Manual Vs Semi-Automatic Espresso | Watch THIS Before Buying!

In this video we look at the pros and cons of manual lever machines vs semi-automatic espresso machines by comparing 2 flagship devices the @FlairEspresso 58 and the Profitec Pro 700!

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Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
License code: CJIE1YVCIE9XDFLF

Timecodes:
0:00 - Hook
0:15 - Title B Roll
0:34 - Disclaimer
0:47 - Introduction
1:09 - Round 1
2:54 - Round 2
3:46 - Round 3
5:08 - Round 4
5:44 - Round 5
7:08 - Results & Summary
8:02 - Conclusion

[mariuszw]

As a Flair 58 owner I think there is one more thing worth mentioning - once you're used to the machine and know what you're doing it's almost impossible to pull an undrinkable shot, even if you're not perfectly dialed in. It's especially apparent when you're constantly trying out new coffees. Quite a lot of shots (usually first tries and experiments) I managed to save due to having a full control over the pressure would be wasted on a flat pressure pump machine.

[coffeebrat_]

Flair all the way baby. You just feeling like wearing a custom made suit every single time! Even if the shot comes out not perfect it is still veeery enjoyable.

[Abrikosmanden]

Your channel deserves a factor of at least 100 in subscriber count! You're doing so well!

[DancingSpacePotato]

The epic music is kind of what goes through my head as I’m preparing myself to flip my inverted Aeropress

[DanielShulga]

You guys helped me to choose the flair 58 and not the semi automatic!
The case breaker was maintenance and cleaning- no one yet took it into consideration.
Thank you!

[TheDustyne]

Love the 58. Great price, great Espresso and you can do so much with it. I find it reasonably consistent in the important aspects if you have a little bit of experience with it. Knowing your flow rate and pressure helps but mostly relay on puck resistance is already close enough. Never had inconsistent shots once dialed in.

[PradyumnVij]

I would argue that the consistency on a manual machine is higher. If your puck prep is not perfect for a specific shot, a semi automatic will pump out an imbalanced over and under extracted shot. While with a lever you can feel the pressure and back off, increase infusion time and proceed at a much lower pressure. Even a spring lever beats a semi-automatic in this common scenario.

[mikejones-ndni]

Yeah, This channel has a bright future for sure!!

[coreycannon]

While I don’t make espresso, I do mostly make Aeropress and Moka Pot. The Aeropress, in terms of consistency, is the semi-automatic and the Moka is the Flair. On a day in, day out basis, the Aeropress makes “better” coffee, as in my average satisfaction level is higher. It takes a long time (about 15 minutes, start to finish) using Jonathan Gagné’s method, but nine of those minutes are waiting minutes, where I can be doing other things, like starting breakfast. The Moka, on the other hand is not much faster and you have to watch it like a hawk the whole time. It’s finicky and sometimes it results in coffee that is merely ok. I typically us it to make a 50/50 Americano type coffee based on James Hoffmann’s recipe. But the extra satisfaction I get when I brew the Moka’s version of the “god shot” makes that coffee even better tasting somehow. I know of one YouTuber who used a Breville Oracle in the mornings and his Apartamento in the afternoons and weekends. Sometimes the craft is, and sometimes you just want a great coffee without the fuss. But I still grind for the Aeropress with a J-Max at (for those that want to know) a 2.2.0-2.3.0 setting. Super yum!

[bettercoffeequest]

What a great video. I am glad that I ordered the Flair. Should be here in 3 days!

[seniormysterioso]

Great video. I have the flair 58 and a Sylvia and use the fair 99% of the time.

[meatgeorge]

I've had my 58 for well over a year as well. Very hard to get a shot wrong, you can feel if it's starting to channel and fix it. Thankfully that's rare and usually comes to bad puck prep.

A WDT, spring assisted tamper and of course the puck screen, great results consistently.

There is also the option of a La Pavoni like a mate of mine has. You can pull a lever shot and steam milk.

Now personally I love my espresso as espresso, but if my kids are anything like me they will be wanting lattes every day when they reach their teens, so maybe that won't be a bad choice.

Or a Nespresso Aeroccino because it's not like I'll drink it 🤣

[r_bear]

"It also ruins your coffee, which ruined your day, which ruins your entire life."

feel that, brother 💀

I do think it's worth mentioning that while your pressure is less consistent on a manual machine, the pressure on an non-lever machine is highly dependent on puck prep... maybe to a degree that makes the "human error" moot. Plus, on a manual machine, you have full control of pre-infusion and can easily pull at lower pressures, which further makes everything more consistent and less error-prone.

[NubRusty]

The Flair 58 is so damn awesome. The amount of money it costs for flow profiling is insane when the Flair does it for 20% the cost. Friggin love my Flair 58

[igottmituns]

Well done!! This was super informative!

[coffeenerdaaron]

Another great video! Love your attention to detail and thoroughness, I need to get better at this for my videos 😆

[arisafghanzada]

I mean, a Profitec Pro 400, Profitec Go, Lelit Anna, Gaggia Classic Pro EVO would be a closer battle no?

[laurencedejong]

I have been discussing this with my wife. She wants to buy a single head machine, I would love to buy the Flair.

We have a Fellow Ode with the standard burrs, I have read and heard that it will not be able to grind fine enough, or is not made to grind enough, for the Flair. However, I do see a glimpse at 1:52 of the Fellow Ode in the video. Do you use that for grinding for the Flair?

[MaespressoPro]

Totally agree with all the points you mentioned!! Great video too.

[banon]

Actually laughed out loud at the head-shake at 4:40