ECM Synchronika vs Fellow Series 1
Too close to call. The ECM Synchronika scores 74 overall to the Fellow Series 1's 72, so the right pick depends on what you value. They differ most on heat-up and speed and value.
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Which should you buy?
Pick the ECM Synchronika if
you make espresso and milk drinks every day, have a deep counter and a timer plug or a patient morning, and want a machine to keep for decades.
Pick the Fellow Series 1 if
you want to experiment with pressure profiles on weekday mornings, already own a good grinder and a scale, and like a machine that is hot in about 2 minutes.
Aspect by aspect
| 9.4 | Shot quality | 7.4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | Milk steaming | 7.8 | ||
| 6.0 | Ease and workflow | 6.4 | ||
| 7.5 | Build and reliability | 5.7 | ||
| 6.0 | Heat-up and speed | 8.5 | ||
| 5.0 | Cleaning and upkeep | 7.2 | ||
| 6.0 | Value | 8.5 |
Scores out of 10. Bold marks a lead of a point or more.
Where they differ most
- Heat-up and speed: the Fellow Series 1 scores 8.5 to the ECM Synchronika's 6.0.
- Value: the Fellow Series 1 scores 8.5 to the ECM Synchronika's 6.0.
- Cleaning and upkeep: the Fellow Series 1 scores 7.2 to the ECM Synchronika's 5.0.
The details
| ECM Synchronika | Fellow Series 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| ECM | Manufacturer | Fellow |
| — | Boiler type | Boosted Boiler: three-element heating system |
| — | Heat-up time | ~2 minutes |
| — | Built-in grinder | No |
| — | Portafilter size | 58mm |
| — | PID temperature control | Yes |
| — | Water tank | 2.0L removable |
| — | Weight | 21.61 lb |
| $3,249 (price at 1st-line Equipment, Nov 13, 2026) | Price | $1,499.95 (price at Clive Coffee, Nov 13, 2026) |
