Flair The NEO Espresso - An all manual lever espresso maker for the home, no pods and no plugs (White)

Product Information

Spring piston levers pressure profile too, in a way pump driven machines cannot. They decline pressure during the shot pull in a linear downward slope. They can peak at 135psi pressure under full load, and finish at 50psi or less at the end of the shot. It’s been long argued that this helps reduce the bitters extracted towards the end of an espresso shot, when the coffee is spent. This review will assess the things that make a Flair espresso maker stand out from the crowd, as well as how to operate it. We will also make a comparison between the NEO and the more expensive Flair PRO. Simplified Dial-in: The Flow-Control Portafilter builds appropriate pressure for extraction, reducing the need for extensive dialling-in. Customisable Extraction: The Bottomless 2-in-1 Portafilter allows precise control over extraction variables for experienced brewers.

I wouldn’t recommend the Flair Neo Flex for lighter roasts, which can be challenging to extract. A more developed bean is more suitable in this instance. Once we’ve detailed how the two are different from each other, you’ll be able to make a better-informed decision as to which model suits your requirements. What Is The Flair Espresso Maker? Both the NEO and PRO can only pull a single shot in one go. However, each has a different capacity in both the water reservoir and filter basket. The Flair 58 was up against direct competitors, including the Cafelat Robot and the ROK Espresso maker. We also put the Flair 58 up against the Flair Pro in some comparisons. In these tests, we looked at workflow, repeatable shot ability, shot output and overall ease of use.There are add-ons, too, with a dosing cup that doubles as a tamper, a dosing ring that helps prevent mess, and a removable drip tray.

We also suggest buying the pressure gauge kit. This is a great accessory for monitoring the pressure as you brew. I won’t get into too much detail here as we are working on a Flair Pro review, but though the machines are both lever machines and from the same company, they really are in two different classes. I think of the Flair Pro (and Neo, and Classic, and Signature) as travel, niche, everywhere espresso machine devices that have sacrifices for that portability. By now, you should have a nice crema and a rich, dark-colored shot of espresso. 6.Clean the Flair Neo after brewing Next, loosen on your pressure slightly to lower it over the next 10 seconds of the shot, down to around 5BAR. Aim for 40-45G of output total, and aim to be at around 2BAR by the time you hit 45g. Then stop pulling the shot, lift the lever to cut off the flow.The Flair Neo requires no electricity, and is a fully manual lever press. There are no pods to be wasted and thrown into a landfill with this espresso maker; only real coffee beans, ground by you. Upgrades to the Flair are available and useful for increasing volumes and extraction of the espresso. Flair Neo Espresso Maker Features I like how easy the Flair 58 is in the act of actually pulling the shot. This lever is very easy to use. The Robot makes me think I might break something or send it flying across the table with the pressure and angle I have to exert on the two arms.”– Robert

The Flairs don’t have steam wands, so there’s no scope for brewing milk-based coffees. So, suppose you generally enjoy drinks like latte or cappuccino. In that case, you might prefer a basic semi-automatic espresso maker with a grinder built-in for a similar price to a Flair maker and a separate grinder, and a milk steamer. To begin cleaning the Flair NEO, remove the base’s brew head, take off the filter basket, and tap the grounds out of it. Rinse everything with water. Now the Flair NEO is ready to be used again. I’m a firm believer that both pressure profiling and temperature profiling lead to better espresso. Staring shots at low pressure gives a full saturation effect before bringing things up to the traditional 135psi / 9BAR of pressure. Slowly lowering the pressure as extraction continues means you’re torturing the spent coffee less, and extracting less bitters towards the end of the shot, compared to full 9BAR pump machines. Water temperature plays a crucial role here too: the higher the temperature, the more unsavory flavour components get extracted towards the end of the shot.Banging out shot after shot is also much faster with the Flair 58. The Cafelat requires a bit more hands on, cleaning and re-heating between shots. It’s not horrible, but it cannot keep up with the efficiency and ease of use of the Flair 58. That was definitely the best espresso I think I have ever had in my life. I cannot believe I made that shot. It puts my Lelit machine to shame.”– Robert Before getting the Flair 58, I thought this routine with the Cafelat Robot was really easy and pain free. Now I see it as a chore, because the Flair 58’s workflow is infinitely better. The Flair Neo Flex’s espresso-making ability mirrors the Flair Classic, delivering good-quality shots. The basket and brew head are practically identical between them, so that’s not so strange. It exists, and it’s called the Flair 58, from Flair Espresso. A modern day, direct lever espresso machine that delivers good temperature stability and the ability to completely control the pressure you use to brew your shots. There’s even an undocumented way to play with water temperatures that we discovered while testing this machine.

The Flair NEO is an attractive option for people on a smaller budget or who are inexperienced. However, the PRO is a one-off investment for experienced espresso brewers. The two models have identical handle designs, but the materials and quality of the builds differ elsewhere.To use the Flair Neo Flex, follow these straightforward steps, which are identical to the regular Flair Classic if you opt for the standard portafilter: The act of pulling a shot with the Flair 58 is also much easier thanks to the long lever arm. The Robot’s short double arms require more force and more care in using the machine; I’ve sent it flying across the counter more than once in the past. I’ve never worried about this with the Flair 58. It was close. I scored 2 of the Flair shots higher; 2 shot pulls were a tie, and the Breville was the winner for one shot pull. This, from a guy who only had an hour or so training time on the Flair 58.