FlairThe NEO Flex: UPDATED Direct Lever Manual Espresso Maker for Home with a Pressure Gauge and Two Portafilters - Brew Cafe Quality Espresso

I've been interested in the Flair models for some time as a vacation/camping option, but the added cost of adding a pressure gauge had me look towards other options. I used the Staresso Plus last year with good results, but it started to fall apart pretty quickly with moderate use.This Flair 2024 refresh, with it's inclusion of a pressure gauge and affordable pricing, was a great purchase for my last vacation. With the correct grind, this makes fantastic espresso shots using the included black "naked" portafilter - if fact the included red one can be converted to "naked" by removing the pressurized bottom section, which is great for puck prep and pulling multiple shots in a row! The base is just two parts and is easily disassembled for portability.This refresh intentionally thinned the metal of the unit to avoid some of the pre-heating time that previous models required - again, is great for camping/vacation use cases!I've used Rancilio Silvia's for daily espresso for several decades and can attest to the quality of the shots this can produce (under the typical right conditions of grind/tamp/pressure/heat).I do wonder about the longevity of some of the components. The base is plastic, but seems sturdy, although it does make some creaking noises when pulling shots. The pressure gauge is rudimentary at best and does not specify bars - so this is something that could fail prematurely. Also of concern are the gaskets - I'm not sure if Flair sells replacements, but it would be great if they do to extend the life of the product.

Great quality. An excellent espresso with a simple workflow.

I think this is an excellent product. The first time I used it, after reading the instructions and watching a few videos, it felt a bit tricky. But by the second try, it became super easy to use. I didn’t give it 5 stars because, for me, a 5 is at the level of a professional espresso machine. However, after using it more than five times, I started experimenting with coffee grind size, water temperature, and other details until I achieved results that honestly surprised me.Since this is only for making espresso, I bought a milk frother, but I didn’t like it—my coffee came out too foamy. Now, I simply heat the milk and pour it into the espresso, and it makes a perfect classic café con leche. Truly excellent.The only downside, and I saw this mentioned in a couple of other reviews, is that making a shot takes a bit of time. Still, if you have the patience to enjoy a good coffee every now and then, and with some practice, you can make a double shot in about five minutes. Definitely recommended, especially for the great price.

I really enjoy making espresso with my flair. It's a good result for the $.I found the alignment of the pressure gauge to not fit very well, so much that it reduces the ability of the head to build pressure because it's not centered when the gauge is used. I returned it.Additionally there is a major design flaw in the silicone base used to preheat the chamber. The first time I used it I picked up the chamber and the bottom dropped out spilling hot water down the front of me. Flair provided some technique suggestions, which I felt were totally inappropriate versus addressing the bad design and foreseeable safety issues with using a silicone mold that has no connection to the chamber. If they keep this up they are asking for legal trouble. I would suggest they actually redesign the component so that it attached securely and make it right for people.Update- The very thin piece of plastic that holds the lower rubber gasket on has broken. I have reached out to flair, but have received no response to the warranty request.Lowering review to 1 star for absolutely no follow up regarding outreach.

Lattes on this will blow your mind. I primarily make lattes. Smoother workflow than expected; preheating is a non-issue with the kettle steaming trick.The super narrow filter gives a ton of body to all my shots compared to my wider portafilter machines, which complements milk EXTREMELY well. But also the flavors are so blended now that all my lattes taste the same. this is both good and bad: I lose the nuances of flavor on one hand, but on another hand it makes both expensive and cheap beans taste good. I can just go for the cheapest beans now in bulk!I suggest:-lengthen the lever and slap a grip on it. i've tried the flair 58 with both of these which, along with metal, make it 10 times easier to pull and keep pressure steady. i highly recommend wearing grippy gloves as keeping a constant 9 bars will be challenging for most people. it's sort of like holding a plank for a minute-workflow is still a lot slower than an electric machine but mainly due to lack of volume per shot (update: actually turns out not that bad with the extra portafilter)-i surmise the perfect middle ground for lattes is 46mm, so widen it just a little. I've tried lattes from 51 54 58 and now 40mm basket widths. i think sitting between 51 and 40 would give you the best balance of body + clarity.I admit between the plasticy feel, the terrible grip, tiny shot volume, this still feels like a toy. But wait! all of my suggestions are already in the pro 2. i guess they already had it all figured out. (well, minus the price tag since I don't think a basic lever machine should cost more than a Breville Bambino.) i will be getting that to test out once on sale.