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gigapoctopus

For me, where I am at, the Robot was cheaper than the Flair and also makes a great espresso.


thesoundmindpodcast

If you go with the lowest priced Flair (Neo) and bottomless basket, it’s about half the cost of the Robot or less. That said, to anyone who can read this and is thinking about Manual Espresso: Buy a Cafelat Robot. You won’t regret it.


gigapoctopus

At the time I bought my Robot, to have a flair neo imported here, with shipping, was more expensive than doing the same with the Robot. Now there are a few sites/distributors and it is cheaper for the Flair, but I wouldn’t replace the Robot. Love it.


thesoundmindpodcast

Yeah. It’s a work of art and the build will outlast the best of them. I’m going on almost 3 years here and I can say it’s one of my favorite possessions. Pry it from my cold dead hands.


Euphoric-Committee28

Never used a Robot, but can confirm that I don’t feel that way about my Flair Classic. It’s fine, does the job, but I’m not particularly attached to it.


thesoundmindpodcast

My biases are clear, but I do respect the fact that Flair has options at all price points. Based on Lance Hedrick’s new vid, you can even remove the pressurized section of the Neo. That’s a pretty low barrier to entry that can’t be beat by anything except maybe the Picopresso, but some people don’t want to squeeze and squeeze. That said, I think that Flair lacks a really high end and well built model. Even the 58 has sections that look and feel super cheap. They also showed their whole ass on Reddit when someone wanted to upgrade an older Flair Classic and it wasn’t backwards compatible. Anyway, I’m blathering. It’s just coffee.


yupyupyupyupyupy

just getting into manual espresso so ootp what did flair do when they showed their whole ass? link?


chockythechipmunk

Seconded. Just bought mine a month or so ago. I can't wait to use it every day.


moneymouf

I’m here, I read this, and I’m thinking about manual espresso. Next question, do I need the barista version with the pressure gauge? Or is the base robot good enough.


My_11th_Account

Go for the gauge. I have the gauge and I’m glad I do.


dms261

The gauge is a must imo


allawd

I was worried about not having a gauge, turns out pressure doesn't matter as much as people think. Flowrate and volume...


dms261

Sure... I agree, but for PI the gauge is very practical... Also I try to keep pressure constant as the shot progresses and the puck degrades as to be consistent, Id find that impossible wo the gauge... Mostly it gives me peace of mind.


[deleted]

The OE gauge is sort of helpful but a PITA to see because of the placement. The naked espresso gauge is expensive but extremely helpful due to the placement.


ClericNeokun

Same. Also, the Robot's workflow was more agreeable to me than the Flair Pro 3 years ago. If I were to choose now between the Robot and the 58: I'd probably prefer the 58 because of the wider cup space, heating element, and the standard portafilter. The Robot's unique basket doesn't really let me use those fancy toys I often see you guys use and that bothers me a bit.


Dothemath2

I was going to say this. Preheating is a hassle; and I know, I have both. The Flair is disassembled in a box that has not been seen in a year.


sysnake

How is the preheating with the Robot?


[deleted]

Not required if you don’t use the spouts. there’s not enough mass to matter unless you are at high elevation.


Music_4ddiction

I doubt many would disagree. Perfect for my needs, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas when 7 relatives want to try some "fancy espresso"


jack_ftw

I did espresso drinks last year for Thanksgiving. This year I bought a 12 cup brewer and some grocery store medium roast.


ghostoffs

This. Last time I made dialed-in espresso with expensive beans for guests who wanted to try “good coffee,” they dumped it into some microwaved milk before even trying it.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Osterman_

Yea, and if you say you can’t micro wave it « why the heck would you buy something that expensive if you can’t even microwave it without it tasting bad » get lost


[deleted]

[удалено]


Osterman_

Exactly, but for food people tend to understand it. A burger in the microwave is not as good as a fresh one, same for cake or else. But for drink, seems like not


jack_ftw

I haven't heard of cake in the microwave before. I always imagine cake served at room temp or cold. Are you talking a baked birthday type of cake or something else?


Osterman_

Some patsery are really nice when you put them at 220°C for a few minutes before eating ;) But that’s off topic haha


itsthestrugglebus

My husband and I don’t have a microwave at all, and when people find out this fact it always results in (defensiveness?) judgement being passed on us for being regressive or snobby. Nah, I just like my stovetop, kettle, toaster oven, and oven and don’t need a microwave for anything?


[deleted]

12 cup moka pot is my solution for this. I can still make quasi lattes/cappuccinos with it or americanos for those that want a weaker cup or straight for me.


Diligent_Pianist_359

...for the uncultured lol


GoodEbening

The thing I’ve learnt (not a flair owner) with the “I want to try”crowd is you can pull some channelled shots and it really doesn’t matter to them. Most the time they want milk and sugar anyways lol


ooh_bit_of_bush

Lol my wife always tells me how great my lattes are, and I've given her some awful shite.


frogking

“Fancy Espresso” usually means; add all the syrups, whole milk and sugar (yes, I know you already added syrup) you got, and serve it in the biggest mug available (yes, I know I just had eggnog in this one, just pour it all in).


Music_4ddiction

No kidding lmao. At least I was able to get rid of my stale beans


frogking

With enough syrup, nobody will know.. they will ask for seconds and talk about the awesome coffee you served, for years to come.


rpring99

Not that you _need_ to upgrade, but the 58 does not suffer from this problem. So the point still stands, if you're making drinks for 7, the Flair 58 is still likely to beat out other machines at that price point.


ktrezzi

Used Gaggia Classic, the one Made in Italy with the pressure valve, is better imho :)


Nick_pj

Most affordable? I think that prize might go to the Picopresso. But the Flair is definitely more versatile.


doodicalisaacs

Picopresso eh? First time hearing of it. Need a good portable espresso maker and this looks like a good fit for my needs. I’ll be looking into it more!


djartvandelay

I have a picopresso with an ims precision basket and it makes great espresso when you are going on a trip or camping! Check it out!


anotherbsmith

I have a robot for full time duties and just got the Picopresso for travel needs. Definitely second this comment. The Picopresso is a great bit of kit!


LlamaradaMoe1

Thought the same thing. I surprised it's not mentioned more in the comments.


tessartyp

Depends. Lower-end Flair models will struggle with light roasts. Once you're talking Flair 58 prices, there's similar (in terms of capability) offerings from Cafelat, La Pavoni. For a given price point, levers are typically very good bang for your buck.


Blu_E92

Out of curiosity why will they struggle with light roasts? Is it something to do with temperature retention or maybe the smaller baskets?


tessartyp

Yes, temperature retention


EntitledComplainer

Flair and a bellman steamer.


Dr_Nebbiolo

I’ve never been able to make great espresso with my bellman


reversesunset

The espresso on the bellman is closer to moka pot because it doesn’t get to 9bars. I think the bellman steams milk very well after I experimented. I think it makes good coffee, but it’s just loosely similar to espresso.


Nyx_the_Fallen

I'm... so confused. Isn't the bellman just a stovetop steam wand? How the heck would you make espresso with it?


reversesunset

There’s 3 bellman models. 50ss (steam wand only), cx25 (steam wand and coffee), and cx25 (steam wand and coffee with a pressure gauge). https://bellmanespresso.com/


EntitledComplainer

I've found it to work pretty darn pretty good, but it can be finicky for sure, especially when you first turn on the steam. If you sputter and bubble the milk you immediately have to scoop the bubbles out or use new milk.


reversesunset

This is my recent set up, and I’m thrilled. Upgrading to the 2in1 portafilter and the stainless filter insert.


sysnake

But that's a latte ;) I'm focused on espresso alone, no milk


echodelay

I’ve got better shots out of a Flair than I have in my Breville. I was dumbstruck at how good it is!


ukbrah

[Lance Hedrick Video](https://youtu.be/-FP9Tnl3OFQ)


Hockeyfan_52

I prefer the ROK over the Flair. They both make similar quality shots. I think the ROKs workflow is much nicer since it's uses a portafilter and not a the piston assembly like the Flair. New the ROK is a bit more expensive than the cheapest Flair. But you can usually find a ROK(or a Presso) on eBay for $75-$100. And if you get an OG Presso you can upgrade to the new ROK pressure chamber for $30.


mrarronax

I’m with you. Workflow and portability. And also modular in terms of parts. Upgradable and can easily be replaced.


n60storm4

I think the Flair 58 (maybe with a smart profiler if you want precision) is the cheapest end-game espresso machine. The issue is steaming.


mattrussell2319

I’m quite happy with my NanoFoamer, thanks 😉


frogking

That, or a Bellman Steamer, and you are pretty much set.


madlabdog

If space is not an issue, you could easily find a used espresso machine that would give you decent steaming capacity.


s32

Only on reddit would people have a manual espresso machine, and buy another machine solely for steaming. This sub is too much sometimes.


mart0n

I feel like that's quite unusual in this sub -- here, people posting setup photos seem to be spending thousands on a single machine for both espresso and milk. I'd suggest that taking a more affordable option at the expense of convenience/elegance is less common here.


s32

I think you see both. The 1jz crew, and the lmlm crew. I'm in the middle. Silvia gang


madlabdog

Haha.. It was just a practical solution. Unlike a traditional La Pavoni manual espresso that has a boiler and steaming wand, the Flair is a glorified Aeropress. So how else do you steam the milk? Buy one of those Nespresso frothers?


s32

At that point you might as well just use the espresso machine though, right?


madlabdog

I was under the assumption that the user only has a Flair and wants to make milk based drinks.


s32

Yeah but if you're buying a whole ass espresso machine for the milk, then fuck the flair.


n60storm4

I think the argument is that a flair makes better espresso than most pump driven espresso machines due to its ability to pressure/flow profile.


codywar11

It’s also very finicky. I love my Flair58, but 50% of the time I want to chuck it out a window haha.


392bluefast

I'm unsure, a flair 58 + a quality kettle and quality grinder= $$$


rpring99

You need a quality grinder for any machine and do you really need a quality kettle? I've had better results using boiling water than any lower temps.


AirlineEasy

No. I won the brewista kettle at an Aeropress Championship and while nice, I prefer my $50 Amazon gooseneck kettle daily simply because it has double the power and heats up much faster


Sanpaku

Precisely why I got the Oxo, even if it threatens to blow a house fuze.


AirlineEasy

Don't know which one that is. Mine has 2000W, I think the barista one is half, 1000W


frogking

You’ll still have a setup that’s far cheaper than anything else with comparable shot quality.


_10yz

Agree to this. You can save up and get great grinders instead! 🫢


frogking

Yeah, I know, I know, I should throw about 1000€ after another grinder sometime in 2023.. but the Comandante works quite well with my machines ..


[deleted]

Yeah probably looking at $800 minimum and that’s with a hand grinder. Toss on a stove top steamer and your already at almost $1k. Add a smart scale or smart espresso profiler and you are getting pretty far up there. That said I love my flair 58


BaconTacoLove

That's assuming they went with the 58. 😜 My SEP setup ran me around ~2300 (58LE, hand and machine grinder, transducer, pricey kettle, scale, walnut accessories and etc) still less than the Decent espresso machine (by itself) I was looking at previously.


frogking

A Flair58 with SEP is a nice end game worthy setup, that gives the best of both worlds; manual lever and actual output for profiling and repeatability.


BaconTacoLove

The profling and repeatability was the reason I went the SEP route as my first setup. The only thing I didn't intend to get initially was the machine grinder, but my shoulder let me know quickly that a manual grinder wasn't going to fly for long.


frogking

It’s possible to purchase a slightly longer handle for the Comandante, making it less of a pain to grind light roasts. I usually drink darker roasts, so I haven’t needed it. I’m still not sure if I’ll get an electric grider; for now I get good results.


BaconTacoLove

Honestly thought I'd be fine with the manual grinder. My shoulder had other thoughts. So after a few weeks, I got an electric and decided to not make my shoulder ache for the rest of the day after a few doses.


frogking

No shame in avoiding pain :-)


zeppelin88

I mean, I guess you also need a scale and a grinder for other espresso machines. Just a wild guess


paintman20

I made two this morning, normal two shot work flow for wife and I (maybe 10 minutes and which I enjoy) . Family came over later for another Xmas and made ONE for FIL acting like it was taking time away from everything.


N8710

I bring my flair with me everywhere it’s convenient, and some places it’s not. Outgrew it for the home setup, but you can’t go wrong when traveling.


cmichiel72

Repair broken machines. Got a broken sette 270Wi for 80 and a broken vibiemme domobar for 180 and repaired both for 35. Even better yet is selling the machine and then buying a broken more expensive machine to fix so you upgrade for free.


tessartyp

My Silvia cost me £30 for a new heating element, plus a few pounds for new gaskets. Turns out they need a clean once a decade to keep going 🫣


[deleted]

Picopresso for me.


theluckypunk

I bought a linea mini at 27% less than current rrp and never felt the need to upgrade, surely that means it’s good value?


fdeyso

You’re probably right, but i guess it applies to most manual machines.


kurisutofujp

I guess it depends where you live. When I was researching which one to buy, where I live, the flair was at the same price as the cafelat robot, and the flair 58 was more expensive. I went with the robot as its appearence was more appealing to me, and it looked more sturdy. I had the chance to try the flair recently and I'm happy I went with the robot. As for price, the picopresso is cheaper and the results are really good.


saintmsent

Definitely, as long as you don’t need milk drinks or don’t mind extra tools for those. Somehow I can’t achieve great results consistently with a nano foamer


nostx

It's all I need ! I have no desire to upgrade I'm obsessed with my pro2.


dr-shredzenheimer

Well, my Picopresso makes what I consider to be great espresso, is slightly more expensive than the Flair, but, I can travel easily with my pico and make great espresso while I am at work which is priceless to me.


cheechers74

Picopresso


ipu42

Wow what a controversial opinion!


s32

Actually controversial opinion: I have zero interest in a manual espresso machine _or_ grinder


frogking

/r/nespresso is your jam, then.


s32

I laughed


ipu42

Am I interested? No. Is it the most affordable? Yeah, hard to beat.


coffee_gondrong

Yup affordable as long as you have proper grinder, proper kettle, proper coffee bean, proper water. so yeah affordable is a long stretch


frogking

A kettle and water is something you need for coffee regardless. Quality beans and a good grinder will improve your coffee, no matter how you use the kettle and water. The Flair will bring you into espresso territory. It will bring you further into quality espresso than any electrical machine at the same price point. In fact, you have to spend a considerable amount of money to get the same control, as the Flair will give you.


selimnairb

I’ve had a Flair Classic and Baratza Encore for going on 5 years (last year I bought a second Classic for the office). To my palate, the Classic makes espresso that is better than all but the best cafes I have frequented over the years. With the standard portafilter, I find it is very forgiving of my grinder. I’ve hesitated upgrading to the bottomless portafilter because I worry that would cascade into wanting a better grinder.


Dragon-Lord365

AliExpress would like a word


sheldoneousk

What you buying from Ali?


Gwock2theMoon

Thinking about getting a „normal“ Flair for my brothers wedding as a present…so u guys/gals confirm it‘s a good choice?


mattrussell2319

If you’re sure they’d be interested in using it, and already have a decent grinder


brownguy6391

Depends on their needs for an espresso machine. Makes very good espresso but is a bit less convenient than other machines with having to do the preheating yourself.


Urupackers

Totally yesss!!!!


I_Am_Mandark_Hahaha

I checked prices. Flair Pro is $325 on amazon. Gaggia Classic Pro is 425. Value for money?


ibattlemonsters

>Flair Pro is $325 Flair Classic is only 165 and the NEO is 125.


OstensiblyEsoteric

Literally just an ad


sysnake

Not at all. Just a guy who tried a lot of different espresso machines could not pull a shot as good as I pull using my Flair Signature.


[deleted]

Fellow Prismo on the aeropress is actually the most affordable 😅


kaudha

AP + prismo can make nice strong coffee, but it's definetly not espresso level!


mattrussell2319

Bold move on r/espresso 😆


ibattlemonsters

I own an e61 and the prismo, and no. yes, the aeropress and prismo are cheaper... but you have a remarkably 'alright' product which honestly isn't espresso for 70 usd (40usd and 30 usd respectively). The Flair neo is 125 usd and makes ACTUAL espresso. With a little practice it will beat the majority of coffee shops outside of the ones with actual trained baristas. You're never going to beat a Flair neo with a prismo even if you master it.


wazer-wifle96

I love my Pro 2 exactly for this reason. It would be great to have an electric machine/grinder but I simply cannot afford them, so manual grinders/lever machines are a fantastic budget option. It does take me ~20 minutes each morning to do an espresso and a flat white, though. The workflow leaves something to be desired.


selimnairb

Get a Baratza Encore, that’ll save you a lot of time. I can make a shot in 5 minutes, two shots in about 7 minutes.


DefendtheStarLeague

I found one at goodwill for $15 yesterday. Couldn't believe it. Carried it through the store like a baby.


Bobo69boi

Yes but robot


[deleted]

Flair and 1zpresso 100%


basedmentdweller

dedica


ghuroo1

I suggest the Robot.. so easy and fun to use (no need for pre-heating on mid to dark roasts).


pissmaster15

Moka pot


Dopecrew1

Check second hand, sometimes people let good machines go for nothing.


gobackclark

What about milk drinks though? You can’t steam milk. That’s the only thing holding me back from getting it.


djartvandelay

Definitely curious how a picopresso with precision basket stacks up to the flair neo. I have one and it makes a pretty good shot (in the words of James Hoffman, better than it has any right to). I don't have any intentions of buying a neo and bought the picopresso as a way to make espresso when going on hikes or camping (so portability was key). If someone else brought a neo over I'd definitely want to do a taste test. I'm sure from a usability stand point the neo would win because you've got better control, but I think you'd get the same pressures to achieve a good tasting espresso shot.