This is a nice listing and comparison. I’ve been an Aeropress guy for several years but have casually thought about upgrading to a manual espresso maker. The reason I’ve stuck with an Aeropress up...
This is a nice listing and comparison. I’ve been an Aeropress guy for several years but have casually thought about upgrading to a manual espresso maker. The reason I’ve stuck with an Aeropress up to this point is because of an add-on part that these guides almost invariably overlook: the Prismo attachment. The Prismo is about $30 extra and is a true force multiplier for the Aeropress. It allows you to make much more espresso-like coffee. An Aeropress by itself is honestly pretty boring, exactly like this guide describes— “strong filter coffee, akin to what you’d get from a French press”. But coffee from an Aeropress with the Prismo is really, really good. It really is more like espresso. For this reason, when I’ve evaluated manual espresso makers, I’ve generally concluded that they may be better, but are they $100 or even $400 better? Probably not.
And the Aeopress/Prismo has advantages of convenience over manual espresso makers: (1) cleanup could not possibly be easier and (2) it has a very small countertop or cabinet footprint.
I will say, though, that this article makes the Flair 58 sound very, very tempting. But unless I see a major sale, I’ll probably be sticking with the Aeropress + Prismo duo.
These things always felt like a gimmick. Temperature regulation is often an issue and they seem like more work than it’s worth. Along with often costing as much as an actual espresso machine....
These things always felt like a gimmick. Temperature regulation is often an issue and they seem like more work than it’s worth. Along with often costing as much as an actual espresso machine.
Stick to the electric machines or simpler ways of making coffee imo and leave these things to the instagramers.
I had suspected that the Flair would be a gimmick, but bought one because I was looking for a reasonably semi-portable way to make espresso. Instead, I actually found that it both wasn't a...
I had suspected that the Flair would be a gimmick, but bought one because I was looking for a reasonably semi-portable way to make espresso. Instead, I actually found that it both wasn't a gimmick, and consistently made much better espresso than I expected, to the point that I now use it as my primary machine. It is better than the majority of coffee shops (largely, any coffee shop that isn't specifically focused on making excellent espresso). It makes much better coffee than the Gaggia Classics I also often use, even with better portafilters and modified pressure valves, and almost certainly makes much better coffee than the Breville Barista Express you mention elsewhere. They're not really comparable machines: Flair is making machines that sacrifice convenience and tolerances in order to vastly outperform on quality for the price, while many electric machines at similar price ranges are focused on convenience and tolerance. As an example, the Barista Express has a 16-step-adjustment grinder with a seemingly non-scale-based dosing mechanism, and includes pressurized and unpressurized filters in case you want to use pre-ground coffee; the Flair isn't really designed to use anything other than bottomless filters, and makes a mess if the grind isn't perfect or the dose is off by more than ±0.5 g.
I can control the pressure to an extent that simply isn't possible with the design of most mid-range electric machines, and can control time and extraction ratio well. Temperature control is much less of a problem than might be expected, in part because the water path is much simpler than an electric machine (no pump, no tubing, no reservoir, thermal isolation from the rest of the machine is reasonably simple, etc). While getting the process right can be tricky, it's likely that the temperature is more consistent for me on the Flair than a Gaggia Classic with no PID controller modification; there are simply far fewer uncontrollable variables. There's also the unusual benefit that I can make the same coffee with no electricity, and can leave the machine for months without any worries about maintenance, scale, clogging, or parts breaking.
But convenience is a significant tradeoff. It takes me about 4-5 minutes of active, focused work to make two espressos, using two cylinders and portafilters, and I'm a scientist who is at least reasonably well regarded for precise lab work and known for becoming somewhat overly obsessive at times. I use a first-model Flair Pro with the second-model retrofit kit, a Kinu M47 Classic grinder, a generic 0.1g scale and timer, and a Thermapen One; while I don't have the last two specifically for coffee, the cost of everything combined is likely between double and triple the cost of just the Flair Pro itself. (I also only drink espresso, and am not even sure how to use a steam wand; otherwise, that would be a significant problem.)
By comparison with a Gaggia Classic, a Capresso Infinity grinder, and a scale, I can make an espresso with about 30 seconds of comparatively easy active work. It won't be as consistently good, but it's much easier.
This has actually put me in the somewhat frustrating situation that I find the process tedious as an everyday task, while at the same time, alternative options would sacrifice at least some control and consistency, short of a setup costing in the thousands.
Interesting review. Although on the Breville one, there is actually a second grind adjustment which is a little harder to access which allows you to fine tune it. And I suggest weighing the beans...
Interesting review. Although on the Breville one, there is actually a second grind adjustment which is a little harder to access which allows you to fine tune it. And I suggest weighing the beans before putting them in the grinder, also have the option of the cheaper version of the machine which has no grinder and using an external one.
Not entirely sure how the final result stacks up compared to the Flair but its fairly comparable to most decent cafes I have tried. The steam wand is slightly annoying due to the single boiler but the espresso extraction seems good.
It seems like the cheaper flair offerings, if you're comfortable wasting energy and water preheating the brewhead, strike a minimum of value that makes them viable. For US$200, you can pull shots...
It seems like the cheaper flair offerings, if you're comfortable wasting energy and water preheating the brewhead, strike a minimum of value that makes them viable. For US$200, you can pull shots of real espresso, and all you're missing compared to a boilerdriven lever machine is the steaming wand. It's clunky, tedious, and finnicky compared to a La Pavoni, but it's also $700 cheaper.
The other offerings listed here are either not capable of delivering espresso, or they have such a design that preheating the brewhead via submersion in boiling water isn't viable. Besides, even that $200 Flair requires a $200-400 (bare minimum) grinder and fresh beans. Espresso as a whole is just a silly process.
For roughly the same price, maybe a tad more, you can get the Breville Barista Express which has a grinder and steam wand + various accessories. The process of using it is convenient and reliable....
For roughly the same price, maybe a tad more, you can get the Breville Barista Express which has a grinder and steam wand + various accessories. The process of using it is convenient and reliable. I’ve done around a thousand espressos on mine and have no complaints.
This is a nice listing and comparison. I’ve been an Aeropress guy for several years but have casually thought about upgrading to a manual espresso maker. The reason I’ve stuck with an Aeropress up to this point is because of an add-on part that these guides almost invariably overlook: the Prismo attachment. The Prismo is about $30 extra and is a true force multiplier for the Aeropress. It allows you to make much more espresso-like coffee. An Aeropress by itself is honestly pretty boring, exactly like this guide describes— “strong filter coffee, akin to what you’d get from a French press”. But coffee from an Aeropress with the Prismo is really, really good. It really is more like espresso. For this reason, when I’ve evaluated manual espresso makers, I’ve generally concluded that they may be better, but are they $100 or even $400 better? Probably not.
And the Aeopress/Prismo has advantages of convenience over manual espresso makers: (1) cleanup could not possibly be easier and (2) it has a very small countertop or cabinet footprint.
I will say, though, that this article makes the Flair 58 sound very, very tempting. But unless I see a major sale, I’ll probably be sticking with the Aeropress + Prismo duo.
These things always felt like a gimmick. Temperature regulation is often an issue and they seem like more work than it’s worth. Along with often costing as much as an actual espresso machine.
Stick to the electric machines or simpler ways of making coffee imo and leave these things to the instagramers.
I had suspected that the Flair would be a gimmick, but bought one because I was looking for a reasonably semi-portable way to make espresso. Instead, I actually found that it both wasn't a gimmick, and consistently made much better espresso than I expected, to the point that I now use it as my primary machine. It is better than the majority of coffee shops (largely, any coffee shop that isn't specifically focused on making excellent espresso). It makes much better coffee than the Gaggia Classics I also often use, even with better portafilters and modified pressure valves, and almost certainly makes much better coffee than the Breville Barista Express you mention elsewhere. They're not really comparable machines: Flair is making machines that sacrifice convenience and tolerances in order to vastly outperform on quality for the price, while many electric machines at similar price ranges are focused on convenience and tolerance. As an example, the Barista Express has a 16-step-adjustment grinder with a seemingly non-scale-based dosing mechanism, and includes pressurized and unpressurized filters in case you want to use pre-ground coffee; the Flair isn't really designed to use anything other than bottomless filters, and makes a mess if the grind isn't perfect or the dose is off by more than ±0.5 g.
I can control the pressure to an extent that simply isn't possible with the design of most mid-range electric machines, and can control time and extraction ratio well. Temperature control is much less of a problem than might be expected, in part because the water path is much simpler than an electric machine (no pump, no tubing, no reservoir, thermal isolation from the rest of the machine is reasonably simple, etc). While getting the process right can be tricky, it's likely that the temperature is more consistent for me on the Flair than a Gaggia Classic with no PID controller modification; there are simply far fewer uncontrollable variables. There's also the unusual benefit that I can make the same coffee with no electricity, and can leave the machine for months without any worries about maintenance, scale, clogging, or parts breaking.
But convenience is a significant tradeoff. It takes me about 4-5 minutes of active, focused work to make two espressos, using two cylinders and portafilters, and I'm a scientist who is at least reasonably well regarded for precise lab work and known for becoming somewhat overly obsessive at times. I use a first-model Flair Pro with the second-model retrofit kit, a Kinu M47 Classic grinder, a generic 0.1g scale and timer, and a Thermapen One; while I don't have the last two specifically for coffee, the cost of everything combined is likely between double and triple the cost of just the Flair Pro itself. (I also only drink espresso, and am not even sure how to use a steam wand; otherwise, that would be a significant problem.)
By comparison with a Gaggia Classic, a Capresso Infinity grinder, and a scale, I can make an espresso with about 30 seconds of comparatively easy active work. It won't be as consistently good, but it's much easier.
This has actually put me in the somewhat frustrating situation that I find the process tedious as an everyday task, while at the same time, alternative options would sacrifice at least some control and consistency, short of a setup costing in the thousands.
Interesting review. Although on the Breville one, there is actually a second grind adjustment which is a little harder to access which allows you to fine tune it. And I suggest weighing the beans before putting them in the grinder, also have the option of the cheaper version of the machine which has no grinder and using an external one.
Not entirely sure how the final result stacks up compared to the Flair but its fairly comparable to most decent cafes I have tried. The steam wand is slightly annoying due to the single boiler but the espresso extraction seems good.
It seems like the cheaper flair offerings, if you're comfortable wasting energy and water preheating the brewhead, strike a minimum of value that makes them viable. For US$200, you can pull shots of real espresso, and all you're missing compared to a boilerdriven lever machine is the steaming wand. It's clunky, tedious, and finnicky compared to a La Pavoni, but it's also $700 cheaper.
The other offerings listed here are either not capable of delivering espresso, or they have such a design that preheating the brewhead via submersion in boiling water isn't viable. Besides, even that $200 Flair requires a $200-400 (bare minimum) grinder and fresh beans. Espresso as a whole is just a silly process.
For roughly the same price, maybe a tad more, you can get the Breville Barista Express which has a grinder and steam wand + various accessories. The process of using it is convenient and reliable. I’ve done around a thousand espressos on mine and have no complaints.