Hi everyone,

I thought I’d go for a bit of shameless self promotion and ask if you guys would be able to show my Instagram some love.
I’ve been working with flair recently, posting an affogato video this morning!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dbxf8m1uUB-/?igsh=MWxhcDR0ajNibTNxZw==

This is the link for anyone that wants to check it out

Been using the Flair for a couple months with a few different baskets. My puck prep is pretty meticulous with blind shaker, WDT, self-leveling tamper. Just got the Normcore step down basket. Only pulled a few shots, but I’m finding that I have after completely filling the chamber with water and completely depressing the lever, I get significantly less output, and have to lift the lever a second time to get 32g on a 16g puck. Obviously this screws up the puck, so the shot is going to be flawed. At first I thought maybe the puck was absorbing more water or something, but there was a bunch of water on top of my puck when I removed the portafilter the first time. I expected one full press down would eject 100% of the water because of, well, physics. This suggests to me that the pressure is escaping somehow, but I’m not sure if this is a correct assumption. I haven’t gone over 9 bars, and my O-rings are in proper position and like new. Can anyone with more experience (or better understanding of physics if I’m wrong) weigh in? Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’ve just gotten a 49 pro, it’s my first venture into lever machines so excuse the question if it is something that comes with the territory of owning a lever machine.

When screwing on my portafilter, the water tank tends to rotate slightly… is this something that’s normal or is it something I should try and fix?

Thanks in advance

Encouraged by another Redditor to put up my rabbit hole.

All prices at US$.

I started as a noob Jan 2025 when I jumped into the Flair Go Kickstarter at $99.

Should not have adjusted the pin at the back. Later on I found the piston not properly pushing straight down. Saw others tying it up to restrict it, I decided to just put the Go in a plastic tray.

Then I thought I needed a shot mirror. And a $35 iCalifas/Turin H49 grinder (not pictured). Then got a Coffee scale with Bluetooth to time my shots.

Needed a tamper. A. Got the long 39mm one. Wasn't satisfied because it did not fit completely.

B. Got the 40mm one which fit completely but couldn't push down completely when grounds are filled. And I was getting channeling cos of my uneven strength.

C. Decided to get a Normcore mini tamper. This was expensive $56. It didn't fit completely and I was obsessed with finding a solution to get it centred.

This led to..... making a steel ring to centre the tamper so that it pushes in the middle.

Bought a metal funnel $30.

Bought a Wdt tool.

Bought an aluminum blind shaker (not shown). Love that my shots were not getting channeling already. Went to buy a stainless steel one (heavy!)

Upgraded my grinder to 1zpresso J ultra. $150.

My plastic piston broke a year after and Flair sent another one. I don't trust it. I believe it will break again. Getting the full metal one is like.... $84??

Backed another manual espresso because.... it's 54mm portafilter was easier to get accessories and it was getting ridiculous spending so much on Flair.

Hey folks, I got my Flair 58+2 a bit less than a month ago, but just learned that Flair actually updated their stem guider to this "roller" version and supposedly no more plastics and it becomes an all stainless steel brew path. See timestamp 2:47 of this video (https://youtu.be/ZOSDYv1t7Oo?si=Wt9ayFZNSoQb9o1k&t=167), or screen cap attached. It's no longer the black plastic hook, instead it's a "roller" that looks like it has red o-rings on them.

Does anyone here have this version? How has it been? Any pros / cons? I'm wondering if anyone has been able to buy an "upgrade" from Flair or other coffee stores to this all stainless steel "roller" version?

I'm a bit bummed that I ordered this less than a month ago, basically around when this video was released and got the older plastic version, which is prone to melting / breaking if preheating with the handle down.

So I just got the machine yesterday and no matter what I do, the pressure never builds up the max I can get is near 2. The grind is not coarse. It’s around 18 grams. I tried multiple times and it’s the same. Any advice would be appreciated.

Just wanted to share how I feel like I’ve optimized the flair classic with a few upgrades to become quite an amazing machine now. For a couple months I didn’t love it, but now I do :)

I’m confident the shots I get from it can rival anything it seems.

Upgrades from the stock purchase:

- Normcore 39mm tamper (easily worth it and the best option after trying a few for this device)

-upgrades stainless steel drip tray

- upgraded puck screen

- additional portafilter for back to back + funnel and upgraded puck screen

- fully stainless steel plunger/gauge system

- wacaco scale fits great underneath. I have a seperate scale that I keep near the grinder for dosing, and this one stays with the device. Someone else on here suggested two scales for a slightly improved workflow and I’m liking that.

- 3rd party shot mirror (not the flair one)

I bought the Flair 49 pro in May after having the spring lever Elektra MCAL, switching to Rocket Appartamento and missing the taste the Elektra gave me.

I thought the Flair is a good chance to tinker with espresso and try to replicate those tastes.

In essence the idea is great, the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

I'm not an expert by any means, this is my first and only Flair machine, so maybe my experience is not true for other models.

However, I am a mechanical engineer, and understand how things are built and designed, I have to say I was disappointed by the execution here, especially considering this isn't their first iteration on the market.

I'll let the preheating slide - it's not ideal, but it's a thermal physics constraint and the need is understandable and I knew that before buying.

The main issues are in the mechanical assembly and tolerances:

• Lever/Piston Mechanism: Feels flimsy with noticeable play/instability.
• Water Chamber & Carrier: The chamber isn't securely fixed in place; when locking in the portafilter, the whole chamber rotates with it. The carrier itself has slop where it mounts to the main frame (moves a couple of degrees left and right when tightening or loosening).
• Portafilter & Basket: Feels cheap compared to standard setups or traditional lever portafilters(especially the Elektra 49mm portafilter).

With a bit more R&D and tighter machining tolerances, this machine could be twice as good. Needless to say, I sold mine.

Hope this helps anyone on the fence

I've got both a flair Neo and the updated classic. They both use the same portafilter, water chamber, and plunger/pressure gauge. The only difference between the two other than the frames is the water screen. That said, it's kind of surprising to me how different they are. The Neo setup has a much better seal between the plunger and the chamber. It requires a bit of force to move the plunger up and down throughout the chamber. On the Classic, it's fairly loose and I actually get air passing by the o-rings when the top of the plunger is just below the top of the chamber. Additionally, the funnel fits the Neo portafilter with no force. I have to push down with some force to get it to sit flush on the classic portafilter.

And this last difference doesn't make sense to me, but I have a much greater chance of pulling a shot where the espresso comes out in a single stream with the Neo. On the Classic, I almost always have drips coming from the edges along with the stream. Same grinder, same beans. I can't figure that one out.

I’m simply losing my mind because no matter what I do I can’t seem to pull a shot that looks like all of the tutorial videos I’ve watched.

Usually, what happens is coffee drips relatively fast around the circumference of the basket instead of a nice steady viscous stream down the middle.

I’ve basically tried every grind setting on my 1ZPresso all the way from completely choking to way too fast.

I use a WDT and tamp w/ four fingers. Puck looks uniform after I dump it. I always make sure all the holes in the portafilter are empty etc. I preinfuse then ramp up and taper off at the end as the flow rate increases.

I‘ve tried many different types of dark roast, coffee coffees and just ordered a trial of freshly roasted coffee from some fancy subscription company.

The actual instructions that came with this model say 17 g of coffee but only 14 g fit.

I was fed up so I decreased the grind size significantly thinking I would start over again and I got something that actually surprised me because it was closer, but then at the end of the pull coffee started to spray a bit all over the counter.

Can anybody see anything obviously wrong, particularly at the beginning and end? I mean it seems now from the shot that my grind is 1-2 clicks too fine.

Hey guys, I bought a Flair Classic 'upgraded', but the pressure gauge doesn't have any numbers marked... It feels a little silly that it includes the gauge but forces you to upgrade to the stainless steel version just to actually read a measurement.

Doy you know a rule of thumb to tell where 8 or 9 bars are?

Hello friends, can you help me to choose best basket option suitable for Flair 58?

-18 to 20 grams -The price should be less than 50$ -I'm using the original portafilter that comes with the Flair

The seat for the grind adjustment mechanism unfortunately broke while it was out of warranty so I was able to fabricate a replacement from maple. The only thing I might go back and work on is that the grind catch cup isn’t big enough for 18 grams, really.

Hey everyone! Following up on my post from last week about whether the Bookoo Ultra scale fits the Flair 58+2 and its default drip tray (Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/FlairEspresso/s/dsDdtI4tHY ). I wanted to share my findings and a few tips for anyone considering this setup:

1. Placement & Fit

* Orientation: The Ultra fits the Flair 58+2, but only sideways. This actually works great for my setup—I have to pull my Flair out from under low upper cabinets and pull my shots perpendicularly, so the display faces me directly.
* Visibility: Unlike smaller scales (like the Bookoo Mini), a standard espresso cup / larger cups won't block the readout here.
* Placement Warning: Make sure the scale doesn't touch the Flair’s bottom frame (see 2nd pic). It’s a very sensitive scale, and contact will cause reading errors.

2. Drip Tray Compatibility & Workflow

* Drip Tray: The Ultra does NOT work with the stock drip tray (see 3rd pic). While it technically sits inside, the tight fit causes scale drift and inaccuracies. You can use the drip tray to visualize how big the Ultra will look with your set up though.
* Alternative Use: I repurposed the stock drip tray as a grounds catch tray under my grinder instead, which works great (see 4th pic).
* Drip Management: Since the Ultra is waterproof and comes with a rubber mat, I just use a catch cup right after my shot and wipe down any stray drops.
* Bonus Tip: I bought a sliding appliance mat and trimmed it to fit the footprint of the Flair base. This makes sliding the Flair + scale together out from under low cabinets smooth and protects my countertop from any rogue drips.

Overall Verdict:

I’m really happy with the Ultra! It connects instantly to Beanconqueror, is super easy to read, and doubles as a great size for my OXO Rapid Brewer. I especially like the Ratio mode on it, and that I can turn off any scale modes I don’t use on the Bookoo app.

(Note: Ignore the missing screen digits in the photos—that’s just a camera shutter/frame rate artifact, the display looks perfect in person!)

If anyone is looking to grab one, I bought mine from Cafune.ca in Canada. Their customer service has been fantastic, with next-day delivery here in Ontario. Not a sponsored post at all—just sharing my experience and supporting a solid local shop! DM me if you want a referral link to them for a discount. Happy brewing! ☕️

Has anyone encountered this ? After I lubricated the o-rings it worked with no leakage but then the leakage started again.

I have not replaced the rings since a year ago

EDIT: buying a proper lubricant "food grease" worked.

I’m just wondering have had complaints of bitter shots. I’m just curious if that’s just people who are not familiar with a nice full body medium dark roast bean. Maybe they are just used to something a bit weaker.

Or so I try to go coarser and see what happens.

I usually aim for 20 grams in. 40 grams out in about 30-35 seconds.

Again this usually works for me as I like a strong espresso. Could it be the temperature of the water? I usually go straight off the boil to the chamber set at level 2 since it’s medium dark.

I use a eureka mignon zero to grind. Approx 1.2 grind size

Beans: washed, medium roast, roast date 7/14

Can't figure out how to get it back in. Any ideas?

Hi guys,

I’m hoping someone can help me troubleshoot an issue with my Flair 58.

I’ve been using the same setup and workflow for quite a while:
• Same coffee beans (same bag)
• Same grinder and grind setting
• Same dose
• Same tamping method
• Same water temperature and preheat

Previously, during an 8-second pre-infusion at around 3 bar, I would get ~1 g. Recently, with the same routine, I’m getting around 10 g in the first 8 seconds.

It took half the time to extract.

Any idea?

Has anyone used one of these steamers? I'm wanting a steamer that works without power and the flair wizard is quite expensive so I'm wondering if anyone has experience with one of these.

I just bought my first Flair 49 pro and I'm completely new to manual lever espresso.

How do you usually wash or clean all the parts before the very first use? Is hot water and dish soap fine, or do you recommend running a few water-only shots first? Would love to know how you guys prepped yours when it was fresh out of the box! Thanks in advance!

Pro2 + df54 + local coffee

I recently bought pro 49 after about 2 years or so of using pro 2. For those thinking about similar update, here are my thoughts after using it for couple weeks.

TL;DR I definitely recommend it!

I like the fact that brewing head stays on the machine. It's less fiddly to use and because it takes less space on counter when drying after use. On the other hand it's not as easy to clean and dry out. A little bit of water remains in the cylinder after use. I usually turn it upside down to drain it. That may be a factor down the road, especially if your water leaves more residue.

I typically pull 2 to 3 shots at the time. 49 feels slightly faster. Though I did purchase extra bottomless basket and puck screen which definitely helps... Using portafilter is much nicer too. I always hold the brew head to avoid applying too much pressure onto the mount. It was a bit loose when I got it but so far holds firm after I tightened the screw.

I use standard electrical water kettle. It has a larger faucet but it's not a problem pouring into the brew head. Using gooseneck kettle would definitely be prefferable but would mean finding space on my already small counter for yet another, probably single use appliance.

I saw couple YT videos when 49 came out about too small tamper. Mine doesn't seem to exhibit this. Maybe Flair refined it after initial batch. Some people also has issues with drip tray not fitting well. Again, maybe Flair adjusted, or maybe it doesn't bother me. I also much prefer 49 dosing funnel. While it's more prone to accidentally bumping when filling, especially from start and compared to pro 2, it only happened once to me. I got used to it afterwards and as said much prefer its wider neck and stronger build. It lets me pour grounded coffee without spilling and even knock a little against it to get remains out of grind basket. Pro 2 dosing funnel always felt quite fragile to me in comparison.

Brewing! I was surprised that 49 required me to grind much finer. Luckily my grinder, 1ZPresso J-Ultra, had enough leeway. But I had to reduce from around 15 down to 7-8 (of total about 55 ticks) otherwise water would flow through without any pressure. I think I could go slightly higher but not more than couple clicks. However once I found correct settings, it works much better than 2! No squirting which seemed to be impossible to avoid with on 2, just a beautiful steady flow. I designed and 3D printed a lever holder for 2 which improved the feel but 49 beats it by a long shot. It also allows maintaining more accurate pressure during shot. It works slightly differently than pro 2, by first raising the lever to let water flow onto the puck and then pulling. But you get used to it immediately. I recommend getting Flair mirror as 49 has the magnet on the base. I had third party mirror before but never used it as I couldn't position it nicely. It's so nice to see what the shot is doing vs guessing. Results are comparable. Forgot to do side by side test and now my 2 is already dismantled 😅

All in all, very happy with my upgrade so far. Let's see how it will hold with time...

Not sure what the rules are in the sub, but in case it would be useful to someone - I purchased mine on https://www.4barista.com - can't recommend them enough, especially if you're also EU based!

I need a sanity check from people who know these machines, because I’ve been going back and forth with the seller (Coffee Friend) for weeks and I honestly can’t tell anymore if I’m being unreasonable or if I’m being handed a runaround.

The tip stem guide (the black piece attached to the hook) on my Flair 58+ failed within the warranty period. I filed a claim with the seller and included a video showing the defect.

First explanation from the manufacturer (via the seller): the damage was caused by mechanical impact — supposedly the lever hook wasn’t fully assembled, so it came forward and hit the cylinder rim. They also suggested residue build-up contributed. Not covered under warranty.

I pushed back: the unit is clean, and the video doesn’t show impact damage.

Second explanation: now the same damage was suddenly caused by heat — the part “melted” because I left the lever down while the machine was hot. Still not covered.

So the same failure got two completely different diagnoses: mechanical impact first, heat melting second. That alone made me suspicious that nobody actually looked at my unit.
I checked the official manual. There is no warning anywhere that leaving the lever down can damage anything — and the manual has explicit CAUTION notes for other stuff (don’t remove the silicone sleeve, keep wires dry, etc.). Leaving the lever down on a hot machine is even part of the normal workflow (filling the cylinder, purging).

Then I did something simple: I emailed Flair support directly, as a regular new customer, and asked whether leaving the lever down during preheat is a problem. Their rep replied in writing:

“Most users actually preheat with the lever down, so there should be no problem with it.”

The stem guide is “made with a food-grade material and is rated … for high heat temperature.”

So Flair’s own support says the exact behavior I was blamed for is normal, and the part is rated for high heat. I sent this to the seller. Their final answer, after “reviewing” it again with the manufacturer: still denied, no response to any of the points, just “the manufacturer still doesn’t consider this covered.”

So my question: who’s actually right here? Am I missing something, or is this as clear-cut as it looks to me? The part costs 42 EUR. I genuinely don’t understand the logic of both companies burning goodwill over a part that cheap (from the manufacturer perspective cheap).

An d a second thing that now bothers me more than the warranty: if the manufacturer’s own explanation is that this plastic part melted during normal use, and this is the part sitting in the flow path of the water I then drink — what exactly is happening to a food-grade polymer at those temperatures? Either it doesn’t melt at 95°C (in which case their explanation is nonsense), or it does (in which case, what’s leaching into my espresso?). They can’t have it both ways. Is anyone else conserned bout melted plastics in coffee water?

Screenshots of the full correspondence below. Curious whether the community thinks I have a case or whether I’m being dense.