FLAIR NEO Flex (v1)

I definitely recommend this machine for getting into true espresso making.

Is it made of premium materials? No..

Does it take trial and error to really get the most out of it? Yes...

Is there a machine that is cheaper and can give you a better espresso? Absolutely not.
This thing rivals machines 5-10 times it's price. Very happy with it.

I am pleasantly shocked that you can tease out flavours on medium to lighter roast espresso with this thing. It does a better job than my entry-level machine and with an under $600 grinder. You will not get the taste profile you get from a $2k grinder and a Slayer but that’s why you have cafes.

For a successful brew with good taste the key here is:

1. Buy the pressure gauge as an extra that allows you to pressure profile otherwise it is hit and miss.

2. Invest time in learning about pressure profiling with the Flair. It really works and is not that hard. Just follow a recipe once you are done with the YouTube tutorials.

3. Understand that you need to be able to dial in, and that “dialing in” here means coarser grinds and slightly longer pulls. You need to know how to dial in with a regular machine anyway.

4. The pressurized portafilter is actually a good starting point when you first use the Neo Flex if for nothing else but to understand how it feels to work with a lever setup. Also a great intro point for beginners. It also helps you get in the general area of where you want to be with grind size before swapping in the regular portafilter and fine tuning. Hipster objections to the pressurized portafilter, though valid, are over-valued in this case, it is a great first step in the learning pathway for this product.

Just starting to dabble in the espresso world and this was a great place to begin! So far its been a great device, it has it's downsides and the price is a reflection of it but the end product so far has been great! I would recommend this for the person wanting to explore the espresso world! It's great that it has a 2 portafilters - Bottomless and Flow Control, so if you do not have an espresso grinder yet, it allows you still use the Neo Flex and create some decent espresso! Great intro product for the world of espresso!