Flair Classic review

Sweet, crema-topped single shots, mild in one test and never a double8.8/10

The espresso is the reason to buy the Flair Classic, and it is consistently praised. TechGearLab's shots "had beautiful crema and were sweet with almost no bitterness".1 Home Coffee Expert calls it "absolutely capable of pulling exceptional espresso shots".2

The control is all yours. Water temperature, pre-infusion and the pressure applied through the pull are set by hand, which rewards experimenting.3 Emmett Budd settled on a gentle start with the pressure ramped up toward the end, and had espresso with crema on his first day, with only a couple of failed attempts thrown out.4

The limits are size and strength. The basket is small, so there are no double shots, and the brew chamber holds only a little water.5 TechGearLab also found its shots on the mild side, the result of a lower extraction yield.

A daunting start, a thin manual and a hot teardown between every shot3.8/10

Ease of use is the clear weakness. The first sessions are the hardest part: Home Coffee Expert needed multiple attempts to get the results it wanted and found the process frustrating.

“The first time you use any lever espresso maker, it’s daunting. And the Flair Classic certainly doesn’t make things easy in the beginning.”

The manual does not help much. TechGearLab found it light on information and had to look up how-to guidance online.6 Preheating the brew chamber matters a great deal, and the tamper is slightly smaller than the chamber, so loose grounds around the edge need watching.

Once learned, the routine is simple, but it never gets quick. The brew head has to be taken apart by hand between shots while the pieces are still hot, which makes back-to-back shots difficult.7 Emmett Budd names the single shot as his one downside: a second drink means taking it apart and prepping everything again.8

Upkeep is the bright spot. Cleaning after each use is quick, and because the Flair neither stores nor heats water, there is no descaling or backflushing to schedule.

Cheap for the espresso at $159, with a grinder and a pressure gauge still to count6.7/10

Value divides opinion, mostly over what the sticker leaves out. On the plus side, TechGearLab says it makes great quality espresso "at a fraction of the price - but that's all it does".9 Its sums also show the Flair can save a lot of money over its lifetime if used regularly.

The extras are where the bill grows. Home Coffee Expert is clear that the Classic is only worth using with a high quality grinder, and Emmett Budd agrees it has to be a burr grinder.10 You also supply the kettle.

Then there is the gauge. The Classic has no pressure gauge as standard, and TechGearLab considers one a needed accessory for the best shots, at a little more money.11 A stainless steel tamper is likewise a separate purchase.

A case that keeps every part together, and 5 lb plus a kettle to bring along7.5/10

The Flair Classic travels better than any plug-in machine, and portability is widely liked. It needs no electricity, and the travel case was TechGearLab's favorite feature because it stores well and keeps everything in one place.12 Image Coffee builds its whole travel espresso setup around one.

How far you would carry it is another matter. At 5 lb it is not light, and it is bulkier and harder to use than a pocket-sized travel brewer. Home Coffee Expert rates it fine for camping or an RV, then adds that "for most people it’s simply not feasible to travel with".13

Emmett Budd lands in the same place. It packs into its case nicely and can go anywhere there is a way to boil water, but he finds the routine too much bother for a coffee on the road.

Mostly aluminum that should last for years, with a plastic drip tray and small parts to lose

Build gets less attention than the coffee, and what there is reads well. The body is almost entirely aluminum, and Emmett Budd expects that "it should essentially last forever".14 Home Coffee Expert makes a similar point: the pieces are high quality and the mechanism is too simple for much to go wrong.

The caveats are small ones. The drip tray is plastic, where pricier Flair models use stainless steel.15 The design also breaks down into a number of small parts, and Home Coffee Expert worries constantly about losing one.16

With few sources covering durability, treat the long-life predictions as informed expectation, not a record. A multi-year warranty comes with it.

Our verdict

Buy the Flair Classic if you want very good espresso for little money and like the idea of pulling it by hand, one cup at a time. Skip it if you make drinks for a household, want doubles, or have no patience for a preheat and a hot teardown before each shot. Budget for a capable burr grinder from the start, and consider adding the pressure gauge. Give it a few frustrating sessions before you judge it.