Features:

  • 100% Human-Powered, Manual Espresso Press
  • Easy to Clean - with the market's only detachable brewing head and easy-clean portafilter
  • Completely Portable - breaks down into handy carrying case
  • Premium Styling - available in matte black or chrome with a copper-plated portafilter base
  • Five (5) Year Warranty on Aluminum Press Stand and Stainless Steel Brewing Head
Fiddly at first, but ultimately it pulls a great shot of espresso!

Nice build quality, but fiddly to put all the pieces together just for a shot of espresso. You also need a hot bowl of water to put some of the pieces in before you pull a shot. If you want to make lattes, you'll also need a milk frother (?) and a device to heat the milk (I use a small saucepan on the stove for a couple of minutes). Oh, you'll also need a burr grinder to grind up the coffee beans fine enough to pull a good shot. A hack that I found from another Amazon user was to buy a good manual burr grinder (around $20 here on Amazon) and hook up a drill to the crank section - it'll grind the beans in no time, just like a $200 electric grinder! That being said, the Flair Signature Espresso Maker pulls great shots of coffee and that is what it's designed to do - so that's why I've given it 5 stars. All of the components exposed to pressure during the coffee-making process are milled and feel sturdy. I get the feeling that the company really stands being their product, and if I have any issues in the future, I feel confident that I can just reach out for help - and get it. The shots I've pulled are on par with just about any franchise-style coffee house that I've tried, and I'm sure I'll get better at it (and faster as well), the more that I do it. I believe that for the cost of this product - compared to the cost of the machines that pull comparable shots - and that there are none of the maintenance issues of those machines - it's hard to beat. Recommended.

Truly professional level espresso

I've worked as a barista in a couple of specialty coffee places in Spain and Australia, and I'm in love with the Flair. It takes quite some practice and trial and error to get the right grind (I have a HARIO Skerton Plus), and the right amount of grams (get a .00 milligram scale, half a gram more can make the lever not to go down). But once you get it, you can get a perfectly balanced, professional level espresso, with plenty of crema which brings a nice base for your latte art (if you are into latte art, I strongly recommend you getting a Bellman Steamer 50SS. Always get FRESHLY roasted whole coffee beans. If you are not into grinding beans, or don't know how to work with coffee and feel lazy to learn how to handle it, I'd advice against getting a manual machine like this. Making the coffee does take some time. But if you upgrade your grind to an electrical one, have an electric kettle... you can be way faster than me. And even taking me about 5 minutes to make my espresso, I enjoy every second.

Amazing and Beautiful.

The Flair is the second espresso maker that I have owned. This is so much better than the small electric one that I had years ago. It is the first manual espresso maker I have ever used. I did lots of reading before making this purchase. The espresso that I make with it wonderful. The whole process (grind, assemble, press) makes for a total experience. The look is elegant and is beautiful on my coffee bar. You will not be disappointed.

Wonderfully Engineered Espresso Machine!

I wanted an espresso machine and discovered the Flair machine during my searches. I’ve had an espresso machine before and was deterred by the preventative maintenance and cleaning. Eventually, appliances stop working and heating elements fail. When I discovered this product, I was intrigued - something mechanical that would last. I ordered the bundle so I could make a double-shot and get the stainless tamper. The machine has lived up to every expectation. It is beautifully constructed and engineered. I had a problem on first try. I ground my coffee too fine, tamped too hard, and couldn’t press the coffee. On my second try, my coffee grind was too coarse. I was starting to feel like Goldilocks. The product instructions mentioned getting a free grind sample to help with regulating the grind. Flair provides great customer service. I had a nice email dialog with a customer service representative to help me dial in the best grind. The sample coffee arrived quickly and was helpful in the process. I didn’t get much crema with my first tries and learned that I needed fresher roasted coffee. I keep the machine on the counter and used the bolt provided to fix the base. I bought a nice tray to keep the components at the ready on the counter. It seems easier than packing it away each time. I do like the portability factor though. If I travel, I can take it with me. I’ve turned making espresso into a regular weekend routine. I weigh the coffee and grind it fresh. I found 11 g to be perfect. I recommend preheating the cylinder - the placement of the silicon grips are just right for handling hot components. I enjoy my cup of espresso before cleaning up to allow pieces to cool for easy handling. I enjoy the process of making the drink with my Flair espresso maker and the result is so much better than my local coffee house. I even bought a manual milk frother to keep the process entirely mechanical when making a latte. It is a fun process I look forward to every weekend.

The best portable espresso maker on the market.

I love this product and design. I have been looking for a compact espresso maker for the road to come close to what I have been using at home. I had Ranchilio Silvia, then Breville Oracle that I really enjoy but can't take with me when I travel. I tried many portable devices. I tried the ROK and some other less expensive makers like Handpresso, and Minipresso that work but don't give you the quality or crema of a home set up that costs at least $1000-$2000. I also discovered another little plastic device called the Prexo (from Korea) that fell apart after a few months and is currently discontinued. I was a little skeptical trying another gadget at first, but after watching some videos I decided to give it a try. Everything about this maker is beautifully crafted. It's very sturdy (assembled in seconds, the upper and lower stand can be attached with optional screw for extra stability). All you need is hot boiling water and freshly ground coffee beans. I always use beans that were roasted within last 7-14 days. That's how you get the best crema, and there is plenty if you dial in your grind properly. I also have a portable high quality hand grinder from Orphanespresso called Lido E-T. You can use any burr grinder (electric or hand) that gives you enough control to adjust the grind for fine espresso grounds. One may be intimidated by the number of separate parts when you first look at it. But it assembles quickly, and cleaning is easily done in the sink under running water. It is a smaller diameter than your average portafilter (around 40mm), but It doesn't seem to effect the quality. What is most important is to heat up the steel cylinder, either by boiling it or assembling it with an upside piston as the base and filling it with boiling water. If you choose the second, some users recommend repeating it 2-3 times to heat up the cylinder to recommended temperature of around 200F which is optimum for a great shot. With this bundle, you can simultaneously prepare two portafilters for 2 shots in a row. The recommended dose of beans is 14-17grams. I had used a little more, but would not recommend using more than 18grams. Believe me, it's plenty. Flair reports that some user managed to fit 30grams of light roast for a triple shot. But, I can't imaging how. The portafilter and the cylinder in my view are a little small for that. The steel in the cylinder will get really hot and hold that temperature well, and the addition of silicone sleeve is very useful to allow to handle the unit with your bare hands. Everything folds in included case for storage and carrying. Have to mention great service from the manufacturer. Had discovered a small defect initially with the upper part being slightly not aligned. It still worked perfectly, but I was just concerned. Had contacted Flair. They apologized and shipped out almost immediately the new part and now it's perfect. Had it for a couple of months, really enjoying it and even like using it at home. It gives me more control than my $2000 machine.

I wish I could give this six stars!

I must have lucked out on my first try and got the grind and tamp down perfectly. I pulled a couple of beautiful shots this morning, absolutely delicious. Definitely the best I’ve ever tasted – anywhere! Of course, it also helped that just I roasted the beans yesterday (in a Nostalgia hot air popcorn popper I got on Amazon!) After years of struggling to get a consistent shot from my Saeco Aroma, I finally gave up. It was really frustrating to get a good shot, then the next one just dribbled out drop by drop. Or else a crappy shot followed by a mediocre one. The trouble is that it was a mystery as to what was wrong – pump, thermostat, grind, tamp, calcification, or any of a number of small components in the machine that needed periodic replacement. I even took it in for service once. What I like about the Flair is the total control I have over the water temperature, pressure of the pull and the timing of the shot. There are no guesses about what might be malfunctioning. It’s just me, some coffee and a lever. You have no idea how satisfying it is to watch that perfect crema form in the cup. Aside from the amazing functionality, this is also a well-built device. Very nicely machined parts, everything fits together snugly. Note that this weighs over seven pounds. That’s a good sign of how solid it is. I have a feeling the Flair will probably last for decades of daily use. The only parts that I see that could wear out are the plastic piston and maybe the screens that go over the grounds.

Reliable way to get into home brewed espresso

The Flair is a well built machine! I went with the signature model because I liked the look of it online and thought it would compliment my kitchen. I wasn't wrong about that! This thing is gorgeous! But, the important thing is does it produce good espresso? I have been using it over the last couple of days and, while I am no expert on espresso, I will say that, with fresh roasted beans and the proper grind, the Flair does a wonderful job of producing excellent crema. I am used to Americanos and that's primarily what I purchased the Flair for. I have been using an Aeropress, which also makes great coffee, but, of course, could never get "real" espresso from it. Like any espresso machine, there is a learning curve to the Flair. Mostly, I think it's more a matter of getting your individual technique down pat. Things like preheating the cup, brewhead and portafilter, are all things you have to do with any espresso maker. If you're not used to pulling shots with a manual espresso maker, it will take you a bit of trial and error to figure out how hard 40 lbs of force feels and where your grind needs to be to achieve it. Pushing down on a clean bathroom scale will make short work of figuring out the feel. Another important tip is to look online at some espresso shots and get a feel for what they look like with regards to color. Once you have all that dialed in, you will be making great espresso shots with this in no time! My Bodum Bistro grinder doesn't quite grind my current beans fine enough. The shot appears to be a bit under extracted. I switched over to my manual JavaPresse and Mueller grinders and they work very well at around 4 clicks for my current roast. Cleanup is fairly simple with the Flair too. The newer easier to clean portafilter works well. The puck can be a bit stubborn to remove but I just dig it out with my finger. Just reverse the direction you pushed on the piston and it removes easily with just your thumbs. All in all, I really like the Flair and coupled with the right roast and grinder, I don't think there is a better way to get started with home brewed espresso.

You won't regret it

There are so many thorough reviews on here that it is pretty difficult to add any significant substance. I'll start with my only negative. I wish capable of pulling a true double shot. The chamber is just not large enough to do it. Everything else is simply fantastic, I take it to work on Mondays along with my Lido ET and bonavita electric kettle and take the setup back home on Fridays for the weekend. The quality of espresso this thing is capable of making and portability and price has no comparison. For convenience and price, I'm currently using Lavazza Gran Espresso and there is very little to be desired. The Flair extracts the crema so easily you almost have to try to do it wrong to mess it up 😉 There are many videos out there that show how to use it, it only took me about 3 ahots to tune my grind.

Most Versatile Espresso Machine I've Used

When I first unboxed and tested the Flair, it took a bit of trial and error to find the right recipe for espresso success, but not more so than most other espresso machines (especially manual ones). The simplicity of the machine itself is impressive without feeling like the product engineers were ever lazy. To the contrary, it feels quite durable, and as though it'll last for quite a long time. In usage, it's incredible how versatile the machine is in that so many variables are accessible to you, that you would be unable to effect in most other machines anywhere remotely close to this price point. This versatility makes experimenting so much more fun (and rewarding). The Flair is that it isn't exceptionally slow, but if you don't care to be involved in the process of your espresso, you probably shouldn't be looking at manual espresso machines. As some others have noted, the Flair is prone to a bit of side-to-side wobbling when under pressure, but nothing significant. I simply added a couple extra bumpers to make it feel very solid. Enough others have written about the quality of espresso the machine is capable of producing, but in the end that's what most of us care about. It's excellent, and even better, how good it can taste is really up to you.

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