In the growing sea of manual espresso machines, Flair's new entrant, the Neo, brings an affordable and intriguing proposition to the table. Despite being priced at the lower end of the spectrum, it's an attractive piece of equipment that offers a simplistic design with an alluring set of features. Initially retailing at 89 through a successful Kickstarter campaign, it is now listed at 120. The Neo is a stripped-down, budget-friendly espresso maker, aimed at providing an entry point into the world of lever espresso making. Flair has made some significant changes to keep the price down, such as forgoing the fancy carrying case and offering a restricted color palette—either a gray or white unit.
The workings of the Flair Neo are rather straightforward, with its core mechanics being divided into three primary components. The brew basket, where the coffee grounds are placed, accepts up to 18 grams, although it tends to perform best in the 15-gram range for lighter espresso roasts. The brew chamber, which sits on top of the basket, is filled with hot water before the plunger or piston piece is placed on top. Levering the machine drives the piston, pushing the water through the coffee. One noteworthy feature is the Flow Control Basket, a type of pressurized portafilter that's aimed at producing the best espresso possible, even with incorrectly or unevenly ground coffee. While it may not offer the depth and complexity of a finely crafted espresso shot, it definitely mitigates the potential for disaster, providing a decent cup even when the coffee grounds aren't perfectly prepared.
Despite some of its limitations, the Flair Neo comes with a strong recommendation for a few key reasons. Its modularity is its most attractive feature, allowing users to swap out parts to achieve different results. For an additional cost, users can upgrade the brew basket and add a pressure gauge for live feedback on the pressure during brewing, significantly enhancing the overall experience. For the price point, the Neo provides a low-risk entry into the world of manual lever espresso making. It does demand a bit of work and attention to detail, but the reward is an enjoyable espresso brewing experience. Whether you're an espresso enthusiast looking for a new tool to experiment with or a novice exploring the espresso-making hobby, the Flair Neo could be a worthy addition to your coffee setup.
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