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

There are many reviews on the internet about the Flair system so I will focus on my first impressions of the quality of the Flair Neo rather than using it to make espresso. I'll update this as soon as I get a chance to get a good shot and after I get a bottomless portafilter. My regular espresso machine needs to be sent in for service and I wanted a high-end espresso machine to take with our RV. The Flair + manual coffee grinder seemed like the perfect solution. As this is the cheapest model in the Flair range, I was interested to see how it would stack up against the more expensive models I've seen in the reviews. When I open the box, the first thing I can say is that this is a high-quality device. . The gray metal frame is fully consistent with the quality. It's also a pleasure to look at, especially with the red and rust colored group/portafilter head. The way the frame attaches and detaches is pretty clever - very sturdy and takes a second to disassemble for storage. It will be great for travel. The kit also includes a screw and washer to permanently attach the two frame pieces for extra stability if you don't need to disassemble it for travel. Without the bolt, there is some play in the frame and grip, but nothing to cause instability because once you apply 30-40 pounds of force to the lever, nothing moves. Including red sealed portafilter. I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to making espresso, so a pressure portafilter wouldn't be my first choice. I prefer to use the right grinder and grind settings to get the most out of my espresso. So I'm planning on getting the Bottomless Port Filter they offer (there's a promotion on for a free filter right now, but then it's $24, a reasonable price). However, there are still times when a pressure coffee maker can come in handy, e.g. B. to taste another batch of coffee without wasting time, or to waste coffee for a set of them. Also, it's so small that it's an easy thing to do. To take with you when travelling. The plunger of the group mechanism is made of high-quality plastic. For me that is probably the biggest minus point, since I would prefer 100% stainless steel. However, the good news is that in the future when I buy a pressure gauge, a stainless steel plunger will be included. This flask is in contact with hot water but not in direct contact with coffee. Instead of a plastic tappet, at least an optional stainless steel piston would be desirable, but without a pressure gauge. The remaining parts are a plastic funnel (nice touch) and a hollow plastic tamper. This tamper is not a "real" tamper, but it can do its job. They sell a "real" tamper as an accessory that matches the size of the portafilter. By the way, here's a general tip I learned to help you understand how much pressure to apply to the tamper: Squeeze evenly with increasing force and feel the coffee compress as the tamper moves up moved below. As soon as you feel the coffee stop moving, stop. Don't force it. This creates a consistent tamper, regardless of coffee grind and grind. The last part is a thick plastic cup tray. It just sits on top of the frame and isn't really needed. It's nice that they include it, but I can't take it on a trip. NEO does not include a case found in more expensive models. I was fine without as I will be making my own which also has room for a grinder and fits where I need it. I'm looking forward to getting my feet wet and learning how to get good shots with the Flair. Overall the Neo - with the optional bottomless portafilter - is good value for money and appears to offer the same quality as the higher-end models, and as the ingredients are the same it's obvious that the espresso brewed is of the same quality quality will be. UPDATE: After some time with this Neo I quickly realized that I wanted the Pro 2 version, main reason was that the Neo could not accept a professional tape head (sold separately) which I only realized after purchasing it. The Neo's capacity is a bit small, and the shape of the basket combined with the bottomless filter makes it difficult to prevent side splashing. The Neo is great but the Pro really blew my mind and was worth the upgrade. Now, with a little learning, I'm making better and better shots, or at least on par with what I often get at the very best third-wave espresso bars.