Flair The NEO Flex with Carrying Case: UPDATED Direct Lever Manual Espresso Maker for Beginners and Travel - Pressure Gauge for 9 BAR Brewing Included

Awesome device to try out manual espresso making! In the long run it gets too fiddly for me...I wanted to experiment with all the variables that go into espresso making, from pre-infusion, shot duration, temperature, pressure profile, etc. without breaking the bank. The flair neo is an awesome entry point for this to figure out whether all the hype is worth it to me and whether I want to really customize my espresso or whether I prefer to revert back to pressing a button and drinking whatever comes out.So far I'm very excited and really love what comes out so I'm inclined to continue on this path. But I will be upgrading to a less fiddly machine. The flair neo definitely works, but there are a lot of parts making it all more hassle than I would like for a daily routine. There are more pieces to collect before getting going than I'd like, cleaning up the hot cylinder after the shot is no fun, and then there's all this stuff to wash and dry. Plus there's a kettle needed, pouring to pre-heat the cyclinder (light roasts), pouring just to the line for the shot, etc. Definitely not a deal-breaker in the experimentation phase, but eventually it gets a bit old. I've pre-ordered an odyssey argos at this point...One must-have accessory if one is to do long pre-infusions is a mirror so one can see the screen filling in, not to mention a "mini" scale that fits into the base.

There are a lot of online reviews of the Flair system so I will focus on my initial impressions of the quality of the Flair Neo, rather than making espresso with it. I will update this once I have a handle on pulling a good shot, and after receiving the bottomless portafilter.My normal espresso machine has to be sent in for service, and I wanted to have a high level espresso machine to use on the road with our camper van. The Flair + a hand grinder seemed like the perfect solution. This being the cheapest model in the Flair lineup, I was interested to see how it would stack up to the higher end models that I have seen reviewed.Upon opening the box, the first thing I could tell is that this is a high quality unit. The grey finished metal frame is quality all the way. It's also great to look at, especially with the red and stainless color of the group head / portafilter.The way the frame attaches and detaches is pretty smart -- very stable and yet takes a second to take apart for storage. This will be great for travel. There is also a screw with a washer that they include in the box for permanently attaching the two parts of the frame for added stability if you don't need to take it apart for travel. Without the screw, there is some play in the frame and the handle, but nothing that should cause any instability because once you put 30-40 pounds of force on the lever, nothing is going to move.Included is a red pressurized portafilter. I am somewhat of a geek when it comes to making espresso, so the pressurized portafilter would not be my first choice. I prefer to use the correct grinder and grind settings to dial in my shots and get the maximum flavor out of my espresso. Therefore I plan to get the bottomless portafilter accessory that they offer (there is currently a promo for a free one, but afterwards it is $24, a reasonable price). However, that said, there are times that the pressurized one may come in handy, such as trying a different batch of coffee without having to take the time and waste coffee to dial it in. Plus, being so small, this is an easy thing to keep around while traveling.The plunger for the group head mechanism is made of high-grade plastic. For me, this is probably the biggest disadvantage, as I would prefer 100% stainless. However, the good news is that in the future, if I purchase the pressure gauge, it includes a stainless plunger. This plunger makes contact with the hot water, although it does not directly contact the coffee. I would like to see a stainless steel plunger instead of the plastic one, at least available as an option but without the pressure gauge.The rest of the parts are the plastic funnel (a nice touch) and a plastic hollow tamper. This tamper is not a "real" tamper, but it can do the job. They sell a "real" tamper as an accessory that fits the portafilter size.Speaking of which, here is a general tip I learned that helps one figure out how much force to apply for tamping: press down evenly with increasing progressive force and feel the coffee compress as the tamper moves down. Once you feel the coffee no longer moves, stop. Don't force it. This will create consistent tamping no matter what the coffee or grind level.The final part is a thick plastic tray for placing your cup. This just sits on the frame, and isn't really needed. Nice that they include it but I might not bring it with me for travel.The NEO does not include the case that the higher end models include. I was fine without it, as I will create my own that also has room for a grinder and fits where I need it to.I look forward to getting my feet wet and learning to pull good shots with the Flair. Overall, the Neo -- with the optional bottomless portafilter -- is a good value and seems to offer the same quality as in the higher end models, and since the components are the same, obviously the espresso pulled will be of equivalent quality.UPDATE: After a little while with this Neo I quickly realized I wanted the Pro 2 version. The main reason was because the Neo can't accommodate the pro's group head (available separately), which was only apparent to me after purchase. The capacity of the Neo is a bit small, and the shape of the basket combined with the bottomless filter makes it difficult to avoid a bit of a sideways splattering mess. The Neo is wonderful, but the pro has truly blown my mind and was well worth the upgrade. After a little bit of a learning curve, I'm now pulling shots consistently better or at least on par with what I often get at the very best third-wave espresso bars.

I'm retired. I say that right from the start because I'm not sure this product would have worked for me if I had time restraints. Having said that, I am retired and I actually enjoy "the process". I need to do a video because I've gotten the process down to a science - no wasted movements. LOLAs you can tell, a big part of this product is the built in hassle factor. There are machines that do everything from grinding the beans to ejecting the puck into a bin. This is the key - you must determine for yourself how your schedule fits into this equation.That being said, this product is perfect because the output can be perfect. If you're familiar with the espresso arena, there is a whole bunch of machines and products that are incapable of producing a perfect product. 100% accurate to say this can produce that perfect product.I like everything about it, and I don't see changing anything, BUT if I knew then what I know now, I would upgrade to the metal unit with the larger "tub".Other than that - this is a FANTASTIC product.

Pressure gauge kit broke the week after I lost warranty. This of course caused me to look at it more closely and I can see that it had already begun to degrade otherwise. Terrible quality, I'll never buy from Flair again.

I purchased this because my Nuova Simonelli Oscar II had a issue lately. Couldn't have my daily dose of cappuccinos until I figured out the issue and repaired it. This purchase is an insurance so when my Italian machine goes on the blink in the future I have a quality backup machine. I tested it and it takes 18 grams of finely ground home roasted espresso bean and produces as good a shot as the Italian Oscar II with outstanding crema. I purchased the machine and the case.

I’m getting great espresso shots. A bit shorter than I’d expect (still working on that), but the taste’s excellent.

Parts are flimsyThe piston breaks from use and must be replaced. The o ring supports break and peal away from piston. Only 6 month warranty on this part. Mine lasted about a year but bits came off within a few months. Flair said to buy new parts.