Brew Delicious Espresso Right at Home with The NEO: No Experience Necessary
The NEO is the latest manual espresso maker from Flair, built for beginners and those seeking convenient espresso in their homes. The secret to The NEO is our custom Flow-Control Portafilter, which restricts the flow of your brew water through your coffee grounds to help ensure the proper pressure and extraction time, regardless of your beans or how well you’ve been able to dial-in your grinder. The result will stay the same, delicious espresso, topped with crema, in your cup.
Flow-Control for Simple Espresso Brewing
The Flow-Control Portafilter is easy to spot, being bright red. It’s also easy to use, and is the key to simple manual espresso brewing with the NEO.
A restricted exit port means that even if your grind isn’t dialed in, or you’ve got inconsistent grounds from a blade grinder, your brew water will have enough contact time to extract delicious espresso.
This is manual espresso brewing…simplified.
Crema in Your Cup with Every Pull
The NEO was designed to deliver delicious crema-topped shots of espresso easily and simply. No need for expensive equipment or grinders. Just grind your freshly roasted beans right before brewing, and watch as beautiful crema blooms in your cup.
Just a guy –
First, all of the good things. For the money, I’m not sure there is a better espresso machine out there. For just over $100 getting a machine that will pull you consistent shots is no small thing. Add in the fact that the assembly and cleaning is drop dead easy and you have something that has quickly become part of my morning routine.There are however, a couple small tweaks I wish flair had made. For one, the pressurized basket is no beuno. I understand the addition. For people without a proper grinder, creating the amount of pressure that true espresso needs is going to be very difficult. The pressurized basket helps to emulate espresso with coarser ground coffee. Unfortunately, it also puts a limit on how good any shot from the Neo can be. They are consistent, yes, but consistently more watered down and weaker than you would want a shot of espresso to be. I don’t think I would drink a shot from the Flair Neo straight. I also find the whole unit to be a little unstable, which is unnerving for a device that you are actively pushing on to produce your coffee. Finally, I think a true tamper would have been a nice inclusion, even if it did bump the cost a bit. The measuring basket works in a pinch, but doesn’t provide a very compelling user experience.With all that said, I think if you are looking for an entry level espresso machine, particularly if you don’t currently have a good grinder, the Flair Neo is going to provide you with an awesome experience. Beware though, if you’re anything like me it will propel you into a search for upgrades to enhance your (initially) cheap espresso setup 🙂
Mountain Cat –
There are a lot of online reviews of the Flair system so I will focus on my initial impressions of the quality of the Flair Neo, rather than making espresso with it. I will update this once I have a handle on pulling a good shot, and after receiving the bottomless portafilter.My normal espresso machine has to be sent in for service, and I wanted to have a high level espresso machine to use on the road with our camper van. The Flair + a hand grinder seemed like the perfect solution. This being the cheapest model in the Flair lineup, I was interested to see how it would stack up to the higher end models that I have seen reviewed.Upon opening the box, the first thing I could tell is that this is a high quality unit. The grey finished metal frame is quality all the way. It’s also great to look at, especially with the red and stainless color of the group head / portafilter.The way the frame attaches and detaches is pretty smart — very stable and yet takes a second to take apart for storage. This will be great for travel. There is also a screw with a washer that they include in the box for permanently attaching the two parts of the frame for added stability if you don’t need to take it apart for travel. Without the screw, there is some play in the frame and the handle, but nothing that should cause any instability because once you put 30-40 pounds of force on the lever, nothing is going to move.Included is a red pressurized portafilter. I am somewhat of a geek when it comes to making espresso, so the pressurized portafilter would not be my first choice. I prefer to use the correct grinder and grind settings to dial in my shots and get the maximum flavor out of my espresso. Therefore I plan to get the bottomless portafilter accessory that they offer (there is currently a promo for a free one, but afterwards it is $24, a reasonable price). However, that said, there are times that the pressurized one may come in handy, such as trying a different batch of coffee without having to take the time and waste coffee to dial it in. Plus, being so small, this is an easy thing to keep around while traveling.The plunger for the group head mechanism is made of high-grade plastic. For me, this is probably the biggest disadvantage, as I would prefer 100% stainless. However, the good news is that in the future, if I purchase the pressure gauge, it includes a stainless plunger. This plunger makes contact with the hot water, although it does not directly contact the coffee. I would like to see a stainless steel plunger instead of the plastic one, at least available as an option but without the pressure gauge.The rest of the parts are the plastic funnel (a nice touch) and a plastic hollow tamper. This tamper is not a “real” tamper, but it can do the job. They sell a “real” tamper as an accessory that fits the portafilter size.Speaking of which, here is a general tip I learned that helps one figure out how much force to apply for tamping: press down evenly with increasing progressive force and feel the coffee compress as the tamper moves down. Once you feel the coffee no longer moves, stop. Don’t force it. This will create consistent tamping no matter what the coffee or grind level.The final part is a thick plastic tray for placing your cup. This just sits on the frame, and isn’t really needed. Nice that they include it but I might not bring it with me for travel.The NEO does not include the case that the higher end models include. I was fine without it, as I will create my own that also has room for a grinder and fits where I need it to.I look forward to getting my feet wet and learning to pull good shots with the Flair. Overall, the Neo — with the optional bottomless portafilter — is a good value and seems to offer the same quality as in the higher end models, and since the components are the same, obviously the espresso pulled will be of equivalent quality.
A. Chieffi –
A friend of mine introduced the Classic Flair to me and I got hooked (Thanks Bob!). I roast my beans at home and wanted an affordable machine that could make a great espresso.The NEO is similar, but not equal to the Classic. The NEO might be a great option for begginers like me due to it’s flow control capability. However I plan to get the bottomless portafilter in the near future. I’ve noticed that some water is left between the bottom screen and the red bottom portion of the portafilter, but not much.The build quality is exceptional. Simple, efficient and easy to clean and carry around. Unfortunately Amazon sent me the wrong color, which is frustrating since I chose the gray color to avoid cleaning the white machine, but obviously will not affect the product review rating. If you are planning to travel with it, consider the Classic as it comes with a case and the bottomless portafilter, which the NEO doesn’t. I plan to update my review as I learn more from using it.Oct/01/2020: although I roast my own coffee, I’ve bought a can of Bustello to experiment. The very first shot was great. I tried to get it extracted in 30s, and did it very easily. I guess the flow control of the NEO helps to get the extraction around 30s. The other tries were all consistent, with little to no variation in results at all, which is surprising for a manual machine. I’ve heated the cylinder as per the instructions, by pouring hot water on a bowl. I have to say that it’s a bit messy to take it from the hot water and place to the portafilter since it’s hot. The rubber sides help, but it is still hot to grab for long. For now, I’m extremely satisfied with the results. Looking forward to make some espresso with my home roasted coffee.
Jo –
Key points at the bottom of the review:Even though this is the entry level model, doesn’t affect the quality of the machine itself and/or the espresso. I bought this machine since I wanted a fuss free espresso experience that I could easily fit into my mornings without spending too much time on it. I’m currently working from home, dad of a toddler, and I appreciate how easy it is to pull a quick shot thanks to the flow control portafilter.I’ve personally tried different ways (AeroPress, Moka Pot, Fellow Prismo attachment, cheap espresso machines) to try to achieve the holy grail of true espresso, always being disappointed to sip on a cup of just very strong concentrated coffee.I’ve spent a fair amount of time researching and looking reviews online until I decided to give the Flair Neo a try, I have to say that being a beginner on making espresso and having a machine that can produce a high quality, tasty shot without much effort it’s really surprising.I’m really happy that I got my hands on one of these and really looking forward to keep using it every morning and sharing my espresso love within my family and friends!Key points:- Easiest, most affordable way to get True 9bar espresso at home.- Saves time both in prep time and clean up- Consistent shots without dialing in or a great grinder.- Saves you time, money, water, waste, electricity, etc…- Combined with a French Press to texture milk, Perfection!!!
Mike Hobizal –
As someone who has been intrigued about getting into espresso. It’s a little daunting to see the price tags of all the items. This was an affordable option, that doesn’t require a ton of investment at the start.I’ve been using it with my Baratza Encore grinder, making this a nice budget-friendly setup. It was easy to set up out of the box and I was able to make some espresso within minutes that tasted pretty good to an amateur like me. With the setup, I could see it being pretty difficult to make a lot of shots in a time span.There are a few upgrades that I’ll probably be making: the portafilter, the tamper (the included one feels like a film canister), and possibly the pressure gauge.I like that it’s modular, I can upgrade as I go, and I haven’t gone into debt just to make some espresso at home.
aallenrowe –
The Flair Espresso NEO yields the best crema I’ve ever experienced (See the pics). It surpasses my deLonghi and my Sowtech machines. In wine terms, NEO extractions yield great savor, bouquet, body, and “apès goût.” And it requires no electricity. I could take it camping. Or better yet, in COVID times I can stay home and still enjoy a great espresso.I plan to take my Flair NEO on my next trip to enjoy great morning expresso right in my hotel room. No more marginal brew from those little machines with their packets of old grind. I can pre-grind some beans especially for the trip. Or get a Flair hand-grinder for travel.Fresh espresso is the healthiest of coffees, IMO.
WE –
This is a review after just buying the machine. I bought the Neo to improve my espresso quality at home. Having lived with Nespresso systems for almost 10 years I usually make milk based drinks or black Lungos because I never was quite satisfied with the espresso quality. The Neo of course takes more time and effort to pull a shot, but also delivers a much better result when it comes to actual espressos. I would assume not a lot of ppl can actually taste significant differences between Cappuccino’s made with high end espresso or a regular Nespresso shot once the drink is diluted by all that milk. But even less experienced espresso drinkers will taste a difference between a Nespresso and a Neo. Of course the entire process takes more time and effort, but the result is very close to those shots pulled at the best Cafés. Given espressos cost about US$4.00!! each where I live, the machine is amortised after a few casual espressos even if I can’t get myself through all the manual labour each day. Even just one espresso a week would pay it off in half a year!! In addition it’s a great entry to learning about espresso as you can control flow, pressure and temperature. Of course non of this will be really consistent and accurate with a Neo but at least it’s possible. Regular espresso machines with pressure and flow control would cost 20x as much.
steebs –
I love my Aeropress, and wanted to reach into espresso, but preferred the aeropress’ manual, non electric function. Low and behold, the Flair NEO popped up in my research. I didn’t need an introduction to Flair, but knowing I didn’t need to invest in a more expensive grinder, and the NEO being cheaper, I had to have it.I love this espresso maker, the routine is close to my aeropress, but the end result is light-years ahead.Looking forward to my first off-grid espresso with this super portable espresso maker.
BF –
Prior to purchasing this product, I had an Aeropress, which made a good strong coffee, but didn’t produce a real espresso. I was looking for a machine that could make real espresso, and would last longer with regular use. After reading about the Neo Manual Espresso Maker, I decided to order one. I’m a beginner and have never owned an espresso machine before. When the press arrived, the number of parts involved was a bit intimidating. After reading the pamphlet supplied with the machine and checking with the online instructions, I assembled the parts several times to become comfortable with the process.For my first batch, I set my coffee grinder to its finest setting, weighed out 15 grams of coffee, and tried to make a batch. Unfortunately the lever wouldn’t press down. It turned out that the coffee was ground too fine (I had accidentally used the setting for Turkish coffee). I set the grinder to be a bit less fine, weighed out some more coffee, and made a second batch. This time I got an excellent shot with crema, and it was absolutely delicious. Like any espresso machine, there is a learning curve using the Neo. I made several more shots, and the amount of crema improved.Afterwards, I had no problem taking the machine apart and cleaning it. I plan to use this machine daily, and it seems well-built. Everything is nicely machined, and it fits together well. My guess is that it will last for many years. I don’t think you can find another machine as well-made, that makes such good espresso for anywhere near this price. I love it.
Polo T. –
Oh boy, I was so excited to try out Flair’s new edition to their manual espresso lineup! If you’re a novice coffee brewer that is starting to get bored of your french presses, V60s, Chemex, Aeropress, Mokapot, etc. and really want to get that Starbucks/coffee shop taste at home, this is your entry into espresso at home.For reference, this is my current NEO coffee setup:* 16g coffee with 1:2 ratio (32g of espresso out)* Timemore Slim Coffee Grinder (dialed in at 10-11 clicks, ymmv)*Hamilton Beach Gooseneck Kettle at 212F*Some cheap scale that can only do +/- 1gPros:This machine is cheap. 120 for a espresso press is a cheap entry into the world of espresso. There’s other cheaper options (even electric espresso machines for this price range) but they don’t generate a good shot. They’re variable and inconsistent (you pay for what you get!). The Flair Neo has the potential to make a great shot, given that you’re willing to keep testing.The Neo comes with a pressurized portafilter (namely called the flow controlled basket), opposed from a bottomless one you’d find on expensive espresso machines. The plus of this is that the pressurized portafilter is it is very forgiving. To have good, legitimate espresso requires a good bur grinder that you can dial down. I for one, don’t have that. My grinder can grind espresso but dialing in is hell. This portafilter is forgiving in that it still taste good even though the grind isn’t! Jumping directly into a Flair Signature or Classic with my current set up would not be great. This makes a great stepping stone because….The Neo is upgrade-able! for 24 more buckaroos, you can upgrade the pressurized to a bottomless portafilter and have a setup like the Flair classic. Like burning more money? 56 more buckaroos gets you a pressure gage so you can really dial in your shots. Having options like this makes any espresso beginner ease into the hobby instead of jumping into expensive gear that has a high learning curve.Cons:For the price you’re getting this, there’s not many cons that a standout, but definitely to consider if you’re planning to get into the hobby. The Flair Neo is not a top notch device. It’s an entry level machine with the ability to be better with a few extra parts. If you want to get something great from the get go, Flair has the signature line or Pro2. A pressurized portafilter is not going to get you a coffee shop shot from your favorite barista Monday morning; but it gets damned close if you put in the effort.One of the difficult things to deal with is thermal management of the press. You will have to preheat everything from the portafilter, to chamber, and piston. This is annoying but that’s the trade-off with manual presses and , in my opinion, a worthy trade-off compared to spending x3-x6 as much for a electric/automated machine. Another thing that disappoints is the shot size, 60ml. If you want to make multiple shots, this will take a while. If you like lattes, this device obviously doesn’t steam milk like a double boiling espresso machine would. The lack of a carrying case, compared to the other models, is sad but also I don’t find myself using carrying cases often so that depends on what you plan on using this for.Conclusion:I think the Flair Neo is a great entry into espresso. It’s definitely not the best manual press, but it’s best cheap manual one. If you’re a beginner with interest into making espresso, there’s no reason not to try the Neo. If you like it, upgrade it! If you don’t, not much of a loss! Perhaps, I might need a second Neo 😉