I’ve been eyeing this machine for a while since my goal is to really control my press just like I have with the Aero Press. Still haven’t decided if this is a worthwhile investment.
I have the flair neo classic and I absolutely love it. But I will say that it has a steep learning curve out the gate to get things dialed in. You have to really enjoy the process and the workflow, if you want something for a quick shot this coffeemaker is less than ideal. I love the flavors that i get from my coffee and i really enjoy experimenting to see how i can improve my cup.
I went from a flair to a Rock to a picopresso. As a person who loves the ritual behind coffee I found that 100% stops when it comes to espresso. It’s just to many variables that are difficult to control for me. Dialing in a grinder, pre infusion, and temp surfing on a GCP are about all I have the patience for and I am already dead set on installing a pid or upgrading to the likes of a Profitec Go.
If you mean “quick” as in “how much effort to figure out how to make a good shot” then I definitely agree.
If by “quick” you mean “how long from zero to espresso” I actually disagree. You can be pulling a shot in 8-10minutes with a flair. Most traditional (boiler, pump, push-button) espresso makers are still warming up in that time frame.
Yeah, a flair or a robot is way quicker than a powered espresso machine.
I’ve been trying to optimise my workflow using a stopwatch and doing as much in parallel as possible. The key is to have water boiling and beans grinding simultaneously, and then milk heating and espresso extraction simultaneously.
I can make a flat white and be all cleaned up and packed away withing 4mins.
Process:
- add water to kettle and start boiling
- add beans to grinder and start grinding
- get robot off shelf and put into position with scale
- put milk into French press and in the microwave with time set to 1min (but not yet started)
- grinding has now finished. WDT and tamp.
- kettle has now boiled, press start on microwave
- water into portafilter and press (~30sec)
- empty and clean portafilter
- remove milk from microwave, froth, pour.
- put away robot, clean french press.
- ☕
yeah, I was mostly referring to the effort you put into each cup. Some people prefer less of a workflow per cup. I agree with you on the first shot, but if I’m making more than 2 shots I notice myself wishing I had a more traditional machine. I still have not invested in getting a second portafilter and brewchamber, so I lose a lot of time resetting between shots.
Honestly, I’ve been using a traditional espresso machine at work and it also has a lot of steps.
Esp with the 58 removing variables of a standard style portafilter and heated brew chamber, I prefer the workflow of the 58. The only extra step is pouring water into the brewing chamber.
By the time you buy a second portafilter and brew chamber you’ll be out almost as much as a 58.
