Despite my ever-growing appreciation for fancy espresso machines (I've tested over 10 now), the American in me will always love the simplicity of drip coffee. For me, it's synonymous with slow weekend mornings and the smell of coffee drifting through the house. However, they are not always the sexiest of appliances... in fact, they can often be quite bland. But then I found Fellow's Aiden Precision Drip Coffee Maker (which is at its lowest price on Amazon right now).
Its monotone, linear, almost monolithic form is undeniably chic. But how does it stack up when compared to other drip coffee makers on the market? San Francisco-born brand Fellow has a name in the coffee world (it's harder, but not hard to find in the UK — it's also stocked at the likes of Selfridges and Harrods), but for £365, it's certainly on the higher end of the market.
Spoiler: It definitely impressed. If you're searching for an appliance that will look good on your kitchen counter and will make a tasty slow drip pot, read on for everything I thought and felt when trialling Fellow's Aiden Precision Drip Coffee Maker.
First Impressions
After drooling over the design online for months, I can gladly say that the Fellow Aiden Precision Drip Coffee Maker was just as impressive during my first in-person interaction. Even the packaging has an easy-to-lift handle to help get the machine out of the box.
Once the machine is out on the counter, it's hard not to stare. (Literally, the whole Livingetc team gathered around to admire its streamlined style.) Though it has a very high-tech, industrial design, it also feels fashionable, meaning your kitchen design doesn't have to be modern or minimal for this appliance to feel harmonious.
It gives those slow mornings a stylish upgrade. And if you live in the US, you can get this machine in three stylish new colorways (Sesame, Malted Chocolate, and Woodlands Green). It's safe to say I was swept off my feet during the unboxing process, so now it's time to put it to the test.
Testing the Machine
When using a drip coffee maker, you'll need ground coffee to start. You can either buy it as is, or if you're serious about coffee, I'd recommend investing in a quality coffee grinder. Fellow's own Opus Conical Coffee Grinder (available on Amazon) is highly rated, but I've also tried (and loved) Smeg's Coffee Grinder.
Once you have your coffee sorted and the water tank filled, using this machine is as easy as it gets — I didn't even open the instruction manual. Once you press the button at the bottom left-hand corner of the machine, the screen at the top guides you through machine set-up and the different coffee-making steps. It's one of those appliances that you can feel comfortable with, even if you have never used an espresso machine or coffee maker before.
You can choose instant brewing or a guided brew, and each produces good coffee; the latter just lets you play with the settings more, while the former is a smart tech, touch-and-go setting. Plus, you can select how big a pot you want to brew, depending on how many people will be sharing the pot (but hey, no judgment here if you're having all six cups).
But the real fun comes with its AI coffee machine tech. For instance, you can download the Fellow app to schedule the Aiden to start as you wake up, set brew times for the entire week, and create coffee profiles. While drip coffee is simple, this machine is certainly not.
Quality of Coffee
The quality of coffee is, of course, the most important part (even though I tend to be swayed by the design). No one wants to spend too much time figuring out how to make their coffee machine work better. So, how did the Aiden Precision Drip Coffee Maker hold up?
As far as drip coffee goes, this machine was indeed impressive. You can try a light, medium, or dark roast. To start, I tried the medium roast setting. The flavor was robust, the coffee dark, and a delicious cup of joe was had (no milk needed).
That said, I tried the guided brew setting and selected a five-and-a-half-cup brew, and I felt the pot wasn't as large as I had imagined (maybe that says more about me, though). However, after testing different settings, you'll quickly be able to find the mode that suits your preferences best. All in all, I would highly recommend this coffee maker.
Should You Buy the Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker?
As you can probably guess, my verdict is that yes, the Fellow Aiden Precision Drip Coffee Maker is worth the investment. Especially if you like drip coffee. And what makes drip coffee so likable? It is really rewarding to tune into different flavor profiles and find beans that are roasted specially for slow drip makers. It opens a whole new world of coffee.
All that said, if you love lattes or any milk-based coffee, then this isn't the machine for you. Drip coffee is best served black.
With this machine, you can expect an aromatic pot of coffee that will stay warm in the thermal pot throughout your morning. In that sense, it's great for those who work from home or enjoy slow weekend mornings filled with multiple cups of sip-able coffee.
Other Fellow Coffee Accessories
The Fellow Aiden Precision Drip Coffee Maker is the drip coffee machine of drip coffee dreams. It brings you back to the basics of coffee-making in style and with a little more tech. However, for a more hands-on experience, I'd recommend the ROK Presso Smartshot manual coffee maker.
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