Flair Espresso Maker PRO 2 (Black) - An all manual lever espresso maker with stainless steel brew head and pressure gauge

Product Information

You'll reduce cylinder separation further by a very light and level tamp followed by a sufficient preinfusion, where you'll see coffee drips slowing a bit and dispersed around the bottom of the cup. Maintaining all the performance of the original PRO, the PRO 2 features four upgrades including a removable spout, an enhanced bottomless portafilter, a gauge guard for increased durability and a silicone grip for better brewing ergonomics. Over complicated by the dosing and grind fineness, but also the pages and pages of discussion online about how best to get it temp stable and the extra steps needed to get the most from it.

As the lever travels downward, the angle is steeper, but pressure is reduced, so I may shift from two hands to one, and then change hands again near the end to grip the lever higher and keep the pull going steadily. I like the containment of the piston within the cylinder, and the large pressure gauge with an adjustable angle.

The workflow and ritual experience are also great: the materials feel just that little bit heftier and durable, the bottom of the portafilter has better visibility, shots look great and the increase in pressure makes me connect with the brewing process even more. Furthermore, if I did I'd probably get a low end machine and maybe not get to such a high quality drink that I would really enjoy. We recommend using coffee beans roasted within a few weeks of use and grinding immediately before brewing. I've been wanting to explore more with espresso, so in addition to my Gaggia Classic I got this Flair Pro 2. Having said that, I do think, judging from other reviews I've read such as the Flair Espresso Review on Home Barista, that this kind of quality is possible.

Aeropress is often described as an Espresso maker, as are Moka Pots and other manual coffee makers, but Rok and Flair are the first manual coffee makers I've used that do, in my opinion, make true Espresso. The Flair PRO 2 allows users to handcraft their espresso with complete control through the use of the custom pressure gauge and ability to utilize various brew ratios.For typical lever users, the unconventional design of the Flair Signature PRO brew group has a flexing action and an occasional jittery feel that take getting used to. Also, when you pour into the brew head and allow some water to go into the well, you virtually eliminate any air gap, and with that, you eliminate spongy pulls that can be challenging to overcome in some closed boiler levers. I fear that many purchasers of the Flair may be approaching it from the low cost side, and approaching their grinder from the same way. My vintage Trosser box grinder works with my Arrarex Caravel lever, but it won't adjust fine enough for the PRO. Also, I was using a medium roast, I can get great results with medium roasted beans via the Europiccola, but I believe that it's slightly harder to get the same results with medium roasts with the manual non-powered espresso makers vs.

In this follow-on review to the Flair Espresso Maker, I offer impressions of the PRO compared to the original Flair.Its primary limitation is at higher pressures where the downward curve of the lever requires a strong grip and benefits from a double-handed approach. Once I'd got over the initial issues with the grind and dosing, I was pulling shots of a very similar level to The Rok, with the same beans.

While practicing my new routine, I have to say the shots are perfectly acceptable in comparison to some of the sour shots I got when I messed up with the signature, so even the slightly rough start was quite enjoyable! More information will be provided via your personal e-mail address once you've completed your purchase. MAJOR BREWING UPGRADES – The Flair PRO 2 features three upgrades over Flair’s other manual espresso makers including a removable stainless steel spout, an enhanced all-stainless steel bottomless portafilter with improved flow dynamics, and a silicone lever grip for better brewing ergonomics. This can cause the o-ring to slightly catch inside the cylinder during the pull, creating a jittery feeling that doesn't noticeably affect the quality of the shot. New preheat routine: The portafilter is (exquisitely) made of metal instead of plastic, and needs preheating just like the chamber.

Higher doses advised: Yes, I got the bigger brew head to be able to brew larger drinks, but this feature also comes with an officially recommended minimal dose of 16 grams of coffee. You'll know you're at proper fineness of grind and dose if your pull takes about 40 - 45 seconds, overall, including pre-infusion. As an experienced lever user, I am used to a smooth feel in the pull that provides direct feedback of the pressure I'm applying.