Review on ☕ Flair Espresso NEO: The Ultimate Manual Lever Espresso Maker for Home Use (Gray) by Chris Cooper

My friend introduced me to the Classic Flair and I loved it (thanks Bob!). I have been roasting beans at home and wanted an inexpensive machine that could make great espresso. NEO is similar but not the same as Classic. NEO can be a great option for newbies like me thanks to its flow control features. However, I plan to buy a bottomless portafilter in the near future. I noticed that there was some water left between the bottom strainer and the red bottom of the portafilter, but not much. The build quality is exceptional. Simple, efficient, easy to clean and carry. Unfortunately Revain sent me the wrong color which is frustrating as I chose gray to avoid cleaning a white car but of course this doesn't affect the rating of the product in the review. If you plan to travel with it, check out the Classic as it comes with a case and bottomless portafilter, which the NEO doesn't. I plan to update my review as I learn more about usage. 10/01/2020: Although I roast my own coffee, I bought a can of Bustello to experiment with. The very first shot was great. I tried extracting it in the 30's and it was very easy. I suspect NEO's flow control helps to get an extract of around 30 seconds. All other attempts were virtually unchanged, which is surprising for a manual car. I heated the cylinder as directed by pouring hot water over the bowl. I have to say it's a bit messy taking it out of the hot water and sticking it in a portafilter as it's hot. The rubber sides help, but it's still hot to grab for a long time. So far I am very satisfied with the results. I look forward to making espresso with home roasted coffee.