Flair Espresso Machines?

[danimalia]

So I've been on an afternoon coffee kick, particularly espresso. I got tired of spending the ~$4 at Peets, so I have been trying to make it at home with a moka pot, but it's not really giving me what I'm looking for.

I noticed a couple of references to these Flair manual espresso machines and I am pretty intrigued with the Neo model, which promises to deliver a genuine, bar/cafe quality espresso at home, and is fairly affordable for a decent espresso machine at $120. Anyone own one of these and have any thoughts? Or any other suggestions for affordable home espresso options?

 

[BROBS]

So I've been on an afternoon coffee kick, particularly espresso. I got tired of spending the ~$4 at Peets, so I have been trying to make it at home with a moka pot, but it's not really giving me what I'm looking for.

I noticed a couple of references to these Flair manual espresso machines and I am pretty intrigued with the Neo model, which promises to deliver a genuine, bar/cafe quality espresso at home, and is fairly affordable for a decent espresso machine at $120. Anyone own one of these and have any thoughts? Or any other suggestions for affordable him espresso options?

Good question I’m curious too. ?
I’d love one but don’t know if I’d love any associated hassle

 

[kg.legat0]

I wish I had insight to share...but, had to say, that thing looks awesome. I wonder how much of a mess it makes.

 

[danimalia]

I've watched a few videos and it does seem to have a bit of a ritual to it, maybe a bit more work than a semi-automatic type machine, but probably quicker and easier than a moka pot. One of the appealing things to me is that it seems made up of pretty simple parts and doesn't look like something that would break easily. I had a $50 Mr. Coffee espresso machine from Wal-Mart that actually worked surprisingly well... For about 3 months.. And I just can't really afford the several hundred bucks and up that a good quality semi-auto machine seems to cost.

 

[BrokenRecord]

So I've been on an afternoon coffee kick, particularly espresso. I got tired of spending the ~$4 at Peets, so I have been trying to make it at home with a moka pot, but it's not really giving me what I'm looking for.

I noticed a couple of references to these Flair manual espresso machines and I am pretty intrigued with the Neo model, which promises to deliver a genuine, bar/cafe quality espresso at home, and is fairly affordable for a decent espresso machine at $120. Anyone own one of these and have any thoughts? Or any other suggestions for affordable home espresso options?

A friend of mine owns one and swears by them. They can pull a great shot if you have a good grinder.

 

[BROBS]

So I've been on an afternoon coffee kick, particularly espresso. I got tired of spending the ~$4 at Peets, so I have been trying to make it at home with a moka pot, but it's not really giving me what I'm looking for.

I noticed a couple of references to these Flair manual espresso machines and I am pretty intrigued with the Neo model, which promises to deliver a genuine, bar/cafe quality espresso at home, and is fairly affordable for a decent espresso machine at $120. Anyone own one of these and have any thoughts? Or any other suggestions for affordable home espresso options?

That thing looks like what I use to put grommets in banners lol

seems pretty simple
Maybe not so bad to clean but do you put hot ass water in it ?

 

[danimalia]

That thing looks like what I use to put grommets in banners lol

seems pretty simple
Maybe not so bad to clean but do you put hot ass water in it ?

Lol, yeah, the odds of me calling it a motherfucker after I burn myself touching the wrong spot are very high. Hopefully, it only takes me once or twice before I learn ?

 

[sandollars]

I have one and they pull very nice shots. they are a lot of work though since you have to clean every single thing before you can pull another shot. You have to preheat all the parts in hot water before your pull too and the "brew group" is made of stainless so it is pretty hot to handle...

It is a close as you can get to a shot from a commercial type Espresso machine for a reasonable price.

It will only pull singles so if you are a double guy, your first single WILL be stone cold before you a ready to pull another.

 

[workman]

A moka pot does not make espresso. It can make good coffee but not espresso.
I bought an espresso machine and it's about the best used money of my life. I opted on a machine as rustic as I could find, you know with the handles and manual settings and no digital displays or anything like that.
Mornings have been great ever since!

 

[SpookedPiper]

That machine sounds like a royal PITA to use, definitely listen to @sandollars.

I had an old gaggia classic that pulled a great shot and part of me wishes I never gave it away. The best part about it, it worked great with espresso ground coffee like bustello and there is no need for a grinder, ect.

 

[anotherbob]

A moka pot does not make espresso. It can make good coffee but not espresso.
I bought an espresso machine and it's about the best used money of my life. I opted on a machine as rustic as I could find, you know with the handles and manual settings and no digital displays or anything like that.
Mornings have been great ever since!

yeah I was about the say the first part. I use a moka pot and love it. But it certainly isn't espresso it makes even with espresso ground coffee.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

 

[danimalia]

I have one and they pull very nice shots. they are a lot of work though since you have to clean every single thing before you can pull another shot. You have to preheat all the parts in hot water before your pull too and the "brew group" is made of stainless so it is pretty hot to handle...

It is a close as you can get to a shot from a commercial type Espresso machine for a reasonable price.

It will only pull singles so if you are a double guy, your first single WILL be stone cold before you a ready to pull another.

Thanks for the feedback. I am a double guy, and I knew that was a drawback. Does it just take a long ass time to do a double because it takes so long to pull the shot, or is it to clean and reinstall the brew head with a new dose or what? I thought that maybe buying a 2nd portafilter might make things quicker? Will everything be too hot and messy for that to speed things up? What about a 2nd brew head, which I see they also sell (at a not insignificant price).

Right now that is the only major con I see.

 

[trudger]

The guy in the video is James Hoffman and he has great reviews on YouTube. A coffee guy with amazing production quality with integrity. Game changer : Moka Pot How-To

 

[jpmcwjr]

It does look like it would become a p.i.a..

 

[anotherbob]

this guy totally looks like my stereotype of a guy that has strong opinions on coffee makers.

 

[danimalia]

this guy totally looks like my stereotype of a guy that has strong opinions on coffee makers.

He's basically like... "I guess it's alright for rubes and children, but if you want to be a good espresso man, you have to upgrade."

Nah, I think he's right on, and basically sums up why I like it. I don't have a great grinder, and while I will hopefully get a better one, I doubt I will be able to get anything truly excellent on my budget (though I am open to suggestions). Ultimately, I'm just not that picky about my coffee. Yet. I mean, I enjoy Bustelo, and Italian coffees with robusta beans in them and I am still a luddite who prefers dark roasts to light with my drip/french press coffee. So I am confident I'd enjoy the coffee from this, and I can always upgrade if I get a better grinder and/or get more finicky with my tastes.

 

[anotherbob]

He's basically like... "I guess it's alright for rubes and children, but if you want to be a good espresso man, you have to upgrade."

Nah, I think he's right on, and basically sums up why I like it. I don't have a great grinder, and while I will hopefully get a better one, I doubt I will be able to get anything truly excellent on my budget (though I am open to suggestions). Ultimately, I'm just not that picky about my coffee. Yet. I mean, I enjoy Bustelo, and Italian coffees with robusta beans in them and I am still a luddite who prefers dark roasts to light with my drip/french press coffee. So I am confident I'd enjoy the coffee from this, and I can always upgrade if I get a better grinder and/or get more finicky with my tastes.

yeah I am not super picky about coffee. To me coffee is about caffeine. I care more about palatability then enjoyment. There are a few coffees I actually like but their special occasion things because I can find things I'd enjoy much more. You know like a pound of pipe tobacco instead of a pound of coffee. Now if I get rich then I'll start really enjoying coffee. Put if I have that kind of money I won't have to work so I can go back to enjoying super fine teas all day (that's the problem with tea it works but I have to keep drinking it to get the enjoyment out of it.

 

[danimalia]

yeah I am not super picky about coffee. To me coffee is about caffeine. I care more about palatability then enjoyment. There are a few coffees I actually like but their special occasion things because I can find things I'd enjoy much more. You know like a pound of pipe tobacco instead of a pound of coffee. Now if I get rich then I'll start really enjoying coffee. Put if I have that kind of money I won't have to work so I can go back to enjoying super fine teas all day (that's the problem with tea it works but I have to keep drinking it to get the enjoyment out of it.

I really like coffee, but I have to admit that some of the culture that has sprung up (or that I've started noticing, anyway) puzzles me a bit. Like, I absolutely loved the hell out of the coffee I had in Italy, France and Spain. They all pretty much seemed to serve one of a couple brands in each country, and nothing that appeared to be especially fancy. All seemed to be darker roasts. Hard to believe they're enjoying coffee incorrectly.

Then again, I do see the point of those who believe that lighter roasts allow more of the unique characteristics of the beans to come through, and who love to sample single origin beans from different countries and regions and get into the fine details of preparation. I mean, I am smoking a cigar right now and along with pipe tobacco, there are a lot of similarities between appreciating tobaccos and coffees, so I certainly can't judge anyone.

 

[burleyboy]

Without knowing the Flair, I'd say any drink that isn't made with a genuine espresso machine will lack some atttributes of espresso. I guess you won't be able to reach and constantly hold the needed pressure of around 9 bar with the Flair espresso maker. In my optionion you won't get around a portafilter machine, if you want a real espresso. The above mentioned James Hoffman does also have a video on espresso machines under GBP 500.

I have not seen the video completely, but the man usually gives very solid advide. I don't have first hand experience with them, but especially the Rancialio machines are known to be very rubust and basically everlasting, if treted right, so you could also consider getting a second hand one of these...


In addition to that I can confirm, that any espresso style brewing method requires a decent grinder. GRinder quality is definitly essential when it comes to making espresso (and actually any brewing method). The grinder needs to be able to produce very fine grounds and the grounds need to be quite uniform, too.

So without knowing your grinder, I assume, you'd probably need to get new grinder grinder anyways, even for the flair espresso. Maybe a hand grinder would be an option? They are rather time consuming to operate, but there are many good options around nowadays, that are suitable for espresso...