First Look Review: Flair Espresso Maker

I was sent this Flair Espresso Maker, and I had some fun with it. I'm impressed by what it can do, but it left me with a few questions...

This isn't a full review, more a first look.

Links:

[aboveaveragebayleaf]

I got this esspresso maker, because it seemed like the most reliable way to make esspresso on a relatively low budget. Most of the electric machines in the same price range had a lot of reviews about maintenance issues, or complete failures.
You mentioned making esspresso on a hillside. Well about a month ago my area was hit by a powerful storm called a Derecho. We had no power for two weeks, but i was able to make some lattes by heating milk, and water over a fire. All in all I have been very satisfied with the machine

[instantkamera]

Have been using one for over a year, and I got rid of my La Pavoni to use this exclusively. In comparison:

- the dosing and output flexibility of this (and certainly the upcoming Pro) beat an LPE, which tends to have a water output limit that falls short of this - Getting over 30g out was always a crapshoot with ~15g in a basket, whereas the Flair can easily do a 17g -> 34g+.

- The heat management and repeat-ability is actually easier with the Flair, where it essentially amounts to "get everything as hot as possible". I boil the cylinder inside the kettle itself, place it, and pour. With my Pavoni, it was constant surfing due to the pressurized boiler and brass grouphead.

- Even untreated (no DOW 111 etc), the seals/rings last considerably longer than those in a powered machine because they are not constantly kept at high temp and/or compressed full time. In a year of daily use mine still look new, in fact.

- Parts are cheap and easily replaceable as the whole thing breaks down into it's components anyway. This also makes it much easier to clean thoroughly.

- price was less than half that of the LPE for me in Canada.

Obviously a full-blown machine brings benefits with regard to self-containment, steam capability, multiple successive shot capability, and output volume. But I think the true value of the Flair is the control that it gives you for the price. You can play with temp, preinfusion, pressure, flow, time - they are all at your fingertips. You have to step up quite a bit to find a machine that really offers that sort of control (the Decent would be my choice there).

Of course for me all-manual is part of the ritual (I grind manually, use pour-over devices, etc) so if that's not your thing, this may not be either.

[kurama]

You mentioned at the end of the video "having one of the best setups at work that money can buy", and it made me wonder why you haven't made a video about that! I for one would love to see what your work setup and workflow looks like.

[Zoybrg]

James "which is kind of interesting" Hoffmann

[CMLew]

I love automatic subtitles. Instead of "Coffee with a little crema ontop" the subtitles said "Coffee with a little criminal intel"

[MCDreng]

First JH video "what a snob"
Second JH video "why do I have 3000 dollars of coffee equipment in my Amazon cart"

[Wizz]

I got my flair a little over a month ago, one thing I've noticed is that at first it is very hit or miss and is a lot of trial and error, *BUT* once you really dial in on what works and what doesn't, the resulting coffee is absolutely fantastic.

[notanothercreativetechnologist]

I use this, with the Comandante. 12 steps from full closed. 100% brilliant coffee every morning. Still working 4 years later.

[__cm__]

Bought it after watching this video and I'm completely in love with it. Super tasty shots you can get out of this thing.

[real]

I purchased the original Flair (basic model) a few months ago. Get the right coffee, grind, temperature and pressure (which all takes some practice) and it is the BEST espresso I've ever tasted. (I've travelled the world for decades and drank espresso in many different countries.) This little thing is astonishing. Oh and I've never needed the pressure gauge. Superb.

Yes, it is fiddly and as James says, "convoluted" but for the cheapest espresso maker, it cannot be beaten.

[beepboopsloane]

As a broke college student who loves coffee and has been wanting to get my own espresso setup, this sounds like a good way to tip my toe into making espresso at home

[cyrusfontaine]

I think from a value standpoint, this thing is in a league of its own. A home espresso machine with a non-pressurized filter, variable pressure, and theoretically temperature control is going to cost upwards of a grand, but this can be had for less than $200. I think it represents an excellent entry point into espresso for someone on a budget!

[sashaaanandini]

I actually used this for my coffee shop.. We were determined to only use manual brewing instead of the conventional espresso machine, and it was a toss between Flair and ROK, but we finally decided on Flair since it’s easier to clean and store. The thing with espresso though, you need to have the right amount of fine grinding and the correct water temprature, missed that by a smidge, you won’t get that beautiful espresso.. Grind too fine, it will be one hell of imposible to press, too coarse and it will be a very thin espresso with no crema whatsoever.. Because it’s a fast moving order, I never heat the brewing head first, and yet it works just fine so long as you have the right water temperature..

[stuffnuns]

I got this after looking for a hand pull machine, ala the Pavoni. This was the the one that looked like some design folk and engineers, who were coffee snobs, got together to make a better machine. At this price point, the Flair is amazing. I agree about including the optional gauge in the purchase. It makes it a breeze to make a proper pull. I didn’t find the Flair parts “fiddley” at all. The little ritual is pretty simple after a couple of pulls. The parts fit together with a feel of precision and quality, and come apart easily to clean and reset very nicely, thank you.
The quality of espresso I get from the Flair beats hands down the Breville and the Saeco machines I’ve owned, and rivals the $1500+ machines I’ve drooled over.
The coffee making is a quiet ritual with The Flair. One could have a Tea Ceremony with coffee with this machine. Wired Zen?
It is the best espresso machine I’ve owned. Really.

[williamkirsch]

So I have this and love it! Regarding how and when I use it - I’m an architecture student and I actually use it to brew espresso at my studio desk. I have access to an outlet for an electric kettle to boil water and actually pull shots when I’m up late at night doing work! It’s perfect for tucking into my desk & I also enjoy the cathartic process of setting up the machine.

[MikeTheBlueCow]

First I just want to say that my favorite coffee reviewer, reviewing my favorite coffee device = 🤩

So glad you got a chance to give this machine a try. I use mine near-daily. I got it because I couldn't afford a semi-auto machine and I also couldn't afford the space that a semi-auto would take up on my counter. The Flair takes up little space, and can pack away quickly and sets up even quicker.

For a preheat I actually found the cylinder fits perfectly on top of the base of my moka pot, so I steam it up and then use a heat glove to remove it, place it on the portafilter, and place the group on the Flair unit. I have a steel piston which preheats too just by loosely inserting it in the cylinder while it's steaming. The 3-5 minutes that it's steaming (I have a slow electric stove) is hands-off so I grind, heat my water in a kettle, and prep my puck in that time. It can get to around boiling temp (a little higher actually), and then I can modulate the temperature of the water from my kettle to hit the right brew temp for the coffee (even light roasts). It often seems fiddly to most, and while it is "more work" than just pushing a button to turn a machine on, it's still really simple and easy, and I had read it takes awhile for those machines to heat up. For the trade-off of convenience in one way (manual preheating), it creates the convenience of a quick preheat and overall I can see users only take 5-7 minutes from start to finishing cleanup. It's so quick it competes with my other brew methods. I know the Decent heats up pretty quick too but many espresso machines don't. I think the Flair is a great option for someone that can't afford more expensive machines, and it allows you to adjust temperature and pressure because you have manual control over them. It's a great option for travel or outdoors use as well. I have also paired it with a Bellman milk steamer to be able to make milk drinks; and the whole kit is still less than a refurbished Gaggia Classic (the typical budget machine, which doesn't have a PID or pressure control). So to recap, it is compact, inexpensive, offers pressure and temperature control, it's quick and capable; and that's why I bought the Flair and enjoy using it. I hope others see what I see and give it a try!

[romishamai]

I own a Flair Signature Pro and it adds a wonderful physical dimension to espresso making - you get to understand deeply through your body the connection between pressure profile and taste. It’s absolutely perfect for people who like to explore and enjoy the work behind each shot. The taste you get is deep and flavorful. I’ve learned a lot from using it and you will to from nailing good espresso with it and playing around trying different pressure profiles and other parameters. Personally at no point I felt it’s too much work. I make 1-5 cups a day and enjoy using it every time. For its price it’s a great tool for any coffee lover.

[Maduecejet]

Since buying the Flair, I have used it camping, on the go in bigger cities, bringing it in to play around with at coffee shops, and every day this semester in college! It is a beautiful piece, and such a great conversation starter. I also use an Baratza Encore, which ranges grind size between 7-10, usually at an 8-9. The pressure gauge has worked wonders in terms of consistency.

[theerasers]

I have an earlier vesion of Flair and been using it for a year. Absolutely love it. I live in a tiny apartment in NYC and having a collapsible espresso machine that makes really good shots is indispensable. Yes, the process is a bit involved but it gets easier with practice. What I also like is that the grind required for Flair is not a true espresso grind - it has to be a bit coarser. So you don't necessarily need an expensive espresso grinder. Been using my baratza virtuoso and it works perfectly fine with flair. So the whole setup would cost you around $450.

[JumpingWatermelons]

I've had my Flair for a year now and I used it pretty much every day. I love it. I wouldn't want to get a big automatic machine. I'm very happy using this :-)