Budget Espresso Banger: Relaunched Flair Neo Flex, an Exciting Upgrade

[@silasklug6863]

School of Rock! Love my flair classic. Don't really see a reason to upgrade from it and have well over 1000 shots on it, but cool they keep experimenting

[@philindeblanc]

True, and experiment is the key word in this plastic model.

[@snyadmin]

Pretty hard to get hold of in Europe until they match the demand - if anyone grabs the older neoflex here’s a hack I use daily: stick it on bathroom scales. Each 2kg is about 1 bar of pressure (so 18kg of pressure for 9 bar). Works great, makes superb shots.

[@DaniilOskolkov]

It is truly fascinating how high quality espresso brewing is becoming more and more accessible to people!

[@DigitalicaEG]

I’m starting to realize that Lance is the Jack Black of KZbin coffee.

[@Legorose2316]

Oh my god, you change my way to see i'm forever. (In a good way😊)

[@DanielHKhalid]

This is so accurate 🙌🏼 😄

[@The_Coffee_Rabbit_Hole]

More like the Jack medium light 😅

[@davidlyons6235]

Oof. Ouch.

[@wakeawaken430]

It's a long way, to the top, if your wanna have a cup of coffee

[@flug_rost]

Funnily enough, I think this video pushed me over the edge to buy a Cafelat Robot and cancel my Meticulous preorder. Even if I decide to pick up the Meticulous in retail in a few years, the Cafelat will be a timeless piece of quality gear that I can use and admire a lifetime. Thanks as always for the thoughtful content Lance!

[@AnEasyGuy22]

Why is that?

[@EarsoftheWolf]

The Robot truly is a great espresso machine, I use it every day and it's an absolute pleasure to own.

[@NeverMind353]

@@EarsoftheWolf second that. Light roasts need a while to figure out but are possible. And medium-dark ones are delightful

[@Shreybz]

Great idea. Have had mine a year or so and it’s been an absolute delight. More and more convinced that there isn’t a better value out there than the robot. It rivals quality with any machine.

[@gpapa31]

Third that. Best decision. The Robot is the king of “budget levers”. It’s built like a tank, its workflow is second to none, it is ridiculously cheap to maintain and the results you get (dark-med roast) can easily rival any pro machine out there that costs thousands of dollars.

[@trobinso92]

Just bought this neo flex about a month ago as my first manual espresso maker so just some more tips here Lance is right with the red flow restrictor, it's supposed to be "beginner friendly" but I found it made it even harder to pull a good tasting shot. Throws your pressure all over the place and hard to find your best grind setting. So I only use the black one like Lance shows and it's great For the preheat, the kit comes with a little silicone cap for the chamber which is great I'll just pour some boiling hot water in the chamber and let it sit while I grind/tamp and its a good workflow. I haven't had any creaks in the plastic now that I've pulled probably 50+ shots I think that's a new plastic thing. I'd recommend getting a scale that has an automatic timer on it so you can track your extraction time as you pull, flair has one for ~50 USD that fits in the pocket of the base. Flair and Lance mention that max puck is about 12 or 13g but I usually pull 15g every time just fine. With 14g I have just enough room for a little brown sugar on top *mwah All in all love this thing and at a great price Lance great vid as always. would love to see a video on upgrades you'd recommend for manual set ups like this, pressure transmitters, temperature gauges, etc

[@RaafiFadillah-lq8co]

i bought this neo flex v2 2 days ago, first try it worked, i used the red one with 18g coffee. But the next try with the same grams its stuck, i cant press it, the coffee likes go up to the chamber slowly after i pour the hot water, and even worse the third, and fourth it still failed, its just stuck and cant be pressed. can you help me pls 😢

[@bertsperling7007]

Love my Flair Pro 2! I could afford a "serious" espresso machine, but I really enjoy being closer to the whole process and still getting great results. I was meeting up with a friend at one of Portland's excellent third-wave coffee shops, and brought the Flair along to show him. One of the baristas asked about the it, so I pulled a shot right there on the counter. He was like, "Whoa, damn. That's really good. I'm going to enjoy this." Sorta like steppin up to the mic at a blues club and getting respect. 😄 A good feeling.

[@marcozg77]

Hi fellow FP2 user! I love mine too! I did and still do own pump machines for many years. But for like 10 months I got my FP2, I've never touched my pump machine since then... crafting your very own espresso with a manual lever is just too addictive...

[@rawsteaks8972]

I have a Flair and a Nanofoamer pro, this combo of a couple hundred bucks, is amazing. The savings on coffee, the process became something I loved in my daily routines

[@Phobosandpanic]

Great video Lance, always good to see someonce championing the budget route to get into a hobby. For anyone watching this who is interested in getting into espresso but doesn't have a machine - buy one of these! I bought a flair signature and I've learned so much about how to make good espresso. The main thing I learned is I love all the prep work, the process of dialling in and the feedback you get from a lever machine, but equally i could have also learnt that actually I really can't be arsed with all that when making espresso. But at least that way I'd have only spent circa £150-200 (including grinder) to learn that lesson, and not potentially £1000+ if I'd have gone straight to a full machine. Though i would say if that cheap plastic creaking annoys you, I'd recommend getting a second hand flair signature instead as they're a metal frame and you can upgrade the brew chamber to the pro size if you want bigger shots at a later date

[@anonylesss]

i got my first Flair Signature (classic + pressure gauge) after watching your original Neo video. loved it so much, upgraded the brew head to Pro2 and then i just had to get the 58 . loving (almost) anything Flair product !

[@sebastianschar142]

Also have the Flair Signature now for years. Combined with a good hand grinder, it gives the full manual espresso experience. And the espresso it produces is comparable to that of 2k+ machines and very expensive motorized grinders. Only thing you need to worry about is proper preheating.

[@nathanhersey8590]

I have a similar path as you. I got the classic and went straight to the 58. I love flair so much. I am considering upgrading to the Pro 2 for my classic and bringing it to my office.

[@anonylesss]

@@nathanhersey8590 very cool! just consider heating up the Pro2 brew head can be a pain. it used to take me about 15 minutes, during which it was sitting above the kettle - and the temp. sticker (that Flair sells on their website) on the outside, only got to about 80c .i would stick with the Classic for the office:) *get a presssure gauge though

[@nathanhersey8590]

@@anonylesss That is what I ended up doing. I figured I don't have to spend the money to upgrade and I have a good option already. And I do have the pressure gauge already for it. Thanks!

[@interstellar8642]

the impression of jack black was golddd this is the first video im watching of this channel and im already loving this guy

[@jstrandquist]

I've been using an OG Neo (with the black portafilter and pressure gauge) as my daily driver since 2020. It's been totally worth the $120 + upgrades, especially once I finally changed from a blade grinder to a burr grinder. As an affordable, very low-maintenance way to make good straight espresso, it's hard to beat. It suffers in the area of speed, since without multiple portafilters, brew chambers, and a large kettle, it's hard to pull multiple shots in quick succession, as you have to disassemble and clean the thing every darn time. Likewise, you're out of luck on milk drinks without external tools. That said, if you just want to make a plain shot for yourself, it can absolutely do the job with aplomb, even for light-roast specialty coffees (my personal favorite). I like to plug the brew chamber with the piston, invert it on the stand, and fill it with boiling water twice to preheat, but after watching Lance's video I might try the kettle preheat method to save fuss. Lastly, I've found that using a WDT tool makes a big difference to consistency of flow, all but eliminating the occasional clogs and choked shots that could occur otherwise.

[@rkytr.2765]

These la pavonis In the background… I would love to see them in a separate video…❤

[@coffeesensor6612]

Soon it will be available for us.

[@nathanmccord706]

The School of Rock references are always my favorite! I love my flair neo flex and am always impressed by the quality of the shot for being so cheap!

[@tomspotley5733]

That black La Pavoni is gorgeous

[@gpapa31]

I can’t wait for him to review those. Hopefully soon.

[@fscottqc]

I asked a question about the Flair on last week’s video and instead of replying to my comment, you answered with a whole video just for me!! Thanks, Lance!! 😉

[@antonmagzmagoo]

Literally started singing along with you. I love that movie 4:04

[@skhy77]

Thank you for going over plastics and hot water contact.

[@ASCLorenzoo]

I have the classic model that I've bought 2 years ago, still works like a charm to this day. Such a phenomenal espresso machine for its price, the only thing I hate about this new model is that plastic design and the cranky noise while brewing the shot. As always thanks for the review, keep up the great work.

[@88sstraight]

Oh, I heard the creak alright, just seems like something built to a price point rather than for the long term. I’m glad to still have and use the Robot 2-3 times a day. Thanks Lance!

[@shumaiprincess]

Love the robot!

[@EvanEggnog]

The school or rock bit is 10/10 Lance, good work

[@AndyGait]

I got mine about 2 weeks ago. I had the original Flex & sent it back because of the stupid graduation discs & the fact that it always felt like it was once creak away from snapping. To me this frame feels more solid & the base feels more stable. On the old Flex the base wobbled around. The new one doesn't. Using it with the K4 grinder and loving it. Getting very good shots from it & love the whole process.

[@MaltePersike]

The creaking speaks doom for longevity.

[@lostmymag]

It really doesn't, been pulling mine with creaks daily for a year now and it is still fine. The creaks are from when you don't pull down straight and the plastic on the joint rubs against one another.

[@Vaan4756346]

@@lostmymag perhaps some vaseline or something?

[@brandyballoon]

I'm guessing a lot of the creaking in the video was due to the misalignment and pressure points created by using the pressure gauge that doesn't fit. The point where it was touching the lever could have a few hundred pounds of force on it. It's pushing both the lever and the piston sideways in opposite directions.

[@1130Runs]

​@Vaan4756346 vaseline eventually wears away at plastic. This could create loose joints in future.

[@ericmed]

I’ve found the original/signature line to be the best for travel and comes with enough features such as the steel tamper

[@enterflux]

Love my Flair Signature and my Kinu grinder. Been using them for years now.

[@kevinchristianto22]

been waiting someone out there made a video about neo flex relaunched, finally we got lance!

[@glencwilson]

I got a Flex and apart from the creaking it is great. Months later still trying to get it dialled in but getting there. Espresso is pretty good but not great yet. Well worth the money.

[@bogiesan]

For an entry level lever, the Flex has no competition. I’ve enjoyed using mine for several months. The beginning espresso enthusiast can learn much for just $100, including whether or not this hobby is a good fit. It does not take long to spend a lot on f money on a grinder, cups, coffee storage, and some other accessories.

[@1130Runs]

Charity shops in the UK are a gold mine for small coffee cups, browse around and find something unique

[@Schmiddis_focus]

that impression of Jack was immaculate!

[@jpk.mp3]

he really snapped with the grinder recommendations at the end 🤯

[@marcozg77]

Still in love with my Flair Pro 2.

[@FaithAndCoffeeBean]

I love using my smaller delonghi ecp porta filter. I am so thinking about buying a neo flex! Love this video 👍🏽☕️😎

[@pimacanyon6208]

love your videos, they almost always make me laugh. And, even more important, you provide us we useful, accurate information.

[@MongooseReflexes]

That loud creaking noise is an absolute deal breaker! I'm not listening to that every single day, especially first thing in the morning.

[@bruce-bales]

Honestly, I consistently got better coffee from my Neo Flex than I do on my 58. I still prefer the 58 because the propriety Flair workflow is significantly more annoying than a more standard portafilter workflow, but the deeper basket on the Neo makes such a consistently delicious shot. I'd absolutely love to see either an official step-down portafilter for the 58, or a similar product to the 58 but with the same basket dimensions as the Neo.

[@RubenRC94]

I have the 2024 relaunch. It's a amazing unit. One downside I found it the bottom rim of the new plunger tends to crack. Sadly there's no spare parts yet. So it's either go back to no gauge (no option for me) or buy the metal gauge upgrade wich is half of the machine. I love the shots so probably will buy a pro2 when the plunger really breaks.

[@StevenK-x4m]

Lance, I think you had one to many espresso's before making this video. I love the style. Never stop being yourself. Coffee, music, happiness are all great endeavors. Mine are coffee, flowers, birds. To each their own.Its all about finding happiness.

[@roberthenrypoet]

4:03 That beautiful out burst wasn't the caffeine: That's just Lance Hendrick in general. 😊😊😊

[@t3hb0ss]

$120 for great espresso? To think i was about to get a Lelit Bianca! Saved my ass

[@rkytr.2765]

Get the Lelit, it’s a great machine! I am very happy with my Bianca.😊

[@SunriseLAW]

The two products are "night and day". Get the Flair, it might work for you. You will probably dream of the Lelit and buy it, too. That way, you will have a great portable option and something cool to look at sitting beside your Lelit. Keep in mind that a Lelit retains significant value over the years, especially if well-maintained. What are you doing for a grinder? I use a Kingrinder 6 to feed my Gaggia Classic Pro but will probably upgrade to a DF-54 or something along those lines. BTW: my first machine was a $30 DeLonghi Stilosa, found it barely used on Facebook. It actually made some fairly awesome (small) shots and the steam wand works better than the Gaggia.

[@jedrzejkrysztofiak6041]

I got Lelit Mara and sold it. Espresso machine at home with one or two persons drinking coffee is more maintenance than doing coffee. Right now I drink pour overs and dream about Cafelat Robot.

[@DuBstep115]

@@jedrzejkrysztofiak6041 Water kettle + manual espresso machine + hand grinder is all you need. Basically 0 maintenance. If you like milk drinks get milk frother All of this can be had for what 500-550€ and nothing will break down in next 20 years.

[@KrishnenduKes]

Been using the Flair 58+ for a year and a half now. It took me away from my Pour Overs. And I almost do not ever have coffee at a café.

[@jaredschoenbrun]

Just need a DF54 review

[@corwinblack4072]

That better be good or at least have good burrs, given only upgrade from that is new grinder. Given 64mm are reasonably cheap, it doesnt really make much sense as product.

[@jaredschoenbrun]

@@corwinblack4072 if you don’t replace burrs on 64 it makes no sense to get it. DF54 seems like an incredible deal. Im still deciding whether to get the 54 or I want to upgrade to 64 and get ssp hu burrs

[@mikele7982]

I spot the 9barista there! Where is the Lance and outdoor espresso with 9barista video? :D

[@kg-Whatthehelliseventhat]

Hello, Please give me an update in the near future. Thank you so much.

[@adamh603]

...now step off!!!!! hahahahaha Edit: As someone just getting into the scene, you've done a great job educating and explaining a lot of details that have helped me learn more. Great video, thanks for making it!

[@kevincostello1599]

Would love a review of the new ninja espresso machine that recently released! Love the content Lance

[@justinbouchard]

you always pop off with my fave movie quotes

[@woehrle17]

I watched school of rock every day for this one summer as a kid and also am sometimes taken over by the insatiable need to quote a song from it. It's impossible to mention the concept of rent in my house without also singing "you're not hardcore, unless you live hardcore!"

[@gpapa31]

I really love the lever love lately. Would you kindly review/showcase some La Pavoni models (preferably Stradivari or Esperto Abile)? That would be awesome. 🙌 Thank you 🙏 for doing this anyway Lance!!

[@javiarfasyah868]

Thank god i got to buy the metal-framed neo back then, tho the new piston and chamber are interesting

[@Fitz557]

Hi there ! First of all, I love the Jack-Black-Musical vibe in this video. Didn't expect it, loved it. Second, I was wondering how good the espressos could be with those machines. I have a La Pavoni Europiccola, and although I love the coffee it makes, it is quite demanding. It takes some time to heat, it's not so easy to clean or replace parts when needed,... and I'm thinking about getting a Flair. So I'm wondering, would it be a downgrade taste wise, or not really?

[@cameronbatko]

The only issue I had with mine is that the metal chamber may have tolerance issues. My piston would let water pass by it. They sent new red orings and it works great now. I had to swap the black ones on the piston for red. I also just use the preheat cap and pour the hot water in it to preheat. I also wish their metal tamper had a better fit but for $25 can’t really complain. Easy espresso in a hotel.

[@corwinblack4072]

If one drinks only dark to medium roast, it doesnt really need much than hot water preheat. I had Flair pretty much since they started making them, and even that original NEO brew chamber (which back then was like 2nd redesign of original one) was quite fine with just water preheat. True, I used mostly darker coffee back then. Today, anything with Pro or Pro2 brew chamber is a lot of preheating and its still not perfect, cause that thing itself weights fairly absurd 500g, basket is another 100g. So you get pretty much 600g of stainless steel to preheat. I would argue that PRO/2 brew chambers are not actually upgrade, but downgrade. Its basically very sturdy big heatsink.

[@cameronbatko]

@@corwinblack4072 yea I tend to drink light to medium roasts and letting hot water sit in the chamber for a minute gets the cylinder quite hot. And makes a better shot.

[@bogiesan]

The color of the o-rings is irrelevant. My replacements were red, a friend’s came in a pinkish color. Both sets of replacements were obviously larger.

[@gsg1407]

Would be great if you could use glass cups so we can see the expresso and crema flowing

[@matiaschacana5768]

Great video Lance! Have you tried the 1zpresso Q Air? It has a plastic build and heptagonal burrs like the Q2 but with small changes (Rouge Wave did a video showing them). Do you find it has the same "C40 like" results as the Q2? Would you say it can also do espresso? I got it on sale as an upgrade for my Timemore Slim Plus for filter, but I can't say I've noticed a huge jump in clarity and sweetness for now. Maybe it's cause I slow fed with the Slim and I've been grinding vertically with the Q Air.

[@cutiebirdie2216]

Wow I didn’t know you’re also a great singer! Kinda fun singing while reviewing 😂

[@notyou7]

On the Pro2 the advice is to *not* release pressure on the arm prior to it reaching 0 as the water chamber & the portafilter can separate spraying hot water everywhere -- something I only had to do once to never repeat. Is the Flex not subject to the same problem? [Lance let up completely at ~3 bars.]

[@wanaan]

Don't throw out the portafilter cover. It is very useful for removing the finished puck. Once you're done, pop the cover on, blow through it and the puck will pop right out.

[@daviddrzewicki1254]

Maybe we can convince flair to offer the metal stand (by itself) as an upgrade? I respect the fact that most of their accessories are interchangeable

[@sheizego]

Thanks!!! Really nice video! Gracias, muy buen video!!

[@kaitlynmccoy9632]

Could I use a Fellow Ode 2 with a flair? I was pretty into pour over during the spring and now I’d like to have espresso as an option.

[@OverMotoren]

I have the original Neo, wouldn't trade it for any of the newer versions. However, I still do want the gauge at some point.

[@philindeblanc]

This might be best sold as a demonstration or practice device of how espresso can be made with minimal materials. I think the plastic creeks would be a deal breaker for most anyone. Maybe perfect for a 90 sq ft hut in Nepal or something. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but just not a wide net of people to sell this to. i can actually see it as gifts to the laborers that work tirelessly on the coffee fields. Perhaps they have much better setups?

[@pkwan970]

The pressure Guage is essential upgrade

[@DavidLim-o6r]

I don't know if I missed this, but: you mentioned that preheating on the kettle is sufficient for medium-dark roasts, and no preheating is acceptable for dark roasts. What do you suggest for light roasts? Contact with boiling water? Or do you not recommend this machine for light roasts? In a similar vein - if the signature/pro editions have more thermal mass and less insulation from a smaller rubber band around it, would you say any problems with light roasts are exacerbated on those models? A.k.a if it's hard to work with light on this model it's impossible on the signature/pro? Thanks for the video! and sorry if I missed anything

[@treborlo]

Can't you see he's the man let me hear you applaud he more than a man he's a shiny coffee god.

[@Essem-H]

What would be the grind setting on a 1zpresso Q2S when using the flex? Or maybe a good starting point, perhaps?

[@addisonfrancisco9007]

The School of Rock reference was a great coincidence because I was listening to the Jack Black ep of Armchair Expert literally before watching this video.

[@Kiaulen]

Hey Lance, when you say the 1zpresso Q2 fits an aeropress, do you mean you could pack them together to save space, with the Q2 inside the aeropress? That'd be really awesome if so.

[@malacaio]

Yes, exactly!

[@emerrioadiron293]

What about the 9Barista ? Are you going to review it ? Thx Lance

[@tommydube]

I hit the like Button hard while you singing 😄

[@Shreybz]

I don’t think you can get a better budget espresso than the picopresso. It’s a joy to use and portable. Ultimate at the office setup. And then my daily driver is the robot and that’s the best value manual machine out there.

[@anton84121]

Hi, need an advice - when comparing neo with pressurised basket to aeropress prismo, considering that grinder is going to be fellow ode 2 - will it be any substantial difference between beverages? Don’t have a place for second electric grinder and don’t really big espresso fan but need to do milk drinks from time to time.

[@elyert]

4:01 Reminds me of School of Rock/Nacho Libre.

[@LanceHedrick]

It's from school of rock

[@dio52]

I had a great time with my gen 1 Neo before I upgraded to my current 58+, paired with a JX-Pro. I had this terrible cheap DeLonghi before it that was just a nightmare to use. The Neo was the first good espresso I managed to make reliably.

[@RyRyTheBassGuy]

I keep wanting an espresso machine for cold lattes, but then I make a strong brew with the Aeropress and think, "Good enough".

[@teknophyle1]

NGL i think this will be my next espresso machine. my eye will just twitch from the noises. real question is how long before it breaks completely

[@pelvabill]

Any chance you might get your hands on a rocket Bicocca for a review?

[@davidlyons6235]

I've been extremely curious about the deeper wells. Not anyone really talking about their advantages, if any. I wonder if a certain roast level is optimal with them as well.

[@E_Dtl]

I am so happy, I didn't go with a Flair. I am just to lazy for this kind of work to get an espresso.

[@Madrox14]

As a total espresso beginner, what machine would you suggest?

[@Bliblablub1]

Just lubricate the joint a bit. I think it will fix the issue with the noise

[@KanielD]

Any plans on reviewing the Pro 3?

[@MayanPatel1]

Have you tried the Lagom Casa yet? Looking for a new affordable grinder for my lever

[@Waisonian]

Is the 1zpresso Q the new Q2? For C2, what would click # would you recommend starting at? Thanks! Oh, And School of Rock!

[@jimbo386]

I didn't get my coffee today, and I am really ticked off! Jack Black should be proud of you. That Flair Neo Flex has free shipping to my country... My wallet screams "you don't need it", but my mind says "shut up! I need coffee!".

[@fgmenth]

A little off topic here, but a low pass filter could really improve your audio. Right now I can hear the static noise in the background and it makes the audio cuts really stand out because there are a few seconds of complete silence in between the cuts. P.S: I'm 99% sure it's your mic's audio input that's unfiltered.

[@hugoferrazporto]

I'm really sorry to hear that (no pun intended 🥺) TBH I was lazy AF and didn't turn off the AC while doing b roll. IT was HOTTTTT!!!! I will try to be more careful next time. Thanks for letting us know. Hugo

[@fgmenth]

@@hugoferrazporto Hey, no worries. I'm sorry for being pedantic. It's definitely from Lance's mic though, not from your b-roll footage. Try cranking up the volume and listen to that jarring audio cut at around 6:17 for example. It's definitely not a big deal and I understand that I'm nitpicking here. You're all doing a really good job with these videos. Cheers!

[@hugoferrazporto]

No worries! That's the only way to try to do better next time. I'll check the setup 🎤 📽️ 💖

[@Thunspeed]

👏

[@thereignman0120]

can you please recommend a good milk frother for latte, i want to buy one of this.

[@petes_CE]

10:35 - Pivot points need some lube. Drop some mineral oil between the arm and the base, as well as the roller pin. I wish Flair would include better guidance on how to lubricate the machine.

[@ahmadrodli6227]

Cool, i always fond to your explanation. Btw, do you think its compatible using Pro 2 pressure gauge into classic?

[@GeauxGillespie]

Am I crazy for wanting to downgrade my Flair 58 to this? Most of the time 18g of coffee is too much for me and dialing it in is trickier than I thought it’d be.

[@eldarsafarov171]

Could be a side 2nd station, maybe even more portable since it absolitely does not need grid. My thoughts 😅

[@davidlyons6235]

If you can afford it I wouldn't go that low of a downgrade. I would like for Lance to do a deeper(pun intended) dive on the advantages of the deep-well chambers of the Flair series. If it could prove to have certain significant advantages over a 58, that could be a game changer for me personally.

[@zaqueodeleon2]

For the people having a bad time going thru the little musical numbers I recommend closing your eyes until the singing is thru. It helps a little. Anyways, great video.

[@afonic]

I wouldn't buy anything that creaks like this, sorry. Thanks for the video!

[@ThePierdevara]

Will this output the same level of espresso as a cafelat robot? If we ignore the creaks and everything?

[@cottagecheese1000]

Great review thank you

[@wretchedpkmn]

49-51mm portafilter gang rise up 💯🔥🥺

[@clericneokun]

These days, the only justifications I get from people still holding onto their static 9-bar semi-autos is that they want automation but they can't afford the top-end machines worth thousands of dollars. Personally, I don't ever want to go back to that. Not only is a manual lever more accommodating with a wider range of grind sizes because of the adjustable pressure, the tactile feedback I get on the quality of puck prep and overall state/age of the coffee beans is an advantage that I'll never want to be without ever again.

[@Grumpist1]

that wobbly, creaky plastic.... maaaan, idk, I'm not against plastic frames as a principle, but geez.

[@Chzydawg]

It's a hundred bucks. Yeah I get you, it looks and feels cheap...coz it is. Could just buy the next model up if that's a deal breaker.

[@WrongButtonWB]

Ofc it's a deal breaker, since the build cost is 20$, and I'm being generous here. Charging 100$ for this, seriously?!

[@Chzydawg]

@@WrongButtonWB Okay, don't buy it? Wait till you find out about the profit margin on a La Marzocco.

[@310iker]

Would you go for flair pro 2 or these one?

[@vim_usr2753]

Anyone know how many bars of pressure it would be if you shoot for the middle of the “espresso” word on the gauge (say, right between the r and e letters)? That’s usually what I shoot for, just curious what kind of pressure I might be at.

[@renaudavoine2291]

are we getting a Lance Pavoni video by any mean? O:-)

[@nutdazzler]

If a deeper porta filter has greater margin of error is simply doing 22g or whatever amount in a 58mm the same concept? Is anyone recommending this or a number to try?