How do you make espresso at home? What Flair Espresso model would you pick? Timestamps: 0:32​ Flair Espresso Makers Range 1:28​ Flair Pro vs Neo: Price 1:50​ Flair Pro vs Neo: Features 4:18​ Workflow comparison 5:32​ Pressurised portafilter 6:12​ Espresso tasting 8:38​ Pro vs Neo: Cleaning 9:21​ Flair Espresso upgrades 9:52​ What's the best choice? 11:03​ Tomo's choice 🔔 Subscribe for more coffee videos: bit.ly/SubscribeToECT​ 🙌 📺 Watch our documentary about the AeroPress: aeropressmovie.com​ 👍

Some tips, since I bought my first Flair basically once it was available and upgraded few times since then. Currently at Pro, thinking about 58. NEO is enough for basically everyone, cause it has one good feature - its basket isnt heatsink, like Pro one (and I think even brew chamber is bit easier to preheat). But.. You do want bottomless portafilter. You do want good tamper. Bag is handy, if you plan to travel with it. You might want pressure gauge, but its definitely not needed. Flair has basically three levels. 1) no pressure 2) too much pressure/stuck 3) enough pressure. Drip tray. I dont use it even on Pro, just put there some spare cup once you done brewing your shot, since you do want to get all liquid out of Flair anyway. Preheating Neo/Classic/Signature is fairly easy. If you own a gas stove, I suggest submerging brew chamber into boiling water for a while, then having some silicone coated tweezers (cooking/barbecue type) to get it out of it safely without getting burned. Thats how you preheat brew chamber at home. You can ofc boil-pre-heat it on induction/electric/wooden stove whatever too. :D Obviously dont put plastic portafilter in boiling water. In fact it doesnt need preheating, cause metal part is pretty much paper thin. Advantage is that as long as you have decent coffee beans (or ground coffee) and hot water, you can use it outside in the park, nature, cemetary and so on. Pro? Not so much. Pro has a little problem with preheating. Unlike previous types you absolutely must preheat brew chamber by either boiling it or steaming it on top of some kettle and you MUST do the same with portafilter. Or you will get very random results. Also once both is hot enough (that does take some time) you must work really quite fast to actually make your cup. Fortunately that plastic funnel that comes with Pro can handle very hot portafilter (my record is bit over 80°C). So portafilter out from boiling water, wipe it to make it dry, ground coffee in, tamp, screen on, get brew head out of wherever you preheat it, put on top, boiling water in (if someone made pressurized kettle for boiling water over 100°C that would be great for Flair :D) and fast cover with pressure gauge thingy. And brew your cup. Compared to that, NEO basically just needs like one/two fills with hot water and if you have your beans dialed down, you just put it together, fill with water and extract. Key with all Flairs is TIME for extraction (preferably with 7-9 bars of pressure :D). Based on grounds used, you should extract for specific time. For example Starbucks blonde roast, if you want it good is like this on Pro. About 10 clicks on Comandante to grind, Im using 15,3g of beans (15,5g doable .. more you risk stucking it), then slooowly push lever till you see drops on lower side, start timer and do 30g of coffee in about 35 seconds max. If you take longer its gonna be bitter, if you do it faster than 30 sec, then you probably dont have enough pressure or you are fkin Hercules (and it will be sour-ish most likely). In general, extraction time for dark roast is almost equal liquid out, which if you want good cup should be 1:2. You can dilute it later, or like me you already have hot water in cup so result is already diluted and ready to drink. You can try to pull like 1:2,5 but IMHO, stuff over 1:3 just doesnt taste that good. So, darker roast for me are around 15-16g of ground coffee in, 30-32g out in around 35sec. Depending how dark roast it is it can be 30 or 40sec max. Dont pre-infuse. Time is measured from first drops visible at bottom of portafilter. Key is also in initial gentle slowish push (not too slow in this case or it will be bitter). Medium roasts same ratio, just time can go up to 50 seconds without much issues. Or you can pre-infuse for like 5-15 seconds and then do quicker pull. Also grind a bit finer or put more coffee in it, if you cant get enough pressure. If you get stuck, try lowering dose instead of grinding coarse, until you reach 15g, then you can start grinding coarser (and eventually up dose to get to spot you want/need). Light roasts, quite hard on Pro. Not that hard on previous generation, probably due fact that basket isnt heatsink and its quite a bit smaller. Try small doses, really fine grinds, pre-infuse I would say mandatory, even stuff like 30 seconds pre-infusion with light roast is possible, followed by 30 seconds pull (yea its a MINUTE espresso :D). Advantage of NEO/Classic/Signature basket in naked version is that you can use really small dose of coffee and it works. On Pro you can use based on how old it is either 14-15g minimum or on newer version bit less, but given its size it wont work that well. "Pro" tip, you can use cut to size aeropress filter, soaked in some hot water (from preheating probably) and put it on bottom of your showerscreen. It improves capacity of showerscreen to distribute evenly water and keeps pressure a bit more consistent and slightly higher. Also you can put one on the bottom of portafilter and with some grind size adjustment you can get really high extraction ratio. If its good or bad is up to individual taste, outside really light roasts I dont find it that good. Another tip, if you dont have pressure, dont panic. Just let water go thru coffee slowly, without pressure. You will effectively make something like aeropress coffee, but its better than waste your beans. You only need to remember how much time you need to extract your coffee (based on roast) and try to match that even without pressure. It will be fine cup anyway, just not espresso. If you get stuck due mostly too finely ground beans or too much coffee, try to gently pump up and down. You have small chance to save it. But dont count on it, mostly when its stuck, its done. Reason why with Flair its better to go a bit coarser and just time it without pressure than too fine and dump coffee cause you cant save it. New 58 will be interesting, cause it fixes a lot of stuff from Pro and 58 size means you can use any basket you want. And thats great.

I really love the fact that Flair had the integrity to make Neo a perfectly useful device in itself - there's nothing that you'd absolutely have to have in addition to what's already in the box. The only one thing you'd probably want is the bottomless filter and that too is only for cases where you can actually use a proper espresso grind.

It's lovely how the Neo actually presents you with a system and upgrade path, for tinkerers. While it may be a bit Apple-like, with time, it would be cool to see third party solutions being introduced, using the Neo as a platform.

This was a really great comparison video, thanks so much for sharing! I'm a complete espresso newbie, but I see a Flair in my future.....

My spirit say pro, but my wallet say neo

Such a great video! Nice comparation and better advices. Good work guys!

i've watched this many times the past week. (keep coming back to it as i learn from random vids). it's just SUCH a good vid. thanks!

Very informative review! I use the Strietman CT1, as well as a Bezzera pump machine. The Strietman, along with a nice grinder, makes fantastic shots and is fairly easy to use. I'd highly recommend it. The Flair models are intriguing for travel along with a good hand grinder, and no doubt, a hot water kettle. Good food for thought, but by no means a simple process. One has to have the time to put into the system to get a decent result. Is it worth the effort? While it likely is if you have the time, I'd rather go to the corner coffee shop, or perhaps use a simpler method for a good black coffee. Just found your channel, really good content!

Will be interesting to see how people find the Flair 58 when it comes out. I myself have no intention of buying one as I have the Pro already. But it does seem to be designed to solve the preheat pains.

I use the neo on a daily basis and really like its output. I did find pressing the grinded coffee with high pressure before making the coffee makes a big difference in output quality.

This review was quite useful, thank you.

Great review! Very concise and clear. I thought that the neo might have been a bad product, but now i see it isnt and who it is for. I particularly like how you can upgrade later on if you want. Its nice to know that if you buy something it can grow and improve with you as you learn.

It should be noted that with the Neo you can NOT fully upgrade to a Pro 2 brewhead, as the portafilter holder is not the right size. You can, however, upgrade to the non-pressurized portafilter of the Classic/Signature and use it with your Neo.

I feel like Neo gets you 95% of everything, every time. Pro gets trickier but can get you 100% of what you want, with a lot more work. You won't be unhappy with the Neo, but Pro might give you a shot you still think about 3 hours later. Might. The preheating seems very burdensome on both though.

... until a Green Robot lands on that table , you likely may not know why there needs to be a 5th8 model coming out soon . Robot started with a 5th8 model since day 1 and I am loving it too . I only travel with my AP and always have your #9 ways AP coffee making video# marked as favourite in my laptop . Great video as usual ... thanks and keep it up 👍

thank you for your help in choosing ❤️

Hope you guys are going to review the new Flair 58mm once it is readily available!

I love how you describe coffee taste. The adjectives you use are amazing!

Super helpful. Thank you.

Hi guys! Awesome video as always, also kudos to Tomo for the great presentation! Personally, when it comes to portable espresso I use the Handpresso Pump, quite fun and very easy cleanup. Maybe worth looking into for a next video?

You should have used the kettle pre heating trick. It saves so much time. There's even less chance of getting scalded vs the 4x boiling water dip.

great review, thank you.

I bought the Neo and in addition, bought the non pressurized filter. Comparing both, It occurs to me that one could actually hack modify the red pressurized filter into a non pressurized one by drilling/enlarging the hole.

I just ordered the Flair Signature package as was great deal compared to more expensive lever based espresso makers.

Thanks! This is awesome

Could you compare ROK vs this Flair, please? Thanks for super video! Subscribed!

really professional presentation. Cheers from Israel

I heard that Flair is coming out with a 58mm version!

I’m interested to hear your thoughts on the Flair 58.

How about Flair Neo vs Cafflano Kompresso? Which one probably makes better tasting espresso?

Excellent presentation, I actually have both but have never even taken the Neo out of the box, I bought it on the Kickstarter offer but my plans for its use never materialised.

Awesome video guys! Could it be that thermal management is easier on the flair neo since the brew chamber has smaller thermal mass? Could this influence brew temperature and ultimately the extraction?

Thx for subtitle ina 👍

Is Flair Signature the best choice after Flair Pro 2 regarding the budget?

which one is better than kompresso?

i'm currently using a cafflano kompresso but it really lacks output. is it worth it to get the flair neo?

Hey guys, it would be really cool if you could get in contact with flair and get the new flair 58 to review it.

One small correction. A standard portafilter is 54mm so the Flair's 45mm is NOT a standard size.

I have the Flair Signature and I absolutely LOVE it. It’s a happy medium between these two units. It’s also very therapeutic to brew with...

I have the neo and an e61 machine. I can dial in the pressurized basket very close in taste to an "actual espresso" from my e61, specially if pre-heating is done correctly and I pull in more of a ristretto Do i have as much control? no is it an awesome way to get very good espresso in short notice...heck yeah

No B.S and to the point, very clear explanation.

Hi, Please make a review about "Cafelat Robot's" manual espresso maker too.

there is misconception about pressurized portafilter (Neo). It does not aerate coffee or create an “artificial” crema. In Neo, crema is the product of absolutely same extraction process as in pro model, which governed by same variables - pressure, temperature, grind size. Buy Neo and be happy and save money. You will know what I mean when you start “upgrading” your machine while downgrading your results and adding frustration to the taste.

I'll definitely buy those* *not a real statement

How about review between Neo vs Classic ?

I've been waiting to see the who the first people to review the pro would be.

I like the little spelling mistake at 9:06 - “coffee f*uck out” instead of coffee puck:) I was not sure so I played it slower. Anyways - nice comparation. My question would be - is it worth double the price?

I ❤️ flair

I’m a little confused while using my Classic. With a 46mm portafilter, to maintain minimum 6bar pressure, a minimum of 40kg downward force required, conservatively. However, it says on my Classsic’s lever; “DO NOT EXCEED 32kg”. And, a piston with pressure dial indicates that I’m creating a pressure of 8Bar in average while extracting my cup of espresso. I’m confused.

Nice and many review I Food Leveling

what do you think of the new upcoming Flair 58?

You used the Comandante! How many clicks are good for the flair? The same as normal espresso machines?

What about the new one with the 58mm basket handle? :D

Škoda, že jste neudělali slepé porovnání

Can I use the Pro version with Timemore C2 grinder? Is it good enough or should I upgrade?

Is there any cheaper scale for flair? Because acaia lunar is kinda pricey. (For me)

Flair has some of least Apple - like approaches to product sustainability. You can upgrade basically anything.

I was thinking to get flair pro 2 but that preheating proces is just to complicated (you had to do it 4 times and thats a joke for 340 euros device, one preheating should be enough) and it would be a lot of time consuming to make 2-3 espressos if you dont have an extra "Second shot" which costs around 100 euros which is 1/3 price of whole flair pro(lol). I trully believe that it can produce great espresso but making 2 espressos would be pain in the ass - correct me if Im wrong I dont have any experiences Im just thinking. I hope new model 58 will be better and wont costs 800 euros otherwise cafelat robot barista will be my new expresso manual device (only one preheat).

Now i have flair pro 2...

Great espresso machine for the price w/a 1 year warranty

Neo is for the people want a good coffee without taking to much time to make it perfectly.

Preorder Flair 58=$529🤭 Sorry but at that price, one can purchase an actual expresso machine refurbished.

Here's a pro tip for you. Are you ready? If you want the coffee to be more concentrated, *use less water*. You're welcome.

Don't trust any taste reviews that aren't blind

The neo doesn't create a puc it also is very poorly made and offers you maybe 1 use if you're lucky 3-4 before "something" happens like nozzle clogging or cap no longer being airtight... on my third use I found hot strong sour coffee was spraying out of the sides of the cap. I'm refunding mine as we speak. Don't bother wasting your money on it.

I'm a big coffee fan. I roast my own green beans. I'm sorry but this has to be the most ridiculous process to go through for an espresso.

So the difference is this: The coffee drinks from the Neo will taste more acid, while the drinks from the Pro version will taste more bitter

PLEASE stop using this annoying premiere feature! It only dissapoints and clutters up the feed...

These dont make actual espresso but they can make great strong coffee.