When it comes to hot coffee, my preference is pour over. Sure, it’s a manual brew that takes time and attention, but I want all of the slow-pour extracts from my weekly resupply of locally roasted coffee. I can produce as much or as little as I want (within the Chemex’s capabilities, of course) and control all the parameters of the process, changing them according to the characteristics of my beans. Many companies have tried to offer a similar experience in a countertop drip machine, but many of them only get halfway there.
Enter it Comrade Aiden (369 dollars). For the first time, an automatic brewer actually delivered on its promise of quality. The machine can maintain the water temperature accurately and precisely, and even offers a flowering period to properly start the extraction process. Aiden features both controlled brewing and fully customizable options to achieve your ideal cup. whether you are a beginner or a seasoned coffee lover for decades. It’s this abundance of control that sets Fellow’s machine apart, and why it actually gives you coffee that might make you ditch the pour-over for good.
Companion/Engadget
The Aiden is an automatic drip coffee machine that actually delivers on the promise of manual quality brewing. It offers many customization options and controls, plus guided brewing for novice users.
- Excellent casting performance
- Lots of customization
- Can be reconfigured for single cup use
- Graph pours easily
- The one-button interface slows you down
- Some app features are still under development
Design
Fellow is known for its design prowess when it comes to coffee tools such as grinders, kettles and drinkware. The company typically takes a more mechanical approach to aesthetics similar to laboratory equipment instead of coffee appliances. For the Aiden though, the company went for a more minimal design, giving it a simpler cube structure that’s more modern than many automatic drip machines on the market. It won’t appeal to everyone, but I think it’s unique.
A removable water tank sits on the left, complete with volume markers for the desired amount of coffee. You don’t have to remove the tank to fill it, but it can make it easier if you’re running from the faucet. Inside the brewing chamber is a spray nozzle adjustment that allows you to reconfigure the Aiden for single cup use. The machine also comes with a second brewing basket that can deposit coffee directly into your favorite cup for this purpose.
The double-walled carafe below holds enough heat to keep your coffee hot for several hours. The lid doesn’t completely seal the container, but if you consume all of your breakfast in less than three hours, you’ll be fine. I would have liked to see a second lid that seals things to keep them at just brewed temperature, but Fellow designed the carafe so that it pours easily without a mess. I can’t say the same for the 2020 model Moccamaster the Aiden, which it replaces in my kitchen.
Instead of the typical on/off switch, Aiden has a one-button, button-based interface where you make all your choices. A small, circular display is located at the top left of the front panel, and turning a knob controls many menu options. Once you’ve found what you’re looking for, simply press the button to select. (Reviewer’s Note: The display on my review unit was damaged before it arrived, but the machine still works as intended, so I didn’t need to return it.)
Pouring performance
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of automatic or semi-automatic drip coffee makers that promise the same quality you’d get with a hand-brewed pour-over. Unfortunately, almost none of them really deliver. I’ve been using the Moccamaster for four years now, and while I like a lot about the machine, the straight line placement of the shower head doesn’t give you the even water distribution you want for a quality pour simulation. Other machines don’t heat up enough, and many don’t allow you to adjust the bloom cycle, water ratios, or brew temperature.
At Aiden, Fellow has solved all of my problems with machines I’ve used in the past. First, the faucets of the dual shower heads are spaced so that the coffee grounds are evenly saturated during the flowering and brewing periods. Two easy-to-change modes mean you can make a full 10-cup carafe or as little as one cup at the same quality. For two baskets, you’ll need to keep two types of filters on hand, but they’re easier to store than a second cup pod machine. This alone would be a huge innovation for the drip brewers, but the company didn’t stop there.
An infinitely customizable brewing system
The scholarship also took into account personalization, another area where coffee nerds want room for experimentation. Aiden allows you to adjust the brewing temperature, coffee-to-water ratio and pulse behavior as much as you like. You can dial the number of water pulses, the time between them, and even set each one to a different temperature. For the flowering period, Fellow discloses the duration, temperature, and flowering ratio (amount of water in the initial pour).
Instead of living with the settings programmed into a company’s own machine, you have full control over all the settings here. The degree to which the brew cycle can be dialed in on a whim is the biggest reason why the Aiden is so appealing to serious coffee enthusiasts. Plus, another important part of the machine’s customizability is the brew profiles, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
If you’re not familiar with the term, the best way to think of brew profiles is like recipes. The Aiden offers three out of the box—a light roast, a medium roast, and a dark roast—so you don’t have to start adjusting and maintaining things right away. But if your favorite coffee roaster is anything like mine (Hi, Vignette Coffee Roasters), will offer a brewing guide for things like water ratios. Of course, these companies may not always have the flavor or strength you prefer, but they provide a good starting point because they are aware of the nuances. And with Aiden, you can actually use this advice for every origin or custom blend you use.
Finally, Fellow will allow roasters and coffee shops to create and share profiles so you can brew just like you would in a cafe. If you subscribe Companion Dropscoffee kit made by the company, your Aiden will be able to automatically download profiles for the beans headed your way.
If you’re not yet that level of coffee snob, don’t worry. The Aiden brews controlled brews based on these three roast profiles and desired number of cups for quick and easy use. These are useful not only for beginners, but also for those times when more advanced users want a bowl of joe without thinking too much. I’ve found them useful on weekends when I’m not sure when I’ll get out of bed and don’t want to wake up to a cold pot of coffee. During the week, the scheduling tool is a huge plus that most of the competition lacks.
I would be remiss if I didn’t discuss Aiden’s heating system, as this technology allows for temperature control throughout the entire brewing cycle. Any intermediate or advanced coffee drinker knows that water temperature is a key aspect to brewing great coffee. Many automatic drip machines simply don’t get hot enough to extract all the flavor from the grounds, leaving you with a more muted flavor profile. Inside the Aiden, Fellow has developed a precision heating device that allows the machine to adjust the temperature while brewing without even stopping the process. The way this machine heats water offers consistency and control that many coffee makers can’t match.
There’s also an Aiden app, but it’s not doing much right now. You can connect the machine to the software for firmware updates, setting the time and naming the beer. Finally, Fellow plans to enable the shared profiles I mentioned earlier, along with scheduling and remote control from your phone. However, these items are listed as “coming soon” after Aiden launches in September. I asked Fellow for the current status and will update this review if I hear back.
Competition
Before I test AidenI used a Moccamaster KBT that I bought in 2020. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to upgrade my home coffee setup, which I had been hand-pouring via Chemex for years. I wanted something I could burn and make coffee comparable to what I do now and this is what I got.
Moccamaster coffee machines have a reputation for being well built and reliable, and I’ve found that to be true. My KBT worked well every day and provided coffee that was more quality than a cheaper auto drip brewer. Although the 2020 model does not have a pour spout like the updated version, the KBT still comes with an insulated carafe. This made pouring difficult and often messy. While the machine brews at temperatures between 196 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit, the straight line design of the showerhead does not provide the best saturation during the brew cycle.
Despite all that, I still think the Moccamaster machines are the best alternative to the Aiden. They are slightly cheaper starting at $329 and will serve you well for years. Plus, there are options for glass decanters with heating elements if you prefer it over insulation. For many models, you’ll have to live without the automatic drip stop when you remove the carafe during brewing. There is a manual scroll on the brew basket for most selections, but automatic selection is only available on machines like the KBGV Select. The 40-ounce Moccamaster models also brew about nine ounces less than the Aiden at maximum capacity (1.25 L/44 oz and 1.5 L/52.9 oz), so that’s another thing to consider. That’s almost another full cup of coffee per pot.
Collection
Clearly, Fellow recognized all the shortcomings of casting simulators on the market when developing the design. Aiden. The company is finally delivering on the promise of the smoothness and flavor of hand-brewed coffee in an automatic drip machine. The Aiden heats well enough, offers adequate saturation, and segments the brew cycle just like a pour-over or Chemex. Plus, there are many customization options that allow you to assemble your own process based on the beans you use. And that means I can save myself a lot of the mess involved in picking up a glass.
