The Fellow Prismo Is My Favorite Way to Make Not-Quite-Espresso at Home

I am a sucker for a kitchen gadget that saves money, space, and time. If a product can do all of this and simultaneously caffeinate me? Houston, we have a treasure. I love a strong brew but don't drink a ton of coffee, so I don’t need a drip coffee pot or even a French press. And since I’m not after quantity, I appreciate crafting a quality single cup. 

About 10 years ago I started using an Aeropress to brew my morning no-frills cup of coffee. But while one cup often did the job, I do love a latte or other espresso-based drink once in a while. I’m the only coffee drinker in my home, so it didn’t make sense to invest money (or counter space) in an espresso machine, but I did like the idea of being able to save a few dollars and satisfy espresso-based cravings at home. Enter the Fellow Prismo. 

The Fellow Prismo Makes It Fast and Easy to Brew Espresso-Style Coffee

Fellow Prismo Pressure-Actuated Attachment for AeroPress Coffee Maker

$30 at Amazon $25 at Fellowproducts.com

I purchased the Fellow Prismo in February 2020, and it quickly became my ride-or-die caffeinator when the pandemic forced cafés to close. Even though our beloved local cafés are back up and running, the Prismo remains part of my morning ritual. It has traveled with me on multiple vacations and has seen me through my first year of parenthood, where morning coffee needs to be strong and quickly conjured. 

The Prismo is an attachment for the Aeropress. And while the Aeropress makes a great, smooth cup of coffee, adding the Fellow Prismo attachment creates something closer to espresso. 

To make espresso, a traditional espresso machine uses pressure to force hot water through ground coffee beans, creating a small but strong cup with a silky topping called crema. To mimic this, Fellow Prismo also uses pressure (albeit far less than a traditional espresso machine, since it’s manual), and the result is what Fellow calls an “espresso-style” shot. When the Prismo is used in place of the Aeropress filter and cap, its pressure-actuated valve and stainless steel filter create a strong, concentrated sipper with that dreamy, foamy goodness found on top of an espresso shot. And the Fellow Prismo is quick: The entire brewing process takes just over a minute once your water is hot. 

How to Use the Fellow Prismo

For a single espresso-style shot, Fellow recommends using fresh beans, either an espresso blend or a dark roast, and a ratio of 20 grams of ground coffee to 50 milliliters of water (heated to around 212°F, or boiling). After adding the grounds and water to the Aeropress and the attached Prismo, stir vigorously for 20 seconds then let it sit for 40 seconds before pressing the Aeropress plunger down firmly and quickly to produce your espresso-style shot. 

When I’m craving a larger cup to sip, I add 240 milliliters of water to 20 grams of ground coffee. This still gives me a smooth and bold cup compared to a standard drip coffee maker, though it isn’t quite as intense as a small shot-style recipe. 

The Fellow Prismo Is Portable

The Fellow Prismo travels really well (it weighs a little over two ounces), and I’ve taken it with me on multiple vacations. It fits easily inside a gallon-sized plastic bag, along with the Aeropress pieces and a standard 12-ounce bag of coffee. If you own an Aeropress, chances are you love coffee enough to give up a little suitcase space for it on a trip. Since you can use the Aeropress-Prismo combo to brew on top of any standard mug, both are no-brainer additions to my vacation packing list. 

FAQs

Is coffee made by the Fellow Prismo the same as espresso?

Technically, no. But it is also arguably different from a cup of drip coffee. The Prismo mimics an espresso machine by adding pressure to the coffee brewing process, but the results land somewhere between the two. Check out this article for our breakdown of the difference between coffee and espresso. 

Who is the Prismo for? 

The Prismo is great for someone who wants to make a strong cup of coffee or craft an espresso-based drink at home. It’s perfect for the budget- and space-conscious or the travel-ready coffee drinker who wants to brew one cup at a time.

What else can I do with the Prismo?

Besides the applications described above, Fellow advertises that you can make cold brew, tea, Americanos, and regular brewed coffee with the Prismo. I love brewing with it over ice to create my own version of a Japanese-style iced coffee. When I want a latte, I reach for my frother and add some foamy milk, which I warm and sweeten with a touch of maple syrup. 

Is the Fellow Prismo easy to clean?

Absolutely. It needs to be hand-washed, but warm water and dish soap is all you need. You can even press warm soapy water through the filter as if you’re brewing a cup of coffee. When coffee oils start to build up in the filter, I soak it for a bit in warm water with a splash of vinegar before washing, and we’re good as new. 

Why We’re the Experts 

• Jenna Lanoue is a contributing writer at Serious Eats, a coffee enthusiast, and a parent of a small child who makes coffee a necessity.
• She has owned the Fellow Prismo since February 2020 and still uses it daily.