Sorry for the audio on this one. I ended up getting a bunch of hiss that I tried to get rid of. This was actually a reshoot after an audio issue the first time so I figured done was better than perfect. I will work out better audio for this set soon.

James may be one of the only people talking about espresso (positively) who actually recognize 100 dollars as a substantial investment for a lot of people and I think that's quite refreshing

James Hoffman since forever: Don't buy an espresso machine if you dont want to start a new hobby. Me: Ok. Good advice. I wont. Also James Hoffman: LOOK AT ALL THESE SHINY COOL LOOKING TOYS. ESPRESSO IS AWESOME!!1!

MasterClass should really hit up james Hoffmann, man's on different level.

The NEO is the only sustainable step into espresso in my opinion. All those automatic 100$ machines will be replaced pretty soon or thrown away, but here you have the same base as a 240$ signature, capable of pulling really great espresso with some add-ons and a nice grinder. I use way less water with a Flair than a semi-automatic, it doesn't need de-scaling, yearly maintenance, etc. Pulling shots with this is a very rewarding experience. And more often than not, you can 'save' a shot when the grind size is off, by adjusting your pre-infusion time or how hard and quick you pull the shot. I've had tasty shots at only 5 bar, but on a semi-automatic machine that would have been a really bad shot. A Flair is actually capable of much more than 'standard espresso', you can do cold-press, turbo shots, blooming espresso, mimic a lever profile, etc. Besides the decent, not a lot of machines offer this level of tweakability.

I am not someone who really likes coffee all that much. I landed on this channel because of the video James did with Tom Scott but I stayed and started binge watching all of the videos for a reason - this man, who probably has access to equipment that costs thousands of dollars, is not snobbish. $120 is a significant investment for an average person and he gets it. Now, like Tom, I'll probably follow some of his recommendations and find some coffee that I love. This is the right way to introduce people to a new hobby.

Even with a coarse grind, the granularity here is very enjoyable :)

Going to need a Hoffmann knitwear rundown video at some point

From my searches you've never done a video on decaf coffee - is there much to discuss here? Is it inferior in every way, or can you still get a good cup? It's all I can drink really ;_;

Oversaturated James isn't real, he can't hurt you. Oversaturated James: 4:23

Brilliant. I did exactly this. Backed it on Kickstarter, and then once I got the hang of it, I got the non-pressurised basket, and the pressure gauge. ‘Modularity’ was a big plus, and I was also really impressed by Flair’s customer service.

What have I learned from James is that I make awful coffee and am too poor for espresso.

My wife just heard me watching this and now I think I own one. Thanks James! 🤙

One new thing to mention is that the newer version of the flow control portafilter has a removable/replaceable nozzle. if you remove the nozzle, it acts like a regular portafilter. You don't need to buy the bottomless portafilter to try pulling real espresso shots anymore.

James: produces an In depth product review with details about who the product is for, how enjoyable it is, and tried to create a discussion with us about it. Us: Yeah that’s great. What jumper you wearing though?

I always appreciate the honesty and transparency with all of your reviews and videos. This is the way reviews SHOULD be done; thanks for all your content and contributions to the community and for being awesome.

This man describe coffee like nobody else and now I’m start questioning myself whether I really tried good coffee in my life at all?!

Ive had 2 flair machines, the first was inherited by a former barista who taught me a lot. I got a pro model and am very happy with it, mornings has become a ritual and I have really enjoyed the process and the espresso that is created. I have also learned so much from this channel and appreciate the work you do.

I think it's super important to note that if you have a crap grinder and get the Neo, you can always upgrade when you get a better grinder in the end.

I have no interest in even getting an espresso machine but the way this man does a review is an art form. So much care taken.

I bought the gray one, and my wife calls it my "weird elephant sculpture." I added on the bottomless portafilter, pressure gauge and tamper through the Kickstarter. I use the thing every day and love it. I only use the red pressurized portafilter to use up accumulated odds and ends of extra coffee grounds of various grind sizes, and even then only occasionally. Along with my Lido-E hand grinder, I can pull a world-class espresso at home after investing less than $400, and I don't mind the extra work involved.

Fun fact: If your NEO came with the flow control 2 portafilter, you can unscrew the bottom, remove the spout and then screw it back in to essentially make it "bottomless". No need to buy the bottomless portafilter. Ofcourse, a real bottomless portafilter has other advantages, but it's still better than nothing, especially to see how far you can push your current grinder.

My dear you are wearing such a nice and cozy jumpers, so elegant as always. And a brilliant review of the flair machine.

So much beauty produced by this little thing. I love how minimalistic it is.

After a year with the base model, I've just upgraded my grinder and bought the bottomless brew basket, pressure gauge and a set of scales. So happy to hear James approves my upgrades! I guess watching all of your videos has educated me well. Thanks!

I bought the flair classic a couple of years ago as a “stop gap” between machines. I absolutely love the espresso it produces and I’m still using it everyday. I enjoy the ritual of making a shot with it, the only issue I’d point out is that it’s a real pain to produce multiple shots - even with extra brew chambers. Overall I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who prepared to put in the effort

I just pulled my first shot from my Neo this morning. I forgot to buy beans yesterday, however I had the remnants of a pre ground (pre grinder days) Italian brand of beans that had been sitting in my fridge for months, if not a year.... Long story short, the first shot was miles ahead of the capsule machine I currently use for Lungos and Espresso. The second shot this morning from the capsule machine was insipid and acidic by comparison (but it's still better than 99% of the "barristas" in my town can make. Looking forward to grinding some beans in 24 hours and having a fresh shot... THREE MONTHS LATER It IS a Hobby and it's a messy hobby! There are grinds all over the kitchen, despite my best intentions. Three months later and I had to chase my tail due to the portafilter nozzle becoming hopelessly blocked and impossible to clean... I'm enjoying far better shots now, better than the best Barrista in town (which I use to "calibrate" my experience). Going finer on the grind, pre infusing, matching all the variables to get what I regard as a good espresso, and consistency. the reddit community has helped immensely. removing the inner "spot" with the second filter has yielded good results. I am however, getting nowhere near the crema I see on the video. but my shot has good body and sweetness. I want to get a bottomless portafilter, but they're out of stock in Australia and I think a gauge would be of assistance to gain a better shot. I kind of wish I spent more money on the signature, but that's where I am atm.

I used to use the Flair Signature for a couple of years then upgraded the the Flair Pro 2. I've never had an espresso machine so I can't speak to that but I love my Flair and can't imagine wanting to get away from a manual lever machine. I love how much control I have to dial in and play around with. I don't think they are for everyone but if you like messing with things until the outcome is amazing then these are a lot of fun to play around with. I use mine every morning and make consistently excellent shots. I feel I can compete with any nice coffee shop I have been to on the quality of my shots. That said it does have kind of a steep learning curve, I feel like it took me months before I could consistently pull great shots, there is just so much to manage. In short if you like a hands on process and learning how to dial everything in by hand then go for it, the Flair is a wonderful piece of equipment, if not then it might not be for you.

A tip for when you preheat the brewing chamber: you can push the piston in a little and then balance the brewing chamber on top of the piston. This allows you to pour preheating water into the brewing chamber directly without needing to let it sit in a basket filled with hot water. Also, when you're done brewing you can just remove the brewing system altogether and let it drip into the sink. Again saves you some hassle.

This man is the MKBHD of coffee content !

Hey James, i wanna just leave a comment and thank you for the way you deal with ads and sponsorships. I love that you don't do mid-video ads (the reason I listen to your channel is because your voice is oddly soothing, don't take that the wrong way), and not having someone shout in my ear mid video really helps and is one of the major reasons I often binge watch your videos. And your sponsorships and disclosures are always on point, properly disclosed and even redistributed to people in need of great coffee. You could cash in a lot harder on the success of your channel, and I appreciate that you don't. You're awesome.

I wanted to get into espresso at home and I got a Flair Signature and a hand grinder to save money and break into the hobby. I think it is a great way to learn the process and learn how different adjustments lead to different results. I have also grown to really like the flow of pulling shots each morning as part of my routine before work. I upgraded to a nice grinder and got two Pro baskets/brew chambers and now I can pull two great shots within a few minutes each morning. I thought I would quickly find the desire to upgrade to an expensive espresso machine but with multiple brew chambers, an electric grinder, and electric kettle I dont feel the need to upgrade for convenience or quality right now.

I'd be willing to grab a Neo after your next "grinders under x amount" vid. Looking forward to it!

your vlog + flair = (much)better espresso appreciation; I love the intricacies, the science, the chores, the process to get a good espresso!

YES MORE AFFORDABLE ESPRESSO GEAR THAT DOES A GOOD JOB!!!!

This does intrigue me. And it doesnt look like any more hassle than the aeropress that I already use. Tempting.

The intended use discussed here is exactly what happened with me. I purchased the Neo as my entry into espresso without having to fork out big money for a grinder. The extent of my home espresso experience prior had been a nespresso machine, but I very much enjoy being more hands on and ritualistic with my coffee making. I added the non pressurized basket and pressure gauge just in case I ever decided to get an espresso grinder. I ended up getting Flair's Royal Grinder, and I have been very happy with all of it.

🔥Flair is coming up with a new model called “Flair 58”. Hope it’s on your radar and hear what you think about it.

I have had my Classic Flair for a couple of years now, I love the shots that produce, the ritual in the mornings, the crema and everything else. The best buy I had in years.

Omg JUST when I was about buying it, thank you James 🙏

Think the Flair would be an excellent teaching aid when training Baristas about the espresso process and what’s the machine is going for you

Great sweater, Mr. Hoffmann.

Love this video and the idea of combining the Neo and the Classic for a fair assessment of what each can do! I absolutely love my Flair Signature, and use the Neo PF for the occasional pre-ground coffee away from home. One plus of the Flair not often mentioned: portability. Some complain of fiddly-ness due to multiple parts to assemble, but this allows the ability to dismantle, pack up in the case and take it with you to hotel rooms, vacation spots, guest houses. Other manual levers are much more cumbersome to travel with. Thanks for this!

I’ve had the Flair Pro for almost 2 years and love it. The Pro comes with a silicone lid that can assist with pre heating the chamber (no bowl). We use ours 2-3 times a day. No issues or replacement parts as of yet.

I've been dying for this video. I was recently gifted a Flair and have been having an absolute blast dialing everything in. Including brewing terrible.. horrible.. just.... Bad shots. Haha. But! After a few good tries, some fine tuning, I can get some decent espresso out of it. And for the price point, it's quite great. Edit: James! I'd love a discussion about entry level grinders that are decent for espresso, without breaking the bank for people to pair with these Flair's.

Two things - one, this is the first time I've considered getting ANY sort of espresso maker; and two, I appreciate that you say that $120 is not a small investment in a coffee maker.

I’ve had this for a few months now, went from pressured to the normal basket. All the videos make it look so easy, think when people say use a fine grind they aren’t as fine as you imagine lol still figuring it out 🤣

Thank you so very much for this review, been waiting for ages to hear your thoughts on this product. Thankyou once again.

This seems fab for anyone who lives student accommodation and likes to get up really early. A hand operated espresso machine is nearly silent and wont wake up your housemates/neighbours. Swear they make the walls of student accommodations out of paper lol...

Now after 6 month on this machine i'll really understood how it works😂. Thank so much!!! So instructive.

Got the Flair last Christmas and it's been a great entry to espresso as a hobby. I'm getting the pressure gauge and bottomless portafilter this Christmas to take my next step up. It's been a really enjoyable journey. Would recommend.

I'm exactly at that point he mentioned where I want more out of my Neo. Splendid review; really helped with my decision to pickup a standard basket. Thank you!

I'd been using the Flair (no-suffix) for a couple of years. And I had added on the pressure gauge, and was really happy. I recently upgraded to the Pro 2 (yes $$$, but...), and am really enjoying the extra freedom the bigger basket and chamber give me (I like a double ris, and the no-suffix doesn't carry enough coffee for a double). I am also pretty enamored with the aesthetics (it's the copper/chrome one), sometimes I just gaze at the thing on its shelf. One thing to consider about the Pro 2 though is that it's harder to use. The larger cross section of the piston means that you need more force on the lever to get the same pressure as the no-suffix/Neo, and it's noticeable. (I calculated about 18-19% extra force - based on my dodgy piston diameter measurement). I'm reasonably corpulent, and holding that force for 30 seconds is not too hard, but definitely nontrivial. That said, I love the process. I love the physicality of it. I can *feel* when the grind's not right even before the first drips. Also, as you get into the rhythm of it, you do get more efficient and it feels less fiddly. Off to make myself one now. :)

Love this review. I bought the neo as my first espresso machine during the semi-early bird on Kickstarter. I bought the regular basket at the same time. Started with the pressurized basket, then basically immediately started using the regular one. Kind of wish I got the pressure gauge, but I still get good results for my purposes without one. I make my brew process simpler by just putting the cylinder in the kettle while it boils (I'm in the US where electric kettles are less common, so I just stick it in my Hario gooseneck kettle while it boils on the stove). Grab it out with tongs when the water comes to a boil, place it in a towel for a moment, then assemble > fill > press. Everything is piping hot and I don't have to mess with a separate bowl of water or double heating like some people suggest.

Thanks to this review, I bought Flair Pro 2 almost two years ago, and I haven't looked back since. It's worth every penny and still works flawlessly, all o-rings still intact. Paired with a french press for milk frothing and latter art, you can easily become a one man coffee house. I should note, though, that my pressure gauge got a few small cracks on the side for some reason, which is odd because I've always tended to keep the pressure at 5-9 bar. It still works fine, though!

A 14 minute video has never been so easy to watch. Brilliant stuff.

O.K. James, you've got to do the ultimate updated test: Flair vs. Robot

You had me at "James will be talking in this episode." I'm in.

I just got one for Christmas and I'm loving it! I did upgrade the portafilter, gauge, tamper, and drip tray right away, but the Neo and the Gauge were the gift so it wasn't a huge investment to upgrade the pieces I wanted and I already had a good burr grinder.

I think this is the earliest I've ever been to a youtube video, and it's even for something I've had my eye on.

Thank you for reviewing neo version. You've just dispelled my doubts about this version of Flair. I was thinking about buying it as a gift to my friends and for myself as well. Being a beginner and not haveing not much experience leeds to desaster and NEO will save me from it) I also like Flair becous i can upgrade it while progressing in understanding espesso. Thank you from Belarus :)

I wish that modularity was used more in design for a lot of products where the users needs might change change over time. (I'm looking at you, electronics industry! That's right, I know you're listening.)

In love with my Flair PRO 1. It’s been a steep learning curve, and you’re right about having to spend money to get the right equipment to reach the higher levels of enjoyment. Worth it though. Love the ritual in the morning - very satisfying.

Thanks to James, I got a classic flair. Possibly the best coffee related purchase ever. Thanks James!

I've been using Flair Signature to produce my daily espresso for 2 years now and I love it. Sometimes I make up to 6 shot a day (all my family loves coffee too) and I'm saying that I truly enjoy the 'ritual' that it gives , I haven't upgrade the portafilter nor the pressure gauge, but I must say I'm satisfied by the result I get with the default portafilter and gauge. Love your reviews man, keep up the good work. Sorry for my bad english tho

Got a Flair Signature that was delivered yesterday, and "practiced" with some weeks old coffee beans and Lido 2 grinder. Did several shots to play with the thing and I'm happy that I had a decent enough grinder to have not considered the Neo (and could afford it), however it was informative for me to taste sour shots and bitter shots. I think I have to work the variables and taste some more bad shots now as a reference point. Pay upfront and have the chance at good espresso now with the classic or signature instead of good enough espresso with the Neo and upgrade later. That's the bottom line, isn't it? This morning I dialed in a grind with some fresher, darker roast beans and bracketed in a setting that I thought was balanced for me and my taste. With all the variables, this is a nice ritual or exercise for coffee, because before this Pandemic response, I drank maybe a couple of cups of coffee a quarter at those events or conferences some of us get to go to. I rarely went out of my way to get coffee at a cafe. Like James has said, this is a hobby and I now want to share espresso with my friends and neighbors (who can tolerate the wait with this workflow on the Flair). I appreciate his perspective on the Neo and the place it has in giving someone an opportunity to fill their needs for good enough espresso. It could be just the gift for that friend or relative who you think could do with a good enough home espresso, that they pulled themselves.

I started with the classic and upgraded to the Pro 2. Love that I have so much control over a lot of variables at this price point. The big difference for me was upgrading to a Eureka mignon grinder. The entire process is a little work but makes for a fun routine before work each day.

i have used the flair pro for almost two years. After understanding the process with the flair, a shot from start to finish really doesnt take more than 5-6 minutes for me now, even with my kinu m47 hand grinder. love the results, and have a great sense of accomplishment!

Really enjoyed your review James, I liked what you said about making espresso as a hobby as I have never thought about it that way, I know myself when I find some new coffee or gadget for my espresso machine I get excited to try out, just like guys who collect model railroads, I get the same way about coffee. Big thumbs up.

I started with the Pro (this wasn't offered then) and I love it. I use it every day, and I've learned more about espresso making using it than I did when working as a barista for over a year. It's definitely fiddly to brew and challenging to dial in, but I like that challenge! Since I've never used the NEO I have no opinion on it, but I appreciate that it's giving folks a low cost of entry into this hobby, and like you said, I like it's upgradability.

We are a Flair distributor, and only offer the Pro2 and neo, with all the upgrades you mentioned. So I completely agree that the neo is a stepping stone into the world of espresso that avoids frustration and will grow with you on you journey to the God Shot!

Flair Neo to Normal Basket to Pressure Gauge is actually the exact upgrade path that I took. This is a nifty little machine. And now I meed to upgrade my grinder to get more consistent results with the normal basket.

I love my Neo! This is exactly how my espresso journey began. Bought the Neo, and when it cane I enjoyed the shots out of the pressurized pf for a week or two and decided to put down for a nice hand grinder (Kinu m47) to see what an espresso tastes like out of the bottomless upgrade. I was absolutely blown away at the differences, but I’m also not quite sure I would have been interested if it wasn’t for first tasting my results out of the pressurized pf. A few months later, My SO surprised me with a Niche and so my workflow has gotten a bit better (15-30 seconds less I suppose). And recently we put in an order for a Decent! But all of this would not have been possible without first getting my Neo.

Daily Flair user here. I can agree that the modular nature of the Flair is a great feature. I started with a flair signature, but I upgraded the brewhead to the pro series for its larger capacity, and better quality basket. I use my Flair every day and I absolutely love it. Sure it is more work to use, manual grinding doesn't help (although a KinuM47 does!), but it has become a routine that I look forward to so much that some days I need to stop myself from prepping a shot because it is way too late. I preheat by boiling the chamber inside my kettle for maximum heat and I have gone as far as getting a custom distributor and palm tamper. I think that the ability to perform pressure profiling at this price point is unrivaled. By the way, I would love to see a video on how different distribution techniques play a role in espresso, noticed the blind shaker in this video and I remember you mentioning a distribution tool you were testing. Or, if you are feeling masochistic, a dialing in espresso video with a flair. As always, thank you for the amazing content and information. I had a great time for the WLCT (both years!). Happy brewing!

I bought a Flair Pro 2 about a month ago. I'm not the best at making coffee but i know i love drinking it. So where do i start in making my favorite drinks than with espresso. I did my research and laughed at how expensive good quality producing espresso machines are. But then i found Flair. With the Pro 2, there is certainly more to it than just a price. The Machine (thing lever whatever you want to call it "manual espresso machine) feels great, the parts are not cheap you can tell its design and production was given a lot of thought and care in producing it. Overall its solid. It does take sometime to set up, but i enjoy it. Preheating the chamber, setting up the parts, weighing the coffee, using the "adorable little tamper" provides a rewarding experiences that creates a different perspective towards coffee and its process rather than only viewing coffee as an iced or hot drink. Hoffman is right, as you produces more espresso there will be that thought of "how can i make this better", "what do i need to produce the best". Everyone wants the best, and honestly in my own personal opinion the Flair can bring you somewhere very near if you have the right tools. The right tools and knowledge matter when creating an espresso. Now this is my experience using the Flair pro 2. I failed big time the first couple shots, but that's because i didn't know what i was doing. I knew what i wanted which was good coffee but i didn't know how to make. Having the right grinder to grind my coffee was the first thing i noticed that i had to change because the one thing that's different that the Neo provides that the flair pro 2 doesn't is the pressurized porta-filter which acts as a very conveniently handicap if you dont have a good quality grinder or grinder than can grind fine enough ( which was the case for my failed attempts at making espresso) Because i knew i needed a Finer grind and my grinder could produce it, i had my favorite coffee shop grind the coffee for me when i purchased a bag of their beans. After that, BOOM!! i was making great espresso or espresso that i thought was good. It looked beautiful had flavor and all i had to change was just my grind. After that i started to make my coffee everyday and it didn't feel like a hassle. Yes, automatic espresso machine can produce it quicker but they cost way much more than what Neo or the other products Flair provides. Again, Hoffman states something very true about this espresso maker, you have to view it as a hobby and hobbies cost a bit more down line once you get familiar with the general and desire better quality. This can mean upgrading your grinder, the quality of beans you purchase, tools you use to make your coffee but the one thing that remains the same is the quality of the Flair espresso maker. I genuinely love making espresso with it and i dont even know if im making them right. Ive just been watching videos and learning what to do and not to do.

I bought Flair Pro 2 and a Comandante grinder a year ago. During that year both devices were with me on some trips - in mountains, in a forest, on a sea... I just love it and the coffee it makes is fabulous. But. 1. It is challenging to prepare multiple shots in a row (especially on a wavy sea). 2. Everytime I had a Flair in my hand luggage on the airport I was stopped on a border control because everyone was curious what the hell I have in my backpack. So bear it in mind and go to the airport few minutes earlier than usually. :) In the past me and my friends were using French Press to make a coffee. Now we take French Press on trips to use it as milk frother. If Flair Neo is in 50% as good as Flair Pro 2 I can recommend it. However, still... I would consider buying higher model instead buying upgrades.

If you insert the pressure gauge, you can turn the whole chamber upside down and rest it on the edge of your sink and fill it with water for preheat

Don’t care about the audio, I really appreciate that 1. You don’t start each video with ‘what is up’ and 2. you don’t end with ‘hit like and subscribe’ . For me, these things make a significant difference. Thank you 😊

Just bought a scale, nice manual grinder.. and now I realize I NEED this. Thank you!

I've been using the Flair Classic since March once work from home began and I was unable to visit my favorite coffee shops. Since then I've pulled countless shots and really learned the process. It's relatively slow and definitely takes effort, but the result is a pretty good shot! I typically make one latte for myself in the morning and then I'll often host friends for coffee as well. This machine is great for one or two lattes, but anything beyond that is quite a hassle. However, I've loved this machine and will continue to use it! I'm looking to add the pressure gauge to ensure I'm hitting the proper resistance. Thanks for the review of the NEO!

PLEASE do a review on their new grinder!! The price point is extremely tempting and wondering if the quality can compete with some of the big hitters

Another excellent video, thanks James. I have had the flair classic for about 18 months now and use it with a kinu m47. The espresso quality surpasses anything I have found at cafes around my area (Hornsby in the far north of Sydney). Like any espresso method one has to dial the grinder in when changing beans but once dialed in the quality is top notch. I recently got a Gene coffee roaster too and while the setup was a significant investment, I love making great coffee from green beans at home. And I don't mind the work, it became part of my morning ritual. Btw it would be nice if you could do a video on home roasting.

I just bought a Flair Neo Flex [May 2024] and it comes with both baskets which is great and it does a fantastic job. It only has a plastic tamper and no drip tray - I don't care about that.

Watch this video 2 years ago before I decided to buy a Flair Neo for $75(on sale), watching it again in 2024 to decide if I want to get a better grinder plus upgrading the Flair Neo.

While the flair isn't at all something that seems like what you'd want when you go camping, I do appreciate that it doesn't require power. I have a butane burner, a denatured alcohol burner, and in a pinch a kerosene stove. So, even without electricity I can't make hot water. I'm thinking the flair is the next step up from my aeropress

I'd planned to buy myself a great coffee machine for Christmas however I only drink espresso anyway and this actually fulfils everything I need. I love the idea of no power required and easier cleaning. I think I'm in! I'll pick one up asap.

I just bought a Flair classic last week, in part due to your video on it. As a newbie to home espresso, it's some of the best home espresso I've had.

When i got my classic Flair, i bought the pressure gauge right off. Ahem, and a real grinder. After about a week of pulling shots, I started getting good espresso. 2 years later, I can gauge my shots w/o the meter. And I get great shots consistently. Thanks, James, for such a fun channel.

Try preheating by steaming with an egg cooker, most efficient way I've found Temp stickers also helpful

Yeah, I've been really enjoying my Flair. The carrying case, I swear, is like a full 20% of why I have it, ha! But also, I've gotten WAY more consistent results out the thing, compared to the cheap pump machines. I'm quite happy with it.

I have the Signature (gauge and non pressurised basket). I love it! I have had a couple of plugged in devices over the years and the Flair easily out performs machines under £500. It’s also totally portable and I have already taken it to work and showed it off. My only missing piece is a manual grinder for holidays. A good grinder and the Flair = coffee that beats all but the specialty coffee shop shots.

I really like this product for another reason as well: space. If you don't have much room in a small kitchen and/or no available inlets for a larger or more complex machine, this still works. Great review overall, I enjoyed it~

I was looking at a Flair but ended up getting the Cafelat Robot a couple of months ago, a bit more expensive but thermal management and the workflow are so much simpler I think it was worth the higher price point. Makes awesome espresso paired with a Niche Zero!

You can always boil the metal parts of the portafilter/brew chamber parts, just to make the prep a bit easier. Personally I used a second kettle (aside from the normal one I used to boil water for tea/coffee in general), let that brew as I grind the coffee and brew the actual water for the coffee. As the kettle with the portafilet/brew chamber parts boil it'd shut off on its own and I'd be sure that the temp is as hot as it could go. I think the most faffy part of the whole process is the cleanup. Without the handle on a normal portafilter/basket in an espresso maker, it's a bit harder to get the used puck out in a knock. So it's just easier to scoop it out with a tiny dessert spoon.

I found that 14g shots worked the best for me before I upgraded. I found the narrow, tall basket was pretty forgiving for grinders too. I really like that they've got a modular upgrade path capable from low investment pre-ground grocery store coffee in a pressurized basket shots to obsessively precise light roast blooming espresso shots.

I have been using the Neo for months and yes it is a great step into the addiction of espresso making.

I love the flair. I have a flair pro and a barista express, the flair produces a much better shot but barista express is more convenient. But the Flair ecosystem, as you said, is awesome. On the Facebook group they have tips about cold extraction, pre infusion, time, and other things. Using it over the years taught me so much about espresso

I just bought a flair pro 2 for my 8th wedding anniversary. Was frustrated the first 2 weeks till i got hold of a decent, affordable grinder. Even then, I am down to the last 2 finest settings. They recommended to start with inexpensive beans , but It just hard to dial in to maintain above 6bars of pressure as the density changes over the quality of the beans. Thanks to your espresso brewing series i have learnt to dose more, 20g for the cheaper beans which also means i would be over caffeinated. Now I limit to brew only twice daily, splitting the shot with my wife. I am considering getting the split spout. I must say that its not the easiest contraption to understand over a short period but so far the learning process has been most enjoyable and the good shots that came out of it has been very pleasant. It’s been enjoyable watching you content, thanks James and team...!

Great video, I just received my Neo today and can't wait to play around with it!

Thank you al ot for this video and your work in general. Great channel. I love what you do and the way you do it. Cheers