The catch
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
Having a fine range does not show control over every unpressurized espresso basket.
Side by side
OXO Compact vs Fellow Opus 2: A shared coffee setup gets documented espresso control with Opus
Quick verdict
OXO Compact suits small, measured filter brews. Opus 2 is the pick once espresso is a genuine part of the household routine and you will use its stepless dial and 54/58 mm espresso catch. Being conical burr grinders does not mean the two give you equivalent espresso control, so don’t assume they do.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
A portafilter upgrade pays off only when it fits your machine
If you are putting an espresso machine next to a filter brewer, Opus 2 comes with a 30 g espresso catch for 54 or 58 mm setups, plus stepless adjustment. That is a concrete transfer and dial-in advantage over buying the OXO only because its range includes fine settings. When your machine takes a different diameter, check the adapter and dosing workflow before you buy. The catch capacity is enough for an assumed 18 g dose, but fitting it says nothing about espresso quality.
Where this comes from
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder: General grounds container and 29-position adjustment. Fine-range marketing does not establish performance with every unpressurized basket. Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder: Stepless dial and 30 g espresso catch designed around 54 and 58 mm setups.
The catch
Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder
The espresso catch is made for specific diameters. It does not take away dose weighing or the cleanup after changing beans.
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
- Why pick it
- You brew small filter batches and have no use for portafilter dosing.
- The 50 g hopper has room for a 30 g two-mug recipe.
- The catch
- Having a fine range does not show control over every unpressurized espresso basket.
Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder
- Why pick it
- Espresso is on your menu alongside filter coffee.
- That routine is served by stepless adjustment and the supplied 54/58 mm espresso catch.
- The catch
- The espresso catch is made for specific diameters. It does not take away dose weighing or the cleanup after changing beans.
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What this page compares
Deciding between OXO Compact and Fellow Opus 2 comes down to a filter-only routine versus shared espresso, catch-cup compatibility and what automatic stopping does on each.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
A 500 ml filter brew shared at 60 g/L
The 30 g dose is already within the OXO capacity.
- OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
- Better fit
- Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder
- Good
Espresso and filter coffee on a compatible 54 or 58 mm setup
The Opus catch and the continuous adjustment each have a clear purpose.
- OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
- Depends
- Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder
- Better fit
A portafilter that falls outside the documented catch sizes
Check how the transfer would work instead of assuming it is directly compatible.
- OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
- Depends
- Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder
- Depends
Your setup guide is for the first-generation Opus
This page covers the different Opus 2 mechanism, so confirm which generation you have.
- OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
- Depends
- Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder
- Caution
In practice
Differences you will notice
A portafilter upgrade pays off only when it fits your machine
If you are putting an espresso machine next to a filter brewer, Opus 2 comes with a 30 g espresso catch for 54 or 58 mm setups, plus stepless adjustment. That is a concrete transfer and dial-in advantage over buying the OXO only because its range includes fine settings. When your machine takes a different diameter, check the adapter and dosing workflow before you buy. The catch capacity is enough for an assumed 18 g dose, but fitting it says nothing about espresso quality.
How we worked this out
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder: General grounds container and 29-position adjustment. Fine-range marketing does not establish performance with every unpressurized basket. Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder: Stepless dial and 30 g espresso catch designed around 54 and 58 mm setups.
With two coffees in one household, what you need is recipe control and not a bigger timer number
If one person wants regular espresso and the other wants decaf filter, weigh and label the two recipes. The OXO’s 40-second stop just ends a run, so it cannot keep those doses equal on its own. Opus 2 has separate espresso and general catches that can help organize the transfer, but they do not get rid of retained grounds or the need to recalibrate when beans change. If both people only drink a shared 500 ml filter brew at 60 g/L, the OXO’s 50 g hopper already covers the 30 g dose.
How we worked this out
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder: Fixed 40-second shutoff and 50 g bean capacity. Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder: Separate 100 g general and 30 g espresso catches, with an automatic-stop feature that is not grind-by-weight.
Advice for the old Opus can describe the wrong mechanism
The Opus 2 in this comparison has a stepless side dial and 48 mm burrs. Do not let instructions written for the first-generation Opus adjustment system shape what you expect from this model. As you check Amazon reviews, confirm the generation and the catches included. On the OXO side, the model is the Compact 8720800, which also differs from OXO’s larger 8717000.
How we worked this out
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder: Exact Compact 8720800, not OXO 8717000. Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder: Exact Opus 2, with 48 mm burrs and a stepless side dial.
Option A
OXO, 8720800
Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
This small electric grinder is meant for measured filter-coffee doses. A 50-gram bean limit covers two ordinary mugs, but a full liter at a 60 g/L recipe means reloading.
- Best for
- You brew small filter batches and have no use for portafilter dosing.
Facts we checked
- Adjustment: 29 settings
- Espresso transfer: General grounds container
- Collection: Compact grounds container
- Automatic stop: 40-second timer
Option B
Fellow, 1222MB-NA
Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder
This compact second-generation all-rounder offers stepless control and an ionizer. Two magnetic cups come sized for filter and espresso routines.
- Best for
- Espresso is on your menu alongside filter coffee.
Facts we checked
- Adjustment: Stepless side dial
- Espresso transfer: 30 g espresso catch for 54 or 58 mm setups
- Collection: 100 g general catch plus 30 g espresso catch
- Automatic stop: Automatic stop listed
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder | Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjustment | 29 settings | Stepless side dial | Stepless control allows continuous adjustment, but it guarantees no flavor result. |
| Espresso transfer | General grounds container | 30 g espresso catch for 54 or 58 mm setups | Look at your actual basket diameter instead of assuming every portafilter fits. |
| Collection | Compact grounds container | 100 g general catch plus 30 g espresso catch | The two Opus catches are alternates, so 130 g of simultaneous capacity is not available. |
| Automatic stop | 40-second timer | Automatic stop listed | Neither feature works as an integrated scale. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
- Its 40-second stop is a timer. It is not a weight target or a documented empty-bean sensor.
With Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder
- Its light body feels less solid than the metal grinders higher up the range.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
You brew small filter batches and have no use for portafilter dosing.
Go with OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder. The 50 g hopper has room for a 30 g two-mug recipe.
Espresso is on your list alongside filter coffee.
Go with Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder. That routine is served by stepless adjustment and the supplied 54/58 mm espresso catch.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the premium coffee grinders we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder |
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| Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Grinder
You brew small filter batches and have no use for portafilter dosing.
See price & reviews on AmazonFellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder
Espresso is on your menu alongside filter coffee.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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