleaning than most basic espresso machines.
Is the Fellow Series 1 Espresso Machine worth it?
Overall, the Fellow espresso machine brews excellent espresso and is easy to use with its guided brew. It’s an eye-catching piece that will look great on your countertop and is available in trendy colors such as black, malted chocolate, red, woodland, sesame, and marine blue, with either a maple or walnut wood portafilter handle.
If you love design as much as high-quality espresso, this machine delivers on both. But if convenience is your top priority, a fully automatic machine might be a better fit, since it will handle grinding, brewing, tamping, and even milk frothing.
Where the Fellow really shines is for experimenters. If you want to become a borderline espresso-brewing scientist dialing in every variable, this machine offers a level of customization not found in most others, with the added benefit of displaying and managing brewing parameters.
It’s a great choice if you want flexibility. Weekdays can be quick and easy with the guided brew, and weekends can be full-on coffee experimentation. It’s also a solid option for households where some want a straightforward machine and others want to test their barista skills.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Jamie Ueda is a consumer products expert with nearly two decades in product development and manufacturing. She tests and writes about everything espresso- and coffee-related year-round. She is an espresso enthusiast and has completed rigorous SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) courses in coffee brewing, barista skills, and sensory tasting. She regularly tests and contributes her knowledge as a judge in the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Awards.
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, where she oversees all testing and content related to cooking and making drinks, including espresso machines. Her favorite espresso machines are easy to use and clean, and—most importantly—deliver a rich and balanced cup of espresso.
Nicole (she/her) is the senior director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab. She oversees all content and testing related to kitchen products, food, and recipes. She has worked at GH since 2019, and is a trained cook, published recipe developer, and seasoned product tester with nearly 15 years of experience. She has worked in test kitchens for national magazines and kitchen appliances brands, where she also helped develop products for the home cook. She earned a degree in journalism from SUNY New Paltz, graduated with a Grand Diplome in Classic Culinary Arts from the French Culinary Institute, and studied culinary nutrition at the Natural Gourmet Institute (both now part of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.)
