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Do you like using the inverted method with your AeroPress, but have that little voice in the back of your mind? The one that says “watch out, it might spill everywhere!”
Unfortunately, sometimes it does happen. Imagine having to clean up your kitchen when it does… coffee everywhere!
Do you also enjoy espresso coffee, but can’t take your espresso machine with you everywhere you go?
In that case, the Prismo is the life-changing answer you’ve been looking for.
Not only does the Fellow Prismo make espresso-style coffee. It also brews full-immersion coffee in the regular position. No more inverted AeroPress!
After reading this surprising Fellow Prismo review, you will change the way you use your AeroPress forever.
Keep reading.
Fellow Prismo Review – pressure-actuated attachment for AeroPress
After searching for different attachments for the AeroPress coffee maker, I found the Prismo. It’s made by a company called Fellow Industries.
Fellow Industries is a San Francisco based company started in 2015 by Jake Miller. They make various coffee related products, with the Prismo being one of them.
The Prismo was first introduced to the world in late 2017. Since then, it’s been gaining popularity with AeroPress users everywhere.
Let’s take a closer look at it.
What is the Fellow Prismo and how does it work?
Why not let Fellow show you exactly what the Prismo is in this short video.
The Fellow Prismo is a pressure-actuated attachment for the AeroPress. It makes full immersion espresso-style coffee, without needing to use the inverted method.
But what is full immersion coffee?
What is full immersion coffee?
Full immersion coffee is a method of brewing coffee. It’s any brewing method where coffee and water mix together in a container for a period of time.
Once the coffee is ready, it’s filtered from the brewing device into your cup.
The most common device that uses full immersion is the coffee plunger or french press. But there are loads of different devices that use this brewing method.
Some other examples are siphons and cold brew makers. Even Fellow Industries made a device called the Duo Coffee Steeper, which has now been discontinued.
The Prismo converts your AeroPress into a full immersion brewer, without using the unstable inverted method.
So, it’s a:
- custom AeroPress cap with a no drip seal,
- pressure actuated valve, and
- a reusable metal filter.
If you’re wondering “what’s a pressure-actuated valve?”, I’ll break it down.
Pressure-actuated Valve
The valve is the small bit of rubber with a cross incision on it that sits in the center of the custom cap.
Pressure-actuated means that it’s pressure that puts the valve into action and pushes it open.
Before pressing your brew, the valve is in the closed position, which stops the flow of your brew into your cup.
Applying pressure on the AeroPress plunger opens the valve immediately. This pushes the brew into your cup like a jet stream.
The result is an immersion brew, without using the inverted method.
This is different from the standard AeroPress cap, which drips into your cup when you add hot water. Brewing with the Fellow Prismo or inverted method avoids this.
But unlike the inverted method, the Prismo has no risk of accidental spills.
- Give your AeroPress superpowers
- Become a coffee ninja and create espresso-style, Americano, full immersion, cold brew and more!
- Pressure-actuated valve allows for full immersion with a no-drip seal and without using the inverted method
- High quality re-usable 150 micron etched fine metal filter
- Screws on the base of your AeroPress, replacing the stock filter.
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What comes with the Fellow Prismo for AeroPress?
Fellow Prismo cap
The custom cap has a pressure-actuated valve. It screws onto the bottom of the AeroPress chamber instead of the original cap.
The pressure actuated valve stays sealed until you press down. This holds your brew in the AeroPress chamber.
Combined with a “no drip seal”, you can brew a full immersion coffee without inverting your AeroPress.
Reusable metal filter
Compared to some of the metal filters that you can find for the AeroPress, this one is great quality. Although, it does have a bit of flex, so you’d want to be gentle with it.
It has a silicon cover around the edge of the filter which is not removable. I have noticed that it can get a little bit difficult to clean around the edges of the cover.
Each hole in the filter is… how many microns?
How many microns?
For starters, what’s a micron, you ask? A micron, also known as a micrometer, is a unit of length that is one thousandth of a millimetre.
I wasn’t sure of the exact specs of the filter, as I’d read multiple variations.
This page says the filter is an “80 micron” etched metal filter. Whereas this page says the filter is “150 micron”. And this page says the filter is “70 micron”.
So which is it? Well, I decided to go straight to the source and contacted Fellow Industries to find out.
Here’s my email.
And here’s their super-prompt response, received in less than 24 hours!
So there you have it. Thanks to Nick from Fellow Industries, we now know the correct specs for the current filter. It’s 150 microns.
So that means that each little hole in the metal filter is 0.15 of a millimetre. That is tiny!
I was also pleased with Nick’s prompt response. They took the time to respond to their customer’s queries. It shows that their customers are important.
That’s an A+ right there.
See on AmazonHow do you use the Fellow Prismo?
It’s very easy to begin using the Fellow Prismo. Standard instructions are:
- Place the reusable metal filter inside the cap, with the Fellow text on the filter face-up.
- Screw the cap onto the AeroPress chamber. Make sure that the Fellow logo icon on the cap aligns with the numbers on the AeroPress chamber.
- Measure 20g of ultra-fine ground coffee beans and pour into the AeroPress chamber.
- Place the AeroPress onto your coffee cup or glass.
- Pour 50ml of boiling water (100˚C/212˚F) into the AeroPress chamber.
- Stir the coffee for 20 seconds.
- Let the coffee sit for one minute.
- Place the AeroPress plunger into the chamber. Give an initial quick, hard press to compress the coffee grounds. Maintain constant pressure until the plunger reaches the bottom.
- Remove the Prismo from the AeroPress and wash all parts.
- Drink and enjoy your espresso-style coffee.
This is the standard Fellow Prismo instructions and should produce a crema.
Watch this video to learn a simple technique that will boost your AeroPress crema to extreme! Read this post to learn more.
If you’re interested, you can also use the Prismo to make cold brew.
Cleaning the Fellow Prismo
Clean the Fellow Prismo after every use. This will stop it getting clogged up by coffee oils and impacting your brew.
Don’t use anything abrasive or rough though, only a soft sponge. It’s also safe to put it in the top rack of your dishwasher.
Another option is to clean it with warm soapy water. To clean it this way, all you need to do is:
- Take everything apart and rinse it after use.
- Attach the Prismo with filter back onto the AeroPress chamber.
- Add some warm soapy water into the AeroPress chamber.
- Press and pull the soapy water through the Prismo.
- Rinse any soapy residue off the parts.
You could fill the AeroPress chamber with plain warm water and press it through the Prismo once more.
This also would help to remove any soapy residue from all the parts.
Can you use the Fellow Prismo with a paper filter?
Sure. You can use a paper filter with the Prismo, but I don’t know why you’d want to. After all, it’s designed for you to use it with a metal filter.
The people at Fellow Industries spent months doing research. They tried different options for brewing with the Prismo.
Their decision was to design, create and package their own fine metal filter. I doubt they decided to pack the Prismo with their own metal filter on a whim.
But, there are 2 secret methods of using a paper filter with the Prismo metal filter that I have tried.
One of them involves tamping the coffee inside the AeroPress and then packing a paper filter on top.
The other method is so secret, you’ll have to read the article to find out about it. It’s actually stupid-simple!
In fact, these have been the only methods that I’ve used to get anything close to a crema.
I explain this method in full amazing detail here.
See on AmazonConclusion
You’ll be grateful you purchased the Fellow Prismo because it adds value to your AeroPress and helps make a great brew.
Don’t worry any more about spilling your coffee everywhere using the AeroPress inverted method. Use the Prismo and make full immersion coffee.
It’s a quality product that I have no problem recommending. Click here to view it on Amazon now. You can also see the reviews and feedback from other purchasers.
It’s delivered on everything so far. But I still struggle to get a crema by following the standard instructions.
However, I have discovered 2 secret methods that deliver a delicous crema every time. It’s early days for me though, so plenty of time to refine my skills.
I hope you’ve found this Fellow Prismo review helpful. Have you purchased the Fellow Prismo or have a question about it?
Have you had experience with a different AeroPress attachment? Let me know in the comments below.
Stay caffeinated!
I love the idea of making coffee on the go. I’ve tried a French press before but was really unhappy with the amount of grounds that ended up in my cup. This seems like a nice alternative, especially with such a tiny filter. By the way, kudos on reaching out to the company to find out the exact size of the filter, amongst all of the conflicting information.
Hey Ani, thanks for your comment 🙂 I use a French press at my work most days (I share it with my workmates) and although I like the coffee it makes, I don’t like the grounds at the bottom of my cup either. I use a coarser grind for that though, which does help a little. I also use my AeroPress when making one for just myself. The AeroPress, even without the Prismo, does an amazing job of filtering out any grounds AND makes better coffee IMO.
About the filter, I figured it was best to go straight to the source. Seriously quick response, too.
This is all completely new to me. Thanks for posting about it.
Thanks for visiting, Jeff and hope you learnt something 🙂