First Look Review: Flair Espresso Maker
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- 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.
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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
I purchased my flair about five years ago. Great for camping, cabin with no electricity and boat. Really enjoy being able to make good espresso in remote areas.
Late as hell, but I'm a coffee enthusiast from Iowa. and having this after Derecho would have been awesome. Hope all is well, my guy.
@rashadnagi7531 all good lol, yeah the area got hit hard. Cedar Rapids area was out for 2 weeks in many areas. Also made some chili over the fire in some cast iron that inspired me to start putting a little liquid smoke in my future batches.
James "which is kind of interesting" Hoffmann
This comment is kind of interesting
@@undertoneboy This reply is kind of interesting
@@waitlang1121 🤔… interesting
Joe” this isn’t even my channel” rogan
James "which is kind of interesting" Hoffman? Are you talking about the James "I'll come back to this in a second (and never touches the subject again)" Hoffman?
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.
Hi - great to see there are more people enjoying this all manual style :D
Aaron Doucette i love my Pavoni also
@@jameshoffmann This is essentially my experience as well. I don't have one of these, but I do have a La Pavoni. That is my first and only espresso machine, and what I learned on. When you said this thing seemed fiddly, I couldn't help but think it seemed like somewhat of a breeze in comparison.
Now I like Cappuccino's and latte's, so the Pavoni isn't going anywhere, but as far as manual machines go, I imagine this is as easy as it gets.
What do you use to manually grind the coffee?
@@neiloppa2620 Myself? Either a Helor 101 or Kinu M47, but there are many options out there.
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.
same here, would love to know
I remember seeing his factory/facility in one of the videos. There's a VA388 and several mythos grinders(possibly some puqpress too)
Sounds like an idea for another video!
Me too! First thought was "where did he work?" Not in a creepy stalker way! Just wondered if you can actually get a coffee made by James somewhere!
You can actually see where he works on his website jameshoffman.com or something like that. He is cofounder and director of several roasting companies and coffeeshops as well as a consultant.
I love automatic subtitles. Instead of "Coffee with a little crema ontop" the subtitles said "Coffee with a little criminal intel"
Ah yes the start of every crime investigation movie/series. Coffee with criminal intel
I have a genuine question, no offense intended: are not the things you look in the Internet what determinates the outcome of the automatic translation?
@@El_Diavolo I don't think so? The subtitles are only based on the content of the video, afaik, and should be the same for everyone. I definitely got "coffee with criminal intel" and I don't searching for detective books or anything, haha.
First JH video "what a snob"
Second JH video "why do I have 3000 dollars of coffee equipment in my Amazon cart"
Haha, relatable
Hold me closer tiny tamper
Lol
Count the beans inside the grinder
Hold me closer, tiny tamper,
Count the pressure on the gauge face,
Pressing down upon the lever,
We made espresso here today.
You will have to explain all of this to the snow flakes.
Alternately: (to the tune of Private Dancer by Tina Turner)
Tiny tamper
Tamper for coffee
Tamps when you're wanting a brew
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.
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!
Cyrus Fontaine yeah I love it too
Don't be blasphemous you can't call the beverage you get with this machine an espresso.
Blender Wiki why not?
@Nobby Barnes obviously you never drink an espresso
@@blender_wiki had my first in Maiori. Worked at the Pentagon City Beanery.
You have perhaps never learned to use a Flair paired with a semi competent grinder?
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
Iam also a broke student. I bought this machine. Iam living a dream. Except the fact that my walls are painted with coffee, my morning routine is on point !
or a vintage one, like the caravel
Let's get real. If you're buying a $165 espresso maker, you're not that broke. This isn't a thrift shop percolator.
@@JulietHotelFoxtrot People aren't allowed to save up for things they like? 165 is a lot, but it isn't an unimaginable amount. Besides, actual good espresso machines cost in the ballpark of 400 dollars or more, so by comparison this is fairly budget friendly
Bought it after watching this video and I'm completely in love with it. Super tasty shots you can get out of this thing.
Better than nespresso machine? I don’t like the nespresso!!!
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.
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..
What is the right temp?
12schnsaint optimum is 90c / 200f
What do you use to steam your milk?
Dosing kopinya pakai berapa gram kak?
@@rizlazuardy5412 15gr coffee + 60ml hot water 90-96C
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.
Are the gaskets still in good working order ?
Have you noticed any excessive wear ?
Hi all,
I now have a Pro2 from Flair. I agree 100% there is some ritual involved. But espresso is solid and Focus is on the process, where it belongs
Thanks for this
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.
does it get hot enough?
how is he so calm with the amount of coffee he must be drinking?
Tolerance
plot twist: he's actually quite lethargic all the time, but the coffee activates his brain and social functions.
As you get older caffeine doesn't affect you as much.
@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 only if you trink alot of Coffee ... I know a lot of old folks who drink decaf cause they can't handle the caffeine anymore. But I hardly know any young people who drink decaf.
@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 In general, as humans age we metabolize caffeine at a slower rate (up to 33% slower), so actually caffeine has more of an effect on us as we get older. Tolerance could overcome this effect but then we are talking about tolerance and not the relationship between caffeine and age. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3126525/
I use this, with the Comandante. 12 steps from full closed. 100% brilliant coffee every morning. Still working 4 years later.
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.
Yes- what James calls fiddly can turn into methodical with a side of ritual and be very satisfying.
So I have this one almost for a year (bought myself as Xmas present last year).
I had ROK before (and sold, very fast). So I did have some previous experience with similar stuff. Also I bought myself Wilfa Swart 130B. Which is kinda okay grinder (mostly for pour overs).
Now Flair has some learning curve, especially if you never did this before. That said, my 3rd coffee was actually very good. My bit later coffees easily surpass any café around. Sadly thats more about quality of cafés around, not my skill or Flair. Also I dont use generic coffees, even tho I admit brewing A LOT of Illy decaf with it. Which btw. is easy and tastes great. Actually better than I had in local Illy café (I dont mean café which just buys Illy coffee I mean literally from that chain).
Dunno, if Flair is considered fiddly, but I do care about my coffee and I do like having complete control over output. And this gives you complete control. Honestly only thing I miss is able to do two coffees at once (no splitter, ROK has one.. but thats probably only positive thing about it).
Also Flair can do something very unique. You can do cold espresso. You just presoak for reasonable time (1 min or longer) with cold water and then just press it. Result is, well cold espresso. Its sorta for fun, but in summer its actually very nice. Not like cold brew, but still, very nice and quite fast to make one, whenever you want.
Fast forward to more recent time. I got myself Comandante C40 IronHeart (thats that one built for espresso). Well, I thought I can get nice cup of coffee out of Flair. I was right, sorta. Except now I can get amazing cup of coffee out of it. Literally these two are pair made in heaven. Sure it costs about as much as Flair (or bit more), but its worth every penny (or EUR cent). What you can get with really good grinder from Flair is nothing short of amazing. And I dont have fancy version, I have actually original version with no bells and whistles.
One more interesting note, coffee from Flair (or at least mine) doesnt degrade much. Im not sure how you, but I had outside some espresso shots that were quite okay at start, but as it went colder it sometimes turned into rather awful brew. Not mentioning smell. Simply those espressos degraded really fast.
With Flair? My brew actually improves in taste as it gets a little bit colder. Unsure how or why, but it does. Also much like most alternative brewing, it can last pretty fine in refrigerator for some reasonable time. Something that normal espresso definitely cant, often not even for few minutes. Most likely its tied to pressure (just enough) and temp (just enough too).
Btw. with good coffee, you can take Flair outside (I did few times), find some flat surface and make yourself a coffee. My recent experiment contained Flair, Sumatra Gayo from Johan and Nystrom and 500ml of hot water in Thermos. Result was pretty nice, including crema and ofc tasted well. Which considering temp surely wasnt highest is something. Only downside is that its not for too long hiking, unless you take backpack just for your coffee equipment. But to be fair, Comandante is rather heavy too. :D
Anyway, to sum it up, really good product.
I'm curious on why you don't like the ROK
@@arianwinanto6299 First, I wrote this before I got Signature PRO Flair, which is even better (still no splitter tho).
About ROK, well I had original version, which contains a lot of filmsy plastic in places where preferably shouldnt be any or it should be really durable (as far as Ive seen, newer ROK does have new tough black plastic instead original), so they fixed that.
Its reasonably stable, but bottom being very light struck me as 1) odd and 2) making it cheaper on wrong side of things. Also my piece had some quality issues (teeth on those arms were far from perfect) and it had some nicks on surface.
Yea and that metal from which are arms made is absolute PIA to clean.
Worst thing about ROK? Water consumption, heat retention. Eg. you need a lot of hot water to keep it at optimum temp and it doesnt keep that temp for as long as one would like. Im not fan of either. Nothing against making coffee by hand (I mean thats why I have Flair :D), but there is difference between making it difficult cause bad design choices vs just learning things.
Not fan of silicon shower screen either.
ROK isnt completely bad, but it doesnt exist in vacuum, which is kinda bad news for it.
I think a lot of it could be fixed by slight redesign, material change, some of it already was in newer version.
How many clicks for the commandante to have the best grind?
Fellow Flair Pro owner here, and I just wanted to chime in and agree that my shots also seem to taste better as they cool. Neat!
It is really worth to buy flair? Instead of electric cheap espresso machine? something like delonghi or welman. I would like to buy my first espresso machine and considering the best one for personal usage.
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.
What setting are you using with Virtuoso?
@@anandamustafiz7443 about an 8. When I first got it, I checked the force I was applying by putting the flair on a bathroom scale when brewing and I was hitting the recommended 30-40 pounds on that setting. Might be a click lower or higher depending on the bean.
theerasers13 I think having a collapsible machine adds to the fun of the craft, bet it works amazing in an nyc apartment! Love manual brewing, so satisfying
I do have the earlier version of this amazing manual espresso maker. Bought it almost a year ago. I was so nervous when I used it for the very first time, though the manual is pretty clear. Never regret of buying Flair and I've been having great experience in making my daily dose of coffee ever since. The thing that I love most compared to other manual espresso makers out there and maybe underrated is THE FUNNEL! It's so useful ❤ Overall, I LOVE Flair and it's worth every penny!
Unfortunately, the reseller told me that I can't upgrade to the pro with only buying the piston since the diameter of the brewing head unit is different. However, here are some tips I got. I hope they come out to be useful 😉
- You can preheat the brewing head without having it inside a bowl by attaching the piston on the smaller mouth of the brewing unit and pour your boiling water
- I usually use 16.5 gr of coffee beans and grind them using my baratza Virtuoso with 7-8 grind size. Tried few times to be finer and they were too hard to be pressed
- The cleaning process of its portafilter is kinda impractical, but the tips I got from TH-cam is you can BLOW the puck out of the portafilter. It works almost everytime! :)
- You certainly can bring it with you when you travel for quite a while. Dissamble it and put the parts into its traveling case and it would fit in the luggage well
- The durability of its parts is quite good and having an extra portafilter or even better, a brewing head unit would be really helpful if you use it for business
- and yes, the spare parts of Flair are quite affordable
Thank you for the first impression review. Keep going! :)
*love the tiny tamper as well 😊
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 :-)
🤗
"If I needed to make an espresso on a hill side somewhere" He didn't know old coffee would be in the mix, eh.
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.
I’ve had one of these for a few years now and absolutely love it. I’m pulling 1-2 shots a day, and paired with a bellman stovetop steamer means I can make a manual espresso or latte that rivals any coffeeshop. Even on the road. Over a campfire. (Seriously.)
Longevity of parts: amazing - even after so many shots, I don’t have any visible signs of wear on anything. Basically bombproof, with very basic mechanics so there’s really not much that can break.
Preheating: while they can’t recommend this for liability reasons, the plunger (without pressure gauge, obviously) will click into the bottom of the cylinder (so gaskets into gaskets) sealing it. Stand it up with now open top of cylinder up, and what is normally the top of the plunger down... you’ve got a T-shaped contraption that holds hot water in the group head, and is easy to handle and empty out. Voila.
The one possible drawback of these is you can’t just tap out the grounds and pull another shot like you can on, say, the Presso or a Pavoni, because scalding hot... you need a second grouphead to pull a second shot quickly.
One last added benefit - as a person living in a small space, this not only takes up very little room on your counter, it can also pull apart very quickly and pack away into that case when I need it to.
I got mine on Christmas Eve of 2017. I absolutely love it. Probably one of the most affordable espresso makers that makes ACTUAL ESPRESSO on the market.
Even my wife loves it. So much so that, at the time, I was traveling a lot for work, and there was always a looming conversation about who got to keep/take the Flair. Until I bought her one of her own.
Can't wait to own the new professional version.
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!
Literally bet a second before that you'd say "well well well" when opening the box, you do make me smile Mr Hoffman!
I've been using the Flair regularly for the past 18 months. Well-made product. For social get-togthers, I've knocked out 12-15 (or more) espressos with very consistent results. A good grinder is a must. Portability is great.
Is the workflow relatively easy to go through when making a numberof espressos? One of my concerns before buying the flair is the "hassle" in-between cups. Mind telling your story more?
Really? Because the creator of this product said that this device will get the same results no matter what kind of grinder you use.
@@profitglen that is only for the Flair Neo, for this it very much would matter what kind of grinder you would use like any other espresso maker. Even for the neo it makes a difference but less so due to some technology they used there to manage flow rate and time
I bought one Flair after watching your video over 10 times.
Connor K I love it. Needs plenty of time and effort to play around.
So you bought 10 Flairs? :D
So I have one (same colour as this), with the pro-guage, and the open portafilta. I use it every day, it's my primary coffee machine (an upgrade from the Handpresso's I used to use). There is definitely a process, but the process does make you slow down and think about it a bit, which for me, adds to the enjoyment.
The portability is handy, as it means I can pack it when I go on trips and know I'll get my regular coffee, but by far, it gets more use at home.
I'm sitting here drinking coffee from a 50 year old Pyrex Percolator coffee pot. This thing makes great coffee. I have an espresso machine, a French press pot, an Aeropress and a drip coffee maker . But this one is currently my favorite.
Keep in mind I got the base model for $125 off Amazon. Mine produces crema. It takes a while to make two shots since I prefer to clean up one after the other.
I thought this espresso was garbage but it had just been the old espresso maker I had. This lever device makes espresso tastes good.
+1 for heating up the metal before running the water through it. You don’t have long before the piping hot water is supposed to be pushed through your beans and into your perfect cup of coffee.
Espresso is good drinking temperature almost immediately.
They say 15-17grams but I suspect I may have to purchase a grinder for better flavor. Whenever I use 15 grams my beans don’t leave enough room for the strainer, which does make me question the instructions and machine altogether but tasting is believing.
$125. I spent $60-90 last year on a disgusting espresso maker. I wish I knew about crema back then.
I definitely suggest this to anybody wanting to become more intimate with the coffee they make. I do think it’s a good talking point, you can get friends and family involved and whatnot. However like the man says, if you are spoiled with a $500-$2000 machine nearby, this will pale in comparison. Especially if you want to make 4 shots at once.
But if you are looking for the best quality espresso per dollar AND are on somewhat of a budget (keep in mind the grinder can cost just as much if not more than this machine), based off my first three espressos I would recommend this device.
I could see using something like this in my office (I work at a university). Easy to get a kettle and hot water in the break room but without the full setup of a larger machine. Seems like it would be great for travel too-like when heading to family for holidays. Very intriguing.
This monstrosity? For travel? If you're taking a large camper mayyybe
I bought one because I couldn't afford something more, and for the price it seemed to be the best option. I've really enjoyed it - I keep it at work and make my espressos there. It's my first experience with espresso, but I think it's a device for all levels of experience. I definitely would like the pressure gauge, it will help with dialing in and consistency. I do agree that it's a bit finicky, but it's a trade of on the price that makes it worth it for me. Thanks for the review! :)
I’ve had Flair for a year now and just received by gauge 2 weeks ago, takes the guess work out of how much pressure to apply, and i have seen a marked improvement in my shots as I can now control that variable as well! Get it, welll worth the investment naked-portafilter.com
I’ve had one since 2020 and I use it once or twice a day to make a double espresso. It is a base silver model with a brass-plated porterfilter holder plate.
The brass-plated porterfilter holder plate has two spots of rust on it, one quite big (about 7mm in diameter). I was told by Flair that this is not their problem. I may have not dried the plate after use as often as I should have in my first year of use. I never cleaned it with any abrasive substances, all I did was run it under a very hot tap to clean it.
It still makes a great coffee. I never pre-heat anything, I just microwave the coffee after I add milk or single cream after I prepare it! (Yes, cream: that’s how I roll.)
You do you need the strength of 10 men to pull down the lever if you pack the coffee tightly. I sometimes have to place my elbow on the lever and use my upper body to push the lever down. (I am not exactly weak: I’m 6'1" and, yes, I work out!) The espresso maker tends to slide backwards over the bench top as I press down on it. Therefore I have to prevent it from sliding with the other hand.
I don’t use or have a pressure gauge, I have just learnt how to use the espresso maker by trial and error.
I would recommend this if you are strong and have enough time in your morning to make a coffee this way. The brass plate rusting is a problem though. Make sure you dry it thoroughly after every use.
The Flair is huge for me because I love to share coffee. Cafe quality espresso made at home can be replicated with friends and family elsewhere. On a hot day I could just push through cold water and dilute into a cold brew. B
This may even be the first espresso machine every roaster can confidently send to the small lot coffee farmers to brew their own espresso.
Unfortunately this machine don't made an espresso, please avoid blasphemy
@@blender_wiki this machine does make espresso
Re-watching this in 2021... It's quite impressive how much he's improved at lighting, sound, editing. And it wasn't even that bad to begin with!
That was one of my first thoughts as well when revisitng this in 2021.
I decided to buy this after watching your video about Flair one year ago. Now I can make my own espresso at home with pleasure. Thank you, sir.
A lot of renaissance fairs and such have coffee stands (for the guests) and no electricity. So they heat water on a propane/butane stove. Then they froth the milk in a french press and usually make the "espresso" in a mokapot or in a aeropress. But this would be amazing. It's fairly compact, it's not plastic-y. And it makes real espresso without electricity.
Also for us less rich people, a device that makes James say "that's pretty good" for $160 is amazing. A kettle and a burr grinder and you're good to go.
Obviously it's not a great device for running a starbucks or anything. But especially for a few friends it's nice. The chamber doesn't need to be re-heated between uses. So for a few shots it doesn't seem that fiddly after the first one.
I like it. It's an aeropress on steroids.
I've had one since January (along with the Encore) and love mine. I've had very few shots that I've enjoyed better than what I turn out of this. Easy to clean too (just blow in the outlet and the old coffee pops out in one piece)!
I don't have the gauge on my piston though... Fancy.
How do you know you are putting enough pressure manually speaking when lowering the lever?
@@oliviak5795 It's a feel thing and a target for extraction time. You get the hang pretty quickly.
I love my Flair Pro II. I paired it with a the B Plus hand grinder put out in conjunction with La Pavoni and I’m making some of the best coffee I have ever had. Certainly comparable with very expensive machines. Sure, it’s a bit slower and more complex than hitting a button, but if you found this corner of the internet, then that is probably not too daunting for you. The higher-end is more user friendly than the version feature here. The 10 minutes that I spend making coffee in the moron feels luxurious when I use my machine.
I liked getting to see you "sight read" a machine from zero technical experience and then adjust based on the taste of the shot. I'd watch more of that to hear your commentary around "too thin" -> adjust, "too bitter" -> adjust. Thanks for your thoughts on this!
Hi James. Since you asked us to share with you how we use the Flair: :I bought the basic version when it first came out, so no pressure gauge. I tare my cup on a Brewista smart scale ,which nestles nicely on the drip plate, then pull the shot by weight, adjusting the pressure throughout to yield 1 g liquid per second. So I count out 30 seconds, for example, decreasing the pressure to maintain flow rate of 1 g of liquid each second, for a total of about 30 g. .. So basically the shot gets flow profiled, and incidentally pressure profiled. I do preinfuse,, for up to 20 seconds, and do not start the 30 second count for the shot until preinfusion. has completed. For the pre-infusion part, I ramp up slowly to low BAR, then back off a little on the pressure when first drips begin, to stop premature flow of liquid through the.puck. I mojo most of my shots, and it all works great. Grinder is a Sette.
I'm a totally different David Dyer and have a Flair Pro that I use 2 or 3 times every day. It's a wonderful espresso/cappuccino maker.
Ok. Just watched the Olympia video and decided to rewatch this. To me, you get basically the same idea as the Olympia at less than 1/10th the price and it is more compact. No milk steaming. I wonder if James went back and reviewed this in light of his analog experience with the Cremina he might think a little more highly of this little machine. It is so well built, designed and performs extremely well. I love the manual ritual and results. I don't think it is faffy at all.
i used this before I got a machine. if you want excellent home espresso on a budget and you drink mainly black and for yourself, this is perfect. to save time, I put the brewing cylinder into the kettle as it was boiling, and removed it with silicon tongs. got a lot of tasty spro out of it.
Sorry if I'm too curious, but did you use that boiling water to make the coffee?
E Wickson yes
I just love it. I love the physics of it. However, it's seems like the kind of machine you DO NOT want to gift to someone else unless they specifically ask for it. There's quite a bit of work involved before, during and after using it.
The main use case I see for this is travel. When I'm on the road, I usually bring some coffee, a hand grinder, and an AeroPress. It's all easy to travel with. It'd be nice to be able to do espresso every now and then. Now knowing that something like this is out there and seeing how it works, I'll keep it in mind for my upcoming trips. If I start to think "That would be nice" I'll probably come back to this video, do additional research, and consider if it's worth the investment.
Shut the fuck up
Your reaction to the pencil tamper is the cutest thing ever.
Your voice seriously makes my headache go away
Calming voice
All the fun is when you make something you enjoy.
I like high reliability over convenience!
Thank you for the time you put in your videos.
I've used the Flair for three years and love it. No longevity issues other than the first silicone rimmed filter that gave out quickly, which Flair kindly replaced without charge. The main reason I bought the Flair is that it's quiet, well, silent. Since I often get up early in the morning, being able to pull my espresso without waking up the household is very nice. I use a manual grinder for the same reason. It lets me enjoy my solitude. Yes, there's more of a workflow here, from boiling the water, to pre-heating and all that, but for me it's a pleasurable routine. I don't care if people laugh at me for taking 5 minutes to pull an espresso when they can push one button for a Nespresso coffee-thing in under a minute.
6:07 the “process” is part of the fun, at least for me. I currently own an Expobar machine, a Gaggia Lever (based on a Pavoni), an Aero Press, Isomac and Rancilio burr grinders. I’m curious to see how this would integrate into my setup.
The Flair 'F' logo looks very similar to the Adobe Flash logo
Also, seperate channel for tiny tamper pls thx
@@jameshoffmann I'd watch it
@@stanvanillo9831 I really love the internet sometimes omg
I am a nostalgic guy. I would say it is a Macromedia Flash logo ;)
I’m torn between the this and the Rok, and the tiny tamper is almost enough to swing it for me.
Awesome review! I love my flair.. The fact that it is slightly tedious is probably the only downside, so it's good to point out what we've all been thinking. Yet it's funny how nobody in the comments seems to mind this, given the end product :).
As far as usability goes, I have it at my desk at work! Got a hand grinder (again, somewhat tedious but I'll endure this for a good shot), and some nice glass demitasse serving mugs. It's awesome having it right there, looks good as well 😊
Great looking conversation piece, around the dinner table, I'm sure everyone would want a go.
Yeah this is actually what happened to me haha made a lot of people really interested in good coffee haha
Simply the best coffee tools review on TH-cam.. and it's Flair espresso! thanks Mr. James Hoffman 🙏
I bought it as my travel setup and back-up solution at home. So far, I had a great experience with it. Your comment on workflow is spot on. The flow takes a lot of broken down steps to take care of (I have a LP and Cremina too), in particular the way to warm the brew head as you highlight very well.
I am not convinced the Pro model is the right way to go as price will increase. It might be too close then to a second hand La Pavoni allowing you to boil the water and froth milk.
As a last point, for someone who has already a poor over or press setup with a good grinder, the current model is likely the best deal to get into espresso with a somewhat more familiar flow.
I think this will be my first home espresso machine (…mechanism?)
I don’t have thousands of $ for coffee, so this would fit in very well alongside my hand grinder and V60. The vintage looking grey one they make is gorgeous 😍
I agree with the fiddly nature of it, but once you get it figured out it's pretty fantastic especially for the price. I've been using it for over a year now and it hasn't failed me at all. I definitely want to upgrade to the two shot puller and the new pressure gauge.
I'd never have got into home espresso if not for my Flair Neo. I'm still using it along with the Bottomless portafilter (ie it's basically the same as the flair in the video now). I have no reason to upgrade
My wife recently got me the Flair Pro 2 because I travel a lot and my access to good coffee isn't always so great. After pulling maybe 10 or so shots with it I can say that yes, it is a bit fiddly, but I can pack the whole thing (and the FANTASTIC Flair manual burr grinder) into my bag and have access to great espresso wherever in the world I find myself.
Absolute game-changer for me. I love it!
We need a side by side review of this and it’s two competitors James - the newly released Cafelat Robot and the Newton Espresso.
We have had Flair Pro for about three months and our experiences with it have changed a lot along the way as we get to know this machine better. The most intricate part is to find the fine and unique balance with the amount, the size, the homogeneity and the compactness of the ground. We started with grinding from an old hand grinder which did not give us good control over the size and the uniformity of the grounds. That never brought us to a decent and mess-free espresso with Flair. Later we upgraded to the Helor 101 hand grinder and that was a game changer. We were able to precisely control the ground and finally found the best combination for us, which is 16 grams of coffee beans and 24 revs on Helor 101, with the dark roast beans we are trying recently. We can consistently maintain a back pressure around 6 bar and keep the brewing time between 35-40s. I am curious to see if the same combination would work with different kinds of beans too. I really like how Flair gives possibilities to personalize your espresso.
I've been pulling shots with the Flair Pro 2 for a couple of weeks now, and I really like the workflow. I heat the cylinder on top of the lower chamber of my moka pot, and the portafilter sits atop the spout of my kettle when the water is heating up. I'm grinding the beans with a hand grinder, and it all comes together at the right time. I have a video showing my workflow on my channel.
I also like that it is travel friendly. I packed it up for the first time on Christmas day and took it over and made milky espresso beverages for my family. While the portability made it possible for me to bring it with me, pulling 8 shots one after another is more ideally accomplished with a semi-automatic espresso machine. :)
I'm 5 years late to this video, (and this channel) but I just bought the Flair Signature. There's not as many videos about that one, but an acquaintance has the Neo, and said the only thing they'd change is to get the pressure gauge. The Neo is $125, and the gauge is $56. The Flair Signature is on sale for $199, so I decided that's the one for me. Now I'm just watching videos while waiting to receive it.
I use an Aeropress regularly so this wouldn't be any more fiddly. I'd definitely want the gauge, but I think it would be rather neat to have that much direct control over the shot even with the bit of fiddlyness involved.
I use mine every morning. Not having to rely on electricity is really nice. Absolutely love the aesthetic of it (silver and copper finish). Definitely a conversation starter and just great for a small apartment.
I am seriously considering getting one of these. The main reason being that I live in an extremely small apartment (just like the japanese apartments for students you might know), and I certainly have no space for an expresso machine. This one can be neatly put away in the little case, so space wouldn't be an issue, price is good enough, and quality seems quite good as well.
I've been happy with mine for 2 years. I use it at work. it lives up on a shelf and I grab it down whenever I want to use it.
This is good content and I don’t even drink coffee 😂
He really likes that tinie tamper, now he’s got it he’s not letting go. It’s like it was written in the stars.
TL;DR It's a lot of effort, but rewarding and worth it
I got mine a couple of months ago because I don't own an espresso machine and desperately wanted to do justice to the coffee that I've been gifted with from all over the world. Honestly I really do love this machine, had some pretty good shots pulling out of it. However, I will admit that this isn't something that I would use for that first cup of coffee in the morning. I guess with enough practise and getting used to the ritual, and if you're not that picky about your shot in the mornings, then that wouldn't be a problem.
I find that because of the manual process of controlling all of the variables, dialling in your shot can get a bit time consuming and even overwhelming, considering there are so many new factors you now have to maintain constant (heating the chamber, what pressure you're pulling at etc.) and that's provided you don't make any scatter-brained mistakes in the process (Forgetting to put that top screen on top of the puck is one mistake I make fairly often). However I will say that it is fairly easy to get used to the process over time, and I do like being able to pull the whole thing apart to really give it a good clean through and through.
Especially for me living in Singapore, the humidity and heat everyday is a never ending battle I have to deal with, and so I need to keep adjusting the grind because of that. So that coupled with the somewhat time-consuming process can make the whole endeavour too much to bear sometimes.
I do agree with you James, there is a lot of work involved in getting that shot just where you like it, and unforgiving weather being an added disadvantage, there are times I am tempted to reach for that Nespresso capsule because I just can't deal with it today. However on those days when I do feel brave enough to face the storms (quite literally sometimes), and fire up the kettle for that shot of espresso, it does serve me well and I am handsomely rewarded for my efforts.
Just bought one for my office.. thanks for the review, and I'll update later with my experience..
Hi Mauri, you promised an update ;-)
Thanks for reminder! I use it every day ... it makes very nice coffee. Because I'm not super close to the office kitchen, the cleaning is not super practical but not terrible either. I like the idea of energy free espresso.
My first thought... what’s with the airline safe card... second thought super smart instruction design.
I worked the Beanery at Pentagon City in the late 1900s. Jacked up workflow...
New student of coffee. Just started pan roasting. Had more trouble getting into the Aeropress.
Making two drinks in a row is easy for people who have nearly drowned in the dish ring of a busy eatery.
The ritual of grinding, heating the chamber, dosing and prepping the basket, being present for the brew.
Old and salty line cook, can understand your comment on workflow.
Would suggest this flow is an acquired taste for us what has busted @$$ for cash.
Also a mental vacation. Walking meditation?
For someone like myself, who doesn't own an espresso machine at home, I'm certainly looking to these types of coffee makers with genuine interest.
I have an aeropress, a V60 pour over, a french press, and a brikka stovetop (which is the closest I get to a homemade espresso), but when looking at a potential espresso machines I can't help but feel I'd need to spend well over $500 to get something "worth it." I'd love to try one of these and see if it fills that gap without breaking the bank.
Thanks for the first impression. I'd love to hear how you feel it compares to other home espresso makers.
i don't think you can texture milk with this.
@@Ghorda9 It does not, but you can texture milk with a french press very easily. I make a great latte, complete with late art, using the Flair for the espresso shot and a $15 french press to froth the milk. This setup has only cost me about $200, including the hand grinder, and I get better drinks compared to any other machine I have used, though i have not used any very expensive machines, $700+. A word of warning though, the Flair does need a good deal of experimentation to pull an excellent shot and the needs of each shot changes quite a bit between different roasts or blends. Don't expect your first several shots to be excellent, take your time and make minor adjustments each time to you find what tastes best for you.
I ordered the Pro2 the other day because I like to tinker. I have other devices (a super auto) but wanted a manual device that I can play with on the weekends when my wife is teaching clinicals at the hospital. We also have a cottage we go to during the summer months and it will be prefect to bring up there. I have a Rancilio Rocky grinder I'll be using which I just took apart and cleaned today. I'm really excited to begin experimenting.
The amount of visible delight you shared over the tiny tamper made my day :)
It's amazing the way James speaks. Even at 2x I can understand every word.
Just purchased a Flair. As James mentioned, home espresso machines are very high maintenance and require a lot of work and mechanical upkeep. Had a Gaggia Classic but just could not keep up. So, something like the Flair is a good way for me to be able to have good espresso at home.
That carrying case looks exactly like the one I have for my Nintendo switch
Would love for him to revisit the classic for another video.
"If I need to make coffee on a hill side!!!" lol!! brilliant!! :-)
I saw this video months ago, wasn't interested in espresso until I had some good shots at a cafe. I just got a Flair Signature recently and realize that this is about the art of the possible with coffee. This Flair has great possibility and potential for excellent espresso. In an extended power interruption this is the machine to have available and with practice, good espresso can be an excellent moral booster in that kind of situation.
I need to taste more bad espresso shots now, to build a reference baseline in order to better dial in all those variables of heat and quantity of water with dose and grind setting to "pull" those flavors out with this lever machine.
I’m really thinking of getting one of these. I have an off grid cottage in the West of Ireland.
Having good espresso in my cottage without the need for electricity is the dream.
I realise I’ll need to pair a hand crank grinder carefully.
Airline safety card
James being James.
Don’t fight it. Just let his gentle nerdiness wash over you.
I’ve just bought one of these on eBay
I’m gonna brew some airline safety coffee
I just received my flair and i really fall in love with it
I love how compact that is.
HillbillySelectReviews compared to normal size espresso machines, yes it is compact
I own this item. I'm actually not sure who this is for. If you are super into espresso and the manual experience, I am not sure this is a good every day item. For best results you have to preheat after assembling. Multiple messy parts have to be cleaned and dried before returning to case. Maybe I am spoiled by my daily aeropress or clever dripper. When ever I am cleaning the Flair and putting it away, I think it is a lot work for a couple of shots. It is very nicely engineered and looks well made. Not many products at this price point can be used to make such a good quality shot. I am glad I have it because now I can make a good quality espresso anytime I want.
I love mine. It does well enough that i just can't justify the price of a "real" machine. My crap Sboly grinder isn't up to snuff, however, so i had to get a Hario hand grinder. Which works way better, but clearly isn't "great".
I've had the standard flair for about a year, it's beyond amazing for the price. All o-rings have held up very well, with a double shot everyday. The only thing that has worn slightly, is the rubber around the shower screen. The shower screen replacements are only $2 a piece.
I have espresso at weekends only post dinner and the Flair is ideal for that use case, yes it’s a bit faffy but for my scenario it’s perfect. It can pack away during the week and sit on the counter for 3 days / evenings, and it pulls a lovely shot. If you’re a daily espresso hound then I think you’d get frustrated with the workflow but otherwise it’s a 👍
This video is to blame that I have ended up with a Flair Pro2. Managed to pull a sweet shot the very first day, but it was a lucky one (used even a blade grinder instead of my conical manual one).
Nowadays still dialing in and experimenting with different settings (now also using my manual grinder) in the pursue of the nice sweet shot (getting closer...), exploring the world of espresso at home.
Really enjoying the journey everyday.
Tiny Tamper. The lesser known uk grime artist.
I finally pulled the trigger on one of these on the strength of your feedback. I couldn’t justify the expense before but in figure if I’m dying this year, i should at least get a decent espresso maker. Thanks James. Now to find a decent grinder in my area. Backwards yes but I wasn’t going to buy a better grinder without a decent espresso maker in place first.
If you are having trouble getting the coffee out of the basket after you make the coffee, you can turn it upside down and blow the coffee out. Works every time. No banging on the bench!
I love coffee, but I had given up on espresso. I had a cheap espresso machine, and tried to make it work, but it was just too frustrating, inconsistent, messy, and too hard to deep clean. I was just much happier with my French press, Aeropress, and then moka pot for the poor-man's espresso milk drinks.
Enter the Flair! I was a bit skeptical, it was a bit of an impulse purchase (partly your fault, btw, heh). Gotta say, I REALLY enjoy how it totally breaks down to constituent parts, and how it packs away in its wonderful case. I don't think I'll ever be one to make espresso as a primary coffee-delivery vehicle, but it's absolutely great for my maybe-once-a-day espresso desire. I've been a bit frustrated trying to get consistent results with medium roast coffee, much less light roasts, but so far it's pretty solid for those medium-dark, sweet, chocolatey roasts. Would certainly recommend with the preceding caveats.
Oh, should also mention that part of my problem with consistency is my somewhat-worn-out Capresso Infinity. But even with that handicap, I can usually make it work, certainly seems to work better than a cheap electric espresso machine.
This video was very satisfying to watch
I have been looking to up my coffee game while camping, and this looks like the perfect solution. Thanks for your insightful reviews
It seems to me that would be a great choice for someone on a really tight budget like a college student. Very interesting!
I wouldn't think of this thing as a budget item, though. this thing pulls better shots than most people get out of their $500 machines. hell, it pulls better than a lot of cafes. to me, the only real downside is that the "fiddly" nature makes it slow to brew multiple shots, so making shots for friends is a bit annoying.
@@somedude-lc5dy also, no milk steaming, is quite a downside, if you're into that kinda stuff
I've been using mine daily for i think 7 years, still on the same gaskets and still working perfectly.
Thank you for your comment. What kind of grinder do you have? Thank you for your kind reply.
@@kg-Whatthehelliseventhat I use a 1zpresso hand grinder
@@PKWeaver74 oh yea? Rt on? Which model? I was looking at the I think K series but I make both filter and espresso and I have heard it is difficult for a grinder to grind for both well. What are your thoughts?
@@kg-Whatthehelliseventhat I have the JX pro and it works for me. Can't comment on suitability for filter
@@PKWeaver74 very cool. I thank you for your comments. May you have many great cups in your future.
Preheating with steam coming out of the kettle is a good inclusion in workflow to get the chamber up to temperature efficiently