Semi-automatic and prosumer machines

How Does Meraki's All-in-One Machine Compare With a Fellow Series 1 and Opus 2?

Published · By the Espresso Shortlist editors · Prices and specs as of that date, from the pages under Sources

Summary

Fellow sells its Espresso Series 1 with an Opus 2 grinder as a kit for $1,559.90. The Meraki lists at $1,999, or $1,799 on sale, with the grinder inside the machine. The extra buys two built-in scales that weigh the dose and the shot, and a second boiler so it can pull a shot and steam milk at once. The Series 1 heats up faster, in two minutes or less against about three to four for the Meraki, and leaves the grinder as a part you can choose and replace on its own.

The two machines side by side

Fellow Espresso Series 1Meraki
Price$1,499.95 in black, $1,599.95 in other colors, $1,559.90 with Opus 2$1,999 list, $1,799 sale
Grinder"Grinder sold separately"Built in, conical burr, 45 settings, "TIMEMORE Co-engineered"
ScalesNone in the boxTwo, for grinding and brewing, 1 kg capacity, ±0.2 g
HeatingFlow-through heater, boiler and heated groupheadBrew boiler 350 ml and steam boiler 550 ml, heated group
Pump"15-bar pump calibrated for up to 9 bars of extraction"Rotary, 9 bar
Warm-upTwo minutes or lessAbout 3 to 4 minutes
Portafilter58 mm bottomless58 mm E61
Power1,500 W1,600 W
Weight21.7 lb14.5 kg

What Meraki puts inside

Meraki's two boilers are controlled separately, which the company says is what lets it brew and steam at the same time. Both scales hold up to 1 kg and read to plus or minus 0.2 g, one for the ground coffee and one for the shot. The steam wand stops at a set milk temperature, and there are 4 steam levels. The company also points out that its Gen 2 portafilter is E61-style, which "opens the door to third-party baskets and tools."

What comes with the Series 1

Fellow ships the Series 1 with a 58 mm bottomless portafilter, an 18 g single-wall and an 18 g double-wall basket, a shot splitter, a tamper, a backflush disk, a 10 oz steaming pitcher, descaler, backflush tablets and a water hardness strip. Its steam wand also senses temperature, stopping at the target and purging after use, and Fellow gives the machine a temperature range of 50 to 94°C. Heat comes from three elements Fellow calls its Boosted Boiler: a flow-through heater, a boiler and a heater in the grouphead.

Buying the machine and grinder separately at full price comes to $1,699.90, so the kit takes $140 off.

Shopping for one? Shop semi-automatic machines →

Sources

  1. Fellow — Espresso Series 1
  2. Fellow — The Series 1 + Grinder Kit
  3. Fellow — What are Espresso Series 1's temperature and pressure ranges?
  4. Fellow — What's included with Espresso Series 1
  5. Meraki — Espresso Machine
  6. Meraki — Home Espresso Machine
  7. Meraki — Espresso Machine Specs, Simply Explained

We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.

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