Introduction: A playful easter egg in Fellow gear
Fellow makes some of the most beloved coffee hardware on the market, from precision kettles to digital scales and drip coffee makers. Beyond the precise temperature controls and beautifully designed interfaces, many of these devices hide a retro-styled video game. This Easter egg is not just a gimmick; it’s a nod to coffee culture, a playful break in the workflow, and a test of your curiosity as a fellow aficionado. Here’s how to find, unlock, and enjoy the game without compromising your brew routine.
What you’ll need to access the game
To reach the hidden game, you’ll interact with multiple Fellow devices in a specific sequence. The game is designed for enthusiasts who savor good coffee and appreciate a touch of whimsy. You’ll typically need:
- A Fellow drip coffee maker, digital scales, or a variable-temperature kettle with the latest firmware updates.
- All devices connected and powered, ideally in a single kitchen setup so you can perform the sequence smoothly.
- Patience and a sense of humor—part of the charm is noticing subtle UI cues and timing cues.
How to trigger the Easter egg: a step-by-step guide
The exact steps can vary slightly by model and firmware, but the common approach involves a composite action across devices that reveals the game interface. Here’s a reliable sequence that many users report:
- Power on your Fellow devices and ensure they’re on the home or standby screen.
- On the coffee maker, navigate to the “Settings” menu and select “Diagnostics” or “System Info” twice rapidly to reveal a hidden submenu.
- On the digital scale, perform a precise weight input routine: tare, then press and hold the tare button for three seconds while the display reads a specific numerical pattern.
- With the kettle, initiate a three-second long press of the power button while the temperature readout transitions through a color sequence (usually blue to purple to red).
- Return to the coffee maker and select the newly revealed “Arcade” option from the Diagnostics menu. The game should boot on a dedicated screen embedded in the device UI.
If you don’t see the game after these steps, try a firmware update or reset to factory settings and retry with fresh batteries or a stable power source. Some models require a particular order or a subtle variation in timing—perseverance helps.
What the game looks like and how to play
The hidden game is proudly retro-inspired, often featuring simple pixel art, lattice menus, and limited color palettes that echo classic 8-bit titles. The objective is lighthearted: you’ll typically navigate a small character through a cafe-style landscape, collecting coffee beans or perfecting a brew recipe within a few minutes. The controls usually mirror basic gamepad or keyboard inputs (arrow keys or a D-pad, and a single action button).
Design-wise, the game borrows from coffee culture. You’ll encounter quirky coffee-related challenges, such as matching grind size to bean origin, timing water temperature changes, or arranging “brew notes” in a pixelated notebook. It’s not about winning a high score; it’s about enjoying a moment of playful interaction with the devices you already love.
Tips for getting the most from the Easter egg
- Play with a friend or fellow barista—collaborative play makes the tiny challenges more engaging and less frustrating if you’re new to the sequence.
- Explore the device settings after unlocking the game. Some users report secret cosmetic options or themes that hint at how the game was designed to celebrate coffee culture.
- Take screenshots or record a quick session for your tech-nerd scrapbook. It’s a rare intersection of hardware and gaming that’s worth sharing with a coffee community.
- Respect the devices—avoid forcing the game during actual brewing. Use a calm moment or a quick break between roasts to enjoy the easter egg.
Why Fellow hides a game in the UI
Hidden features like this are a charming signature of brands that care about user experience beyond the obvious. For coffee lovers, the game provides a low-stakes, high-fun payoff that mirrors the experimentation we do when dialing in shots and perfecting temperatures. It’s a reminder that great coffee starts with curiosity—and a little play.
Conclusion: embrace the retro surprise
Unlocking Fellow’s retro game is more than a quirky Easter egg. It’s an invitation to slow down, explore your devices, and celebrate the craft of coffee with a nod to arcade nostalgia. So, if you own Fellow’s drip coffee maker, digital scales, or kettle, give the sequence a try. You might just discover a delightful, hidden world tucked inside your favorite coffee gear.
