Hey all! If you enjoyed the video, please don't forget to "like and subscribe." Hate saying that, but only about 25% of viewers have subbed, and I'd love to be able to get more sponsorships through growth to help me buy more equipment for videos. Thanks!
@@LanceHedrick thanks for the video, beside the portability and other features, how does flair 58 compare to pro 2, just in terms of esspresso body and taste ? Does it worth the extra money ? I'm looking forward to upgrade my pro2 to 58 if the difference worth it.
Can I just say I really appreciate your “long windedness “ haha that’s EXACTLY how my brain processes things and the way you explain things has made my learning so much quicker and more fun! Thank you Lance, keep it up!
My daily drivers are the 58 and a nanofoamer, and I couldn't be happier. It makes great drinks, but the whole manual process, and being 'connected' to what you're brewing is so much more intuitive than pushing a button on a semi-auto machine. I think this is the best video so far I've seen that catches the joy of manual espresso brewing. Great job Lance!
I'm new to this coffee culture but I became an instant fan of yours the moment you made a cinematic reference. Thanks for that. ☺️ In my house we stan for Federico Fellini.
Brilliant video. Nobody else has yet explained how profiling manually can be done by feel this way and I’m really looking forward to getting to grips with it. I can only echo what others have commented; your presentation style hit a lovely balance between information, consideration and positivity. Thanks again
Yup, totally agree with that. The way you can salvage bad grind size ( so call dial in process ) during the shots really helps a lot. It might not be a great shot, but it certainly helps a lot which is still drinkable unlike the shots that you get on semi automachine ( Too fine - more than 40 sec, way over extract / Too Coarse - Watery ) . Besides, able to manually control the pressure Right On the Spot is something that even Decent cant do it since it's a preprogram machine ( unless you can adjust the pressure during the shots, which I'm not sure mechanically how harmful it will be towards the machine itself ), so a little bit of pressure control during the shots can make your dialing process WAYYYY faster. Well, you still need a good grinder to get consistent grind coffee, but not much adjustment is needed. So in fact, manual espresso maker is the real king of king if you are looking for perfection in the world of Espresso.
I don't know why but I just recently stumbled upon your channel. Really enjoy the way you explain and talk in your videos. Been basically binge watching your channel in the past few days. Keep them coming!
Very clear description of pressure profiling and it matches my experience. Using a lever machine makes me understand the espresso extraction theory and learn from every day practice. Really like lever machines and they have become my daily drivers. Great video and Thank you.
currently am a Flair Pro user, so I've been watching vids on the 58. Don't even mind that 8 minutes were spent before getting to the product, incredibly informative, little segway into films, take my subscribe!
Haha! Film lover? I've got the Fellini collection, so I was so stoked to see one of his films as a cornerstone in the revitalization of lever espresso. So cool
Awesome video Lance! Your videos feel really fresh and I really get excited whenever you release a video! I have a Flair 58 on pre-order and I can't explain how quickly I opened your video the moment it came out. I wonder though, will you release a workflow video soon on the Flair 58 with..say maybe a Nanofoamer combo soon? Seeing as you are a latte art master, it'll be really cool to see you go fully manual to show how easy it can be to achieve a really great latte that was fully manual!
You better believe I will! I was going to do that first but thought it more important to do an overview of manual espresso featuring the 58 first. To dip people's toes a bit
Thank you for that informative video. I love manual coffee making, it's like an afternoon ritual for me that I really cherish. I had my eye on the flair for a long time, so thank you for that review. 🙂
Very cool! Everyone's raving about the Flair 58. I've been using my Flair 2 Signature for a half a year now and absolutely loving it. I've been leaning hard into the manual side of things all over, as I also picked up a stovetop steamer and a Kinu M43 Classic!
Love that! Doing things manually can be so rewarding, for sure. It's really fun feeling the puck erode and changing pressure to account for the weakened resistance.
I think paying the $550 for the press and $100 for the scale is the easy part. I think watching this video 99 more times and remembering over 1000 details will be the challenge! Life is tough with A.D.D.! Thank God I have the Nespresso machine and rip off capsules for the meantime! Load, lock, push idiot button! None the less, thanks for the detailed video!
As an addict of lever machine (first la pavoni, now olympia cremina), it's a steep learning curve, but worth the time! Thx for your videos they are really interesting
Stoked to have a lever addict enjoy the vid! And yeah, sadly what once was a ubiquitous and understood style of pulling has become difficult because the luxury of semi autos.
@@LanceHedrick Wow, stoke to have a response from you! I actually never had any semi-auto, I just fell in love of the la pavoni design, and spent veeeery long time without a good grinder and proper technique (and therefor a good espresso neither... ) I'm really glad to see so many skilled people (you, James Hoffman, a lot of people in social network) giving their time to educate and share experience. It would have save me a lot of time 15 years ago! ;)
do either of you have thoughts about which is the best lever machine to start with? I'm happy to learn the fine details of pulling from a flare 58 or a la pavoni (looking to spend under 1k) machine. Do either render blatantly superior espresso?
Fascinating way to see espresso brewing, especially as my only perspective is from behind big commercial machines, and having to make everything work around them. To know a manual espresso machine can even help prevent wasting coffee, that is a HUGE deal to me. Great video, tons of insight!
Hello Lance, I watch the videos again and again, and I come with new questions😂 With a lever machine like this, for light roasts, it's better to: Make a longer preinfussion and then a declining pressure profile, or a normal 4-5" preinfussion and then maintain 8-9 bar till the end? Question no.2 Seeing mottling on crema is sexy and "sign of good extraction", or this we knew until now As you said, these are fines escaped from the basket, but at the end, for taste, is it better or makes the cup with less clarity and less clean mouthfeel?
So is the SE Profiler not as important, since we're mainly seeking to keep a constant 1.5 gram/second extraction rate? The main thing that seems to be important is having the lunar scale and connecting to your phone to view that graph?
Really well thought and well made ….. i was hesitating if I should get the Flair 58 and now I am certainly getting one. Thank you so much for this the machine looks like a lot of fun
@@LanceHedrick just a quick update, 58 is super hard to find in Bangkok but I finally got it last week with the SE Profiler along with the Acaia Luna …. and now I’m having so much fun making espresso.!!! Thank you again very much Lance. 🙏🏻❤️
Forgot to mention my previous setup is the EG1 with the Linea Mini … and i hardly touched them this week 😂 playing 58 with pressure profiling like u taught is super cool!
@@LanceHedrick A whole new world indeed Lance 😊 Back to basic with the Kinu Classic grinder too! I’m glad I get to share this with you … you’ve been my inspiration and source of wisdom. Wishing you and your family a wonderful happy healthy successful 2022 Lance 🎉
I was born in 1951 in a small Spanish town. The so called “Fellini shot” was routine in all bars in my hometown since as far back as I can remember. And I am sure it was routine anywhere where there was an Italian comercial espresso machine since well before it appeared in a Fellini movie.
Very nice deepdive. These learnings are applicable for other espresso machines like flair classic as well. You should do more of these videos. (Also the turbo shot)
Great video Lance. I’ve been using the original Flair for nearly a year. Steep learning curve but when you have the technique right, the coffee is liquid gold. I drink it black (Americano) or Australian piccolo. (I have no idea how to steam milk correctly and as I’m the only one the house that drinks coffee, most probably no need to learn). Oh and the 1zpresso pro does an awesome job of grinding beans. Enjoying your channel mate. Many thanks.
Lance, I’ve had my Flair 58 plus for just over a month and I’ve had good result pretty consistently. Flair recommends pulling each shot over 35-45 seconds while most suggest 25-30 seconds when using an espresso machine. Why is the suggested pull time different with the Flair?
Love the NASHVILLE shirt!!! Considering the Flair 58 very seriously. Also wondering how much better my Gaggia Classic espresso shots would be, if I started doing manual preinfusion of maybe 30-60ml with my Fellow Stagg EKG kettle. 🤔
Amazing video Lance, as always! Do you have an opinion about the la pavoni manual espresso machine? I was on the fence about the flair and the LP and ultimately decided on the LP. Love it so far but still very much to learn
Once again a great video. Speaking of pressure profiling, I can't wait to see what you do with your new machine. (I saw you on a certain forum so I know you have a new machine being delivered soon!) I can not express how much I enjoy your videos. Your delivery, humor and amount of information you present is amazing. If it were espresso it would be a god shot!
@Lancehedrick , I am looking to get a manual espresso machine like the flair, but can you clear up something for me? Do you not have to measure the amount of water that you put into the brew head? Just fill it up and then measure output? Or is it a measured amount of water going into it at the beginning?
got a 58 for my first espresso machine. Was concerned about it looking like it was extracting off center. Knew it was probably the machine leaning forward, but wasn't confident that was it. Thx for the confirmation.
Been avoiding to buy expensive machines for years and I was using my mokka pot for decades now and I have been making good coffees .... no crema no fancy stuff but it was a good coffee. Once these lever machines started to emerge, I somehow feel that, yes it deserves the money as indeed "you - and not a machine - make the coffee". Nice video
Can you pre-heat the chamber without the electronics plugged in? i.e. if I wanted to take this camping, could I pre-heat it with water before pulling a shot? But then also use the electronic pre-heat element when at home?
Thanks for doing a lever video, owning a lever machine, I know how incredible these machines can perform. I believe flair hit the nail on the head with a 58mm portafilter. The app is a great idea, will try this out to follow my flow. Was eyeballing pressure, this will help I’m sure!
Hey lance amazing video… it sold me on the flair 58. Ordered one yesterday. Watching this video a second time to see the shot profiling. I have a question. It seems like you don’t need the little gadget that replaces the pressure gage but only a smart scale compatible with the app correct? You just used the scale only but their site seems to hint that you need both which is a bigger investment. Can you clarify for me?
You only need the pressure gauge bluetooth attachment if you want to do pressure profiling. You can be totally fine with just flow profiling, which is what he's doing in this video.
Loved the video and just subscribed after watching all your vids! Keep up the great work! As many people begin looking into manual espresso machines, I would love to see a comparison of the various external milk frothing options that you could pair with a machine like this. Nanofoamer, Bellman, French press, auto milk frothers, etc. Could be a really insightful and helpful video from someone with your expertise! Keep up the great work!
I apparently love this guy so much... RUclips brings me back to his videos again and again..... and again... and guess what? Its still mesmerized me...still hilarious.... just like watching friends. Can't get enough with his OCD+ADHD+xFactor humor.
Always so informative. Question: What target Flow Rate / sec should you be targeting? This vid you were targeting 1.5 g/sec. My 40 sec shot on the Flair 2 is delivering 2.4 g/sec on an 18 g in 50 g out shot.
Great video as always, the "long-windedness" helps sometimes :-) Am very seriously considering this as I am mainly a one espresso-a-day person. What grinder would you recommend with this? I presume my Baratza Encore would not work and while I do have a couple of Hario hand grinders would be interested to know what you would recommend. I don't mind getting one good grinder which I can then use for my pourover which is daily driver and also use it with the Flair. TIA.
Absolutely. Especially if you're willing to use the app mentioned and if you are willing to buy the Smart Espresso Profiler, which allows you to graph your pressure profile.
@Lance Hedrick thanks for the video, beside the portability and other features, how does flair 58 compare to pro 2, just in terms of esspresso body and taste ? Does it worth the extra money ? I'm looking forward to upgrade my pro2 to 58 if the difference worth it.
Love the video lance. Awaiting my flair 58 with great anticipation. Had a pro for the longest time, but not a huge fan of the preheat process. Very happy about the electric piece myself.
Another great video. After watching this, I can understand how people could be hooked on manual machines. It's really about controlling every aspect of it to get the best end result. I get it, but I also know I don't have the time for a set up like that. Plus, I really like steaming milk and making halfway decent latte art. Anyway, keep up the good work! And that part with the princess bride was too funny!
Yeah! I, too, never understood the fascination. Until now, that is! I absolutely love doing it, though perhaps not daily haha. It's really enlightening to feel the speed with which the puck degrades.
aye sweet haircut. ur videos might just be the best thing to happen to the home barista community. good stuff. the haters wont get good coffee. sounds like a win in my books
Hey! I'm not sure, to be honest, but it probably wouldn't help unless you have double shimmed your sette haha! I have put two shims behind the burr and use the grinder exclusively for espresso.
I don’t own an espresso machine yet. I’m a newbie and an enthusiast at the same time. I want great result and will not be satisfied with less. Most people suggest Gaggia Classic Pro as the first machine to buy. But from watching a lot of videos it seems to be a lot of hassle to get the Gaggie pulling good great shots. You need mods to get down to 9 bars pressure, workflow workarounds to get good temp, steam, etc. A lot of work. This manual Flair 58 seems much easier to handle really. But I read some people say it’s a steep learning curve with a lever? Is it? Which one do you suggest? Gaggia Classic Pro or Flair 58? I know the Flair can’t steam milk but I intend to combine it with a microfoamer if I buy one.
This is a hard question. You are correct in that mods must be made to the gaggia. And the learning curve can be steep with levers. But I don't think it's that difficult, to be honest. There are many forums you can join, videos, etc, to rely on. Really depends on what you're looking for. 10/10 this will make better espresso.
Literally in the same boat. 1200$ budget. Researching and researching to realize I’m gonna have to spend so much more than I want for features that are pretty much essential. Pid, flow control, etc. I went ahead and ordered this flair 58 after watching this. I paired it with a sette 270 to start. I don’t wanna drop 1200$ and almost instantly wish I could upgrade. You really can’t go wrong with this even if it takes time to master. Compare it to the decent espresso machine, 3k+ $$$ machine. Does all of this for you but it has sensors and parts that can go bad and probably require much more maintenance. If anything you know for sure you’ll be able to make great espresso with the flair 58 in the way 3k+ machines do for a fraction and not worry about maintenance as much or parts going bad.
Do you think that after using this type of manual process only, it would be hard to move to something semi-automatic that does not have flow control? I got the FLAIR pro as my first espresso machine and love it (although the electrical heating of the 58 is a great addition!)! However, I am worried I will not be able to move to a semi-automatic (for simpler workflows when I do not have the time) unless we get into that a few grand situation because I have become too accustomed to the ability to adjust my pressure in real-time as needed as you discussed. In other words, I am concerned that moving to a basic semi-auto will be lacking without that ability to adjust the pressure profile to the feedback I am getting from that specific pull. Interestingly, I have had some shots that initially choked, and then used very long pre infusions to end up pulling surprisingly incredible shots (including one that took almost 2 mins with a really light roast). Was great to hear your explanation of this and the “Fellini shot” Keep the great content coming!!!
Hey! I understand the fear. And yes, it will be hard to move to standard 9 bar. But there are ways around this without dropping too much! The Breville dual boiler costs $1499 and you can do a simple, reversible mod to it, risk free, that allows flow control!
@@FlairEspresso hahaha you know I would never complain, Flair has my heart forever! Like we say about cheese back home: the more you wait the better it gets, right!?
Hey Lance, as i keep coming back to Flair 58 reviews, what would be your picks for automated machines with shots that offer shots like the flair. I currently own the Pro 2, and the "feature" I use most is pre infusion at 2-3 Bars, with some espressos for like 15-30 seconds^^, and then i flow profile, with 10-5 bars, usually declining. So even when i havent dialed in the grind right away, i can always get a drinkable shot and adjust from there. Basically letting the puck control the shot feels and tastes amazing. WIth the 58 i could skip the preheating, but I also would like to steam some milk for my gf and guests, and have a hot water boiler so i can skip the kettle while keeping the control of the flair. Is there a machine like that around, or one that would come close without breaking bank, or would that only be achievable via mods (flow profiling wise)
hye Lance. thanks for great video, im using flair 58 now but i still cant get the 7-9 bar extraction maybe due to the grind setting, can u advice what is the appropriate grind setting for medium roast bean, now im using Kinu M47 grinder. one more thing, does this machine require to grind bean very fine?
Yeah... Ive been using my Flair Pro slightly wrong lol, wasting more shots than I care to admit. Im going to have to use this philosophy and be a little more relaxed about hitting time frames when I feel like I have choked shots. I constantly worry they are going to turn out bitter. Great insight, great video!
Lance, can you dose 14g on that 18g basket? Would that affect taste? I wanted to switch 18g and 14g time to time and I was windering it it’s going to be an issue like the grind size
Thank you! Is it possible to put a 1 cup basket in the Flair (for example the IMS convex 8-10g that I stuff with 11g of coffee on the Rocket ... for information I also own the Cafelat Robot)?
Why did you bring up the Fallaini move? To my knowledge it's used to get more water into the brew chamber. In the video you can see the barista holding it down (which is the preinfusion phase) then letting it go up 50% and pressing it down again to fill the water chamber. Then he lets it go completely, so then the normal extraction starts. It's spring lever so the directions are reversed to the flair. Would love to hear more about the fallaini move and also about spring lever machines
I brought it up because it is part of the history of the lever machine AND Fellini is one of my favorite directors. I wanted to do a quick lever history and, considering the move was an important step in the evolution of lever profiles, I found it important to discuss very briefly. And i'll do more in the future with spring machines.
There is a crucial component of this geeky setup missing. And that is smart espresso profiler. Hardware made by the same people that made the app you presented.
@@LanceHedrick You lucky b#__$d. Regarding Decent. Do you think it will be possible to program it to simulate what you describe? I mean compensation for puck degradation and pressure decrease to be more dynamic about the extraction process. Right now it's programmable but completely static right? I saved my extraction many many times like that. Using my lever machine. I guess what I'm asking is can you program the flow rate curve not the pressure.
I believe that is something being worked on now- the ability to save shots by sensing the pressure based off grind size and adapting flow accordingly. We will see! I think Gagne already proposed a hack to emulate this
Hey all! If you enjoyed the video, please don't forget to "like and subscribe." Hate saying that, but only about 25% of viewers have subbed, and I'd love to be able to get more sponsorships through growth to help me buy more equipment for videos. Thanks!
I'm a fan!
Thank you!
I subscribed at get go. You are truly a champion 🏆much thanks 😊
Thank you so much!
@@LanceHedrick thanks for the video, beside the portability and other features, how does flair 58 compare to pro 2, just in terms of esspresso body and taste ? Does it worth the extra money ? I'm looking forward to upgrade my pro2 to 58 if the difference worth it.
Can I just say I really appreciate your “long windedness “ haha that’s EXACTLY how my brain processes things and the way you explain things has made my learning so much quicker and more fun! Thank you Lance, keep it up!
Fantastic! So glad there is a kindred spirit 🤣🤣 thanks for the love!
You and James Hoffman are my favourite coffee experts. Love your knowledge and energy
It's been 8 months since this video has been released. Could you do a updated review with extra tips or tricks you have learned along the way?
My daily drivers are the 58 and a nanofoamer, and I couldn't be happier. It makes great drinks, but the whole manual process, and being 'connected' to what you're brewing is so much more intuitive than pushing a button on a semi-auto machine. I think this is the best video so far I've seen that catches the joy of manual espresso brewing. Great job Lance!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it, friend.
I'm new to this coffee culture but I became an instant fan of yours the moment you made a cinematic reference. Thanks for that. ☺️ In my house we stan for Federico Fellini.
Same! Fellini is a favorite here.
Really explicative video, but the better is that u take the time to reply all the comments. Thanks
Haha! I try to. Thanks for noticing!
Excellent...I just bought one and will be watching all your other Flair 58 videos! Thanks.
Brilliant video. Nobody else has yet explained how profiling manually can be done by feel this way and I’m really looking forward to getting to grips with it. I can only echo what others have commented; your presentation style hit a lovely balance between information, consideration and positivity. Thanks again
Thank you kindly for the words! Appreciate it.
Yup, totally agree with that. The way you can salvage bad grind size ( so call dial in process ) during the shots really helps a lot. It might not be a great shot, but it certainly helps a lot which is still drinkable unlike the shots that you get on semi automachine ( Too fine - more than 40 sec, way over extract / Too Coarse - Watery ) . Besides, able to manually control the pressure Right On the Spot is something that even Decent cant do it since it's a preprogram machine ( unless you can adjust the pressure during the shots, which I'm not sure mechanically how harmful it will be towards the machine itself ), so a little bit of pressure control during the shots can make your dialing process WAYYYY faster.
Well, you still need a good grinder to get consistent grind coffee, but not much adjustment is needed. So in fact, manual espresso maker is the real king of king if you are looking for perfection in the world of Espresso.
I don't know why but I just recently stumbled upon your channel. Really enjoy the way you explain and talk in your videos. Been basically binge watching your channel in the past few days.
Keep them coming!
I enjoy your single-shot videos, it makes it feel genuine. I can't wait to use your tips on my '58 when it arrives.
Thank you so much! You'll love the 58. Definitely download the SEP app
2 years later, how are you liking your Flair 58?
Do you still use it?
Have you moved on to something else?
Very clear description of pressure profiling and it matches my experience. Using a lever machine makes me understand the espresso extraction theory and learn from every day practice. Really like lever machines and they have become my daily drivers. Great video and Thank you.
Awesome! Thanks for the kind words. And the support
What a great video. I enjoy the history, the thoughts, the technical details and your banter.
Thank you so much! I'm stoked you enjoyed it. Appreciate the kind words.
Love the videos. Sooooooo much content and background and detail in such a condensed timeframe.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it, friend!
Really great video. After this vid I bought flair. It’s great and now I am watching your other films. Really appreciate the work. All the best.
Really really interesting. Always so much fun to watch your video Lance!!!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you so much for an awesome video, Lance!! I’ve been trying to share your channel to as many friends as I can. Awesome content man.
Thank you so much! That's the best support I could ask for. Appreciate you
Thank you for all the amazing videos Lance!
Thank you so much for watching, friend! Hope they're helpful
currently am a Flair Pro user, so I've been watching vids on the 58. Don't even mind that 8 minutes were spent before getting to the product, incredibly informative, little segway into films, take my subscribe!
Haha! Film lover? I've got the Fellini collection, so I was so stoked to see one of his films as a cornerstone in the revitalization of lever espresso. So cool
Awesome video Lance! Your videos feel really fresh and I really get excited whenever you release a video!
I have a Flair 58 on pre-order and I can't explain how quickly I opened your video the moment it came out.
I wonder though, will you release a workflow video soon on the Flair 58 with..say maybe a Nanofoamer combo soon?
Seeing as you are a latte art master, it'll be really cool to see you go fully manual to show how easy it can be to achieve a really great latte that was fully manual!
You better believe I will! I was going to do that first but thought it more important to do an overview of manual espresso featuring the 58 first. To dip people's toes a bit
@@LanceHedrick half my body is already in, let alone my toes! Really excited to see that video soon! Thanks for the amazing videos !!
Haha love it! Stoked to get it made
The 58 is sold out in New Zealand and I just picked up the pro 2. So good to see you’ve done a video on this. So knowledgeable
Well I never saw any attraction to manual lever machines before this. Interesting!
That's how I was until the last few months to be honest!
Then you should also have a look at the la pavoni europiccola or when it’s about entering the upperclass the Olympia Express Cremina ☺️
If I can get those sent to me, I'd happily check them out hahaha!
Dannnng, I did not realize there was a heating element. Now I want one! Great video!
Haha! Yes the heating element is a game changer
Thank you for that informative video. I love manual coffee making, it's like an afternoon ritual for me that I really cherish. I had my eye on the flair for a long time, so thank you for that review. 🙂
Absolutely! I truly enjoy it. Very happy it was my initiation into manual espresso
Very cool! Everyone's raving about the Flair 58. I've been using my Flair 2 Signature for a half a year now and absolutely loving it. I've been leaning hard into the manual side of things all over, as I also picked up a stovetop steamer and a Kinu M43 Classic!
Love that! Doing things manually can be so rewarding, for sure. It's really fun feeling the puck erode and changing pressure to account for the weakened resistance.
I think paying the $550 for the press and $100 for the scale is the easy part. I think watching this video 99 more times and remembering over 1000 details will be the challenge! Life is tough with A.D.D.! Thank God I have the Nespresso machine and rip off capsules for the meantime! Load, lock, push idiot button! None the less, thanks for the detailed video!
As an addict of lever machine (first la pavoni, now olympia cremina), it's a steep learning curve, but worth the time! Thx for your videos they are really interesting
Stoked to have a lever addict enjoy the vid! And yeah, sadly what once was a ubiquitous and understood style of pulling has become difficult because the luxury of semi autos.
@@LanceHedrick Wow, stoke to have a response from you!
I actually never had any semi-auto, I just fell in love of the la pavoni design, and spent veeeery long time without a good grinder and proper technique (and therefor a good espresso neither... )
I'm really glad to see so many skilled people (you, James Hoffman, a lot of people in social network) giving their time to educate and share experience. It would have save me a lot of time 15 years ago! ;)
Haha! So happy you're finding the videos helpful. Thanks for commenting!
do either of you have thoughts about which is the best lever machine to start with? I'm happy to learn the fine details of pulling from a flare 58 or a la pavoni (looking to spend under 1k) machine. Do either render blatantly superior espresso?
@@ilovegrumpybear1 Thermal management on a La Pavoni is... a pain. You'll be less frustrated with the Flair, imo.
You definitely just said “butt dialed in” 😂 17:38
I love the detail and length. Love the history and explanations.
Thanks for the content!
Heck yeah! Thanks for watching. Stoked you enjoyed it!
Fascinating way to see espresso brewing, especially as my only perspective is from behind big commercial machines, and having to make everything work around them. To know a manual espresso machine can even help prevent wasting coffee, that is a HUGE deal to me. Great video, tons of insight!
For sure! It's so much fun. And incredibly rewarding.
Yes you can bloom, Lance! You showed us how to add a dimmer knob to control flow for a machine
Great video, just got my 58 and now I know which accessories I need to improve my coffee 😊
Hello Lance, I watch the videos again and again, and I come with new questions😂
With a lever machine like this, for light roasts, it's better to:
Make a longer preinfussion and then a declining pressure profile, or a normal 4-5" preinfussion and then maintain 8-9 bar till the end?
Question no.2
Seeing mottling on crema is sexy and "sign of good extraction", or this we knew until now
As you said, these are fines escaped from the basket, but at the end, for taste, is it better or makes the cup with less clarity and less clean mouthfeel?
Loved this review - great to see someone hands on with this machine.
Thank you my friend! Appreciate you
thank you lance for the free lesson that you have provided for us here, you got a new subscriber 🥳
Absolutely! Thank you for the support
Always a good day when Lance uploads
Haha! Thank you! Hope you enjoy it
So is the SE Profiler not as important, since we're mainly seeking to keep a constant 1.5 gram/second extraction rate? The main thing that seems to be important is having the lunar scale and connecting to your phone to view that graph?
Yeah! The SE profiler isn't 100% needed, but it does allow you to replicate other profiles more exactly and to graph the data
👍👍Excellent! New 58+ owner, so this was very helpful! Cheers! BTW ... what cups are you using here?
Really well thought and well made ….. i was hesitating if I should get the Flair 58 and now I am certainly getting one. Thank you so much for this the machine looks like a lot of fun
Fantastic! So stoked you enjoyed the video, friend.
@@LanceHedrick just a quick update, 58 is super hard to find in Bangkok but I finally got it last week with the SE Profiler along with the Acaia Luna …. and now I’m having so much fun making espresso.!!! Thank you again very much Lance. 🙏🏻❤️
Forgot to mention my previous setup is the EG1 with the Linea Mini … and i hardly touched them this week 😂 playing 58 with pressure profiling like u taught is super cool!
It's incredible! I'm so happy you're having fun with profiling. It opens up a whole new world.
@@LanceHedrick A whole new world indeed Lance 😊 Back to basic with the Kinu Classic grinder too! I’m glad I get to share this with you … you’ve been my inspiration and source of wisdom. Wishing you and your family a wonderful happy healthy successful 2022 Lance 🎉
I was born in 1951 in a small Spanish town. The so called “Fellini shot” was routine in all bars in my hometown since as far back as I can remember. And I am sure it was routine anywhere where there was an Italian comercial espresso machine since well before it appeared in a Fellini movie.
oh of course! The name just comes from the movie.
Very nice deepdive. These learnings are applicable for other espresso machines like flair classic as well. You should do more of these videos. (Also the turbo shot)
Thank you! I have a flair series coming up where I dial in other flow profiles 🤫🤫🤫
Great video Lance. I’ve been using the original Flair for nearly a year. Steep learning curve but when you have the technique right, the coffee is liquid gold. I drink it black (Americano) or Australian piccolo. (I have no idea how to steam milk correctly and as I’m the only one the house that drinks coffee, most probably no need to learn). Oh and the 1zpresso pro does an awesome job of grinding beans. Enjoying your channel mate. Many thanks.
Been waiting for this one. Thank you!
Heck yeah! Hope you enjoy it!
Lance, I’ve had my Flair 58 plus for just over a month and I’ve had good result pretty consistently. Flair recommends pulling each shot over 35-45 seconds while most suggest 25-30 seconds when using an espresso machine. Why is the suggested pull time different with the Flair?
Love the NASHVILLE shirt!!! Considering the Flair 58 very seriously. Also wondering how much better my Gaggia Classic espresso shots would be, if I started doing manual preinfusion of maybe 30-60ml with my Fellow Stagg EKG kettle. 🤔
Great explanation, great movie reference, great video. Thanks!
Amazing video Lance, as always!
Do you have an opinion about the la pavoni manual espresso machine?
I was on the fence about the flair and the LP and ultimately decided on the LP. Love it so far but still very much to learn
Great video and information. That´s a lot of research and thanks for share!
Once again a great video. Speaking of pressure profiling, I can't wait to see what you do with your new machine. (I saw you on a certain forum so I know you have a new machine being delivered soon!) I can not express how much I enjoy your videos. Your delivery, humor and amount of information you present is amazing. If it were espresso it would be a god shot!
Thank you! Excited to really delve into those forums. So many of them 🤣
Damn! You just got a shoutout from James Hoffmann for this video! Nice!
I saw! Very cool! Daddy Hoff never disappoints
@Lancehedrick , I am looking to get a manual espresso machine like the flair, but can you clear up something for me? Do you not have to measure the amount of water that you put into the brew head? Just fill it up and then measure output? Or is it a measured amount of water going into it at the beginning?
1:35 and then again 4:58
Neo, get out of there, they're coming for you!
Hahaha! Yes!
Wow haha I thought the same freakin' thing 😅😂
Haha so good!
@@LanceHedrick Yeah haha!
🤣🤣🤣
I love my Flair Pro, this seems like a worthwhile upgrade. Certainly worth thinking about.
Absolutely is! The heating mechanism and wider basket are huge game changers
got a 58 for my first espresso machine. Was concerned about it looking like it was extracting off center. Knew it was probably the machine leaning forward, but wasn't confident that was it. Thx for the confirmation.
Absolutely. Thanks for watching !
Been avoiding to buy expensive machines for years and I was using my mokka pot for decades now and I have been making good coffees .... no crema no fancy stuff but it was a good coffee. Once these lever machines started to emerge, I somehow feel that, yes it deserves the money as indeed "you - and not a machine - make the coffee". Nice video
Thank you, Christos! Really appreciate it. Happy brewing!
Can you pre-heat the chamber without the electronics plugged in? i.e. if I wanted to take this camping, could I pre-heat it with water before pulling a shot? But then also use the electronic pre-heat element when at home?
Thanks for doing a lever video, owning a lever machine, I know how incredible these machines can perform. I believe flair hit the nail on the head with a 58mm portafilter. The app is a great idea, will try this out to follow my flow. Was eyeballing pressure, this will help I’m sure!
Absolutely! And depending on your lever machine, that same company might just make a physical attachment to measure pressure and add to the graph!
@@LanceHedrick i have a CT1 which already has the Naked profiler... would be cool to have the graph... but not that cool 😂😂😂
Haha! For sure. Not cheap.
Hey lance amazing video… it sold me on the flair 58. Ordered one yesterday. Watching this video a second time to see the shot profiling. I have a question. It seems like you don’t need the little gadget that replaces the pressure gage but only a smart scale compatible with the app correct? You just used the scale only but their site seems to hint that you need both which is a bigger investment. Can you clarify for me?
You only need the pressure gauge bluetooth attachment if you want to do pressure profiling. You can be totally fine with just flow profiling, which is what he's doing in this video.
Will standard 58mm baskets, portafilters, tampers, etc. be compatible with this? Some after market fun toys would truly make this machine your own.
Absolutely! Other portafilters fit. My pesado split shot fits like a glove. Tampers, baskets, all of it. Compatible
Loved the video and just subscribed after watching all your vids! Keep up the great work!
As many people begin looking into manual espresso machines, I would love to see a comparison of the various external milk frothing options that you could pair with a machine like this. Nanofoamer, Bellman, French press, auto milk frothers, etc. Could be a really insightful and helpful video from someone with your expertise! Keep up the great work!
Planning on a nanofoamer video soon!
This is the best brewer I've ever had.
I apparently love this guy so much... RUclips brings me back to his videos again and again..... and again... and guess what? Its still mesmerized me...still hilarious.... just like watching friends. Can't get enough with his OCD+ADHD+xFactor humor.
Wow... Had no idea manual espresso is so deep! Thank you as always sir! 👍👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️
It absolutely is! I love it. Fell into a hole
@@LanceHedrick and you're evil... Now I want yet another coffee toy because of you 😂😂😂😂😂
Evil? Me? For suggesting you get a...toy? Come on. It's innocent 😇
@@LanceHedrick guess I'd have to have my fingers crossed that I win Flair Espress's lottery next month in Japan :p
Yes! Fingers crossed for you!
Always so informative. Question: What target Flow Rate / sec should you be targeting? This vid you were targeting 1.5 g/sec. My 40 sec shot on the Flair 2 is delivering 2.4 g/sec on an 18 g in 50 g out shot.
Awesome. And it wasn't a long video as I'm into learning the at home espresso skills using a manual setup. Thanks ☕🙋♂️📖
Love it! Glad you enjoyed it
That’s what happens when you enjoy what you’re learning. Good luck!
Great video as always, the "long-windedness" helps sometimes :-) Am very seriously considering this as I am mainly a one espresso-a-day person. What grinder would you recommend with this? I presume my Baratza Encore would not work and while I do have a couple of Hario hand grinders would be interested to know what you would recommend. I don't mind getting one good grinder which I can then use for my pourover which is daily driver and also use it with the Flair. TIA.
this was recommended to me by youtube, I am glad I clicked. really good stuff you're doing here, I learned a lot. liked and subscribed
Thank you! So glad you found it valuable. Appreciate you joining along!
Such a great video. But is it hard to get a good result with the flair ? And can you really get a result close to a slayer ?
Absolutely. Especially if you're willing to use the app mentioned and if you are willing to buy the Smart Espresso Profiler, which allows you to graph your pressure profile.
I'm assuming that when you pull the lever back up it wont suck coffee fines and bits up into the group head and water chamber and stuff?
@Lance Hedrick thanks for the video, beside the portability and other features, how does flair 58 compare to pro 2, just in terms of esspresso body and taste ? Does it worth the extra money ? I'm looking forward to upgrade my pro2 to 58 if the difference worth it.
Love the video lance. Awaiting my flair 58 with great anticipation. Had a pro for the longest time, but not a huge fan of the preheat process. Very happy about the electric piece myself.
Yeah the electric piece is nice. Heats in like 5 min. I love it
Another great video. After watching this, I can understand how people could be hooked on manual machines. It's really about controlling every aspect of it to get the best end result. I get it, but I also know I don't have the time for a set up like that. Plus, I really like steaming milk and making halfway decent latte art. Anyway, keep up the good work! And that part with the princess bride was too funny!
Yeah! I, too, never understood the fascination. Until now, that is! I absolutely love doing it, though perhaps not daily haha. It's really enlightening to feel the speed with which the puck degrades.
Hey Lance, can you recommend a e61 flow control kit? I’m trying to improve my shots on my Rocket Apartamento.
So far, this is the best and most detailed video review about flair 58. But, you missed one thing, what is the temperature of the water you used.
I always use it off the boil. I could've sworn I said that. Sorry if I didn't!
aye sweet haircut. ur videos might just be the best thing to happen to the home barista community. good stuff. the haters wont get good coffee. sounds like a win in my books
Haha thank you! Really appreciate that, friend.
Enjoyed the history, well done.
Great video, Lance!
What setting do you use for a dark roast on the Baratza Sette when you grind for Flair 58?
Hey! I'm not sure, to be honest, but it probably wouldn't help unless you have double shimmed your sette haha! I have put two shims behind the burr and use the grinder exclusively for espresso.
@@LanceHedrick Thanks for your reply! I use my Baratza Sette for filtered as well, so I haven't shimmed it yet.
Ahhhh well, I'd recommend getting another grinder for filter. The sette is the worst haha! Great for espresso, terrible for filter.
I'm just here for the random doggo in the background tbh. :)
Love the review and the tons of info. Love the dog too. 😁
Haha thank you! Appreciate the love. Will pass it on the Onyx, the pup
Hey lance how do you think the flair compares to other manual lever like micro casa or Cremina?
I don’t own an espresso machine yet. I’m a newbie and an enthusiast at the same time. I want great result and will not be satisfied with less.
Most people suggest Gaggia Classic Pro as the first machine to buy. But from watching a lot of videos it seems to be a lot of hassle to get the Gaggie pulling good great shots. You need mods to get down to 9 bars pressure, workflow workarounds to get good temp, steam, etc. A lot of work.
This manual Flair 58 seems much easier to handle really. But I read some people say it’s a steep learning curve with a lever? Is it?
Which one do you suggest? Gaggia Classic Pro or Flair 58?
I know the Flair can’t steam milk but I intend to combine it with a microfoamer if I buy one.
This is a hard question. You are correct in that mods must be made to the gaggia. And the learning curve can be steep with levers. But I don't think it's that difficult, to be honest. There are many forums you can join, videos, etc, to rely on.
Really depends on what you're looking for. 10/10 this will make better espresso.
Literally in the same boat. 1200$ budget. Researching and researching to realize I’m gonna have to spend so much more than I want for features that are pretty much essential. Pid, flow control, etc. I went ahead and ordered this flair 58 after watching this. I paired it with a sette 270 to start. I don’t wanna drop 1200$ and almost instantly wish I could upgrade. You really can’t go wrong with this even if it takes time to master. Compare it to the decent espresso machine, 3k+ $$$ machine. Does all of this for you but it has sensors and parts that can go bad and probably require much more maintenance. If anything you know for sure you’ll be able to make great espresso with the flair 58 in the way 3k+ machines do for a fraction and not worry about maintenance as much or parts going bad.
Do you think that after using this type of manual process only, it would be hard to move to something semi-automatic that does not have flow control?
I got the FLAIR pro as my first espresso machine and love it (although the electrical heating of the 58 is a great addition!)! However, I am worried I will not be able to move to a semi-automatic (for simpler workflows when I do not have the time) unless we get into that a few grand situation because I have become too accustomed to the ability to adjust my pressure in real-time as needed as you discussed. In other words, I am concerned that moving to a basic semi-auto will be lacking without that ability to adjust the pressure profile to the feedback I am getting from that specific pull.
Interestingly, I have had some shots that initially choked, and then used very long pre infusions to end up pulling surprisingly incredible shots (including one that took almost 2 mins with a really light roast). Was great to hear your explanation of this and the “Fellini shot”
Keep the great content coming!!!
Hey! I understand the fear. And yes, it will be hard to move to standard 9 bar. But there are ways around this without dropping too much! The Breville dual boiler costs $1499 and you can do a simple, reversible mod to it, risk free, that allows flow control!
@@LanceHedrick never heard of this thanks for the tip
For sure! On RUclips called the slayer mod
Love the thorough review! Great job 😁
Thank you so much!
Love this video! Thanks for creating this Lance. :)
Thanks so much for the support, friend!
Another dope video! Come on Flair ship these out already 😂😂
Hahaha! Thanks for the kind words. Once yours is in, you'll love it
shipping for US fulfillment starts next week! 🤜🤛
Woo!!
@@FlairEspresso hahaha you know I would never complain, Flair has my heart forever! Like we say about cheese back home: the more you wait the better it gets, right!?
Excellent video. Love the explanation on how manual espresso allows you to correct for grind size. Solid princess bride ref to! 😂
Haha love me some princess bride! Thanks for watching
Hey Lance, as i keep coming back to Flair 58 reviews, what would be your picks for automated machines with shots that offer shots like the flair. I currently own the Pro 2, and the "feature" I use most is pre infusion at 2-3 Bars, with some espressos for like 15-30 seconds^^, and then i flow profile, with 10-5 bars, usually declining. So even when i havent dialed in the grind right away, i can always get a drinkable shot and adjust from there. Basically letting the puck control the shot feels and tastes amazing.
WIth the 58 i could skip the preheating, but I also would like to steam some milk for my gf and guests, and have a hot water boiler so i can skip the kettle while keeping the control of the flair. Is there a machine like that around, or one that would come close without breaking bank, or would that only be achievable via mods (flow profiling wise)
The Olympia cremina with the spring assist is probably the ideal of what you’re looking for. $4k though
I have a Lelit Bianca which has flow control. Would it make sense for me to get this? Never tried levers and I’m intrigued
hye Lance. thanks for great video, im using flair 58 now but i still cant get the 7-9 bar extraction maybe due to the grind setting, can u advice what is the appropriate grind setting for medium roast bean, now im using Kinu M47 grinder. one more thing, does this machine require to grind bean very fine?
Yeah... Ive been using my Flair Pro slightly wrong lol, wasting more shots than I care to admit. Im going to have to use this philosophy and be a little more relaxed about hitting time frames when I feel like I have choked shots. I constantly worry they are going to turn out bitter. Great insight, great video!
Yeah don't worry about it! If it is super tight, just elongated that preinfusion until it loosens. Then shoot up to 9 bar and slowly taper. Fool proof
If im getting a hand grinder, what would you recommend please? Thanks 🙏
Lance, can you dose 14g on that 18g basket? Would that affect taste? I wanted to switch 18g and 14g time to time and I was windering it it’s going to be an issue like the grind size
Such a great presentation! Well done!
Thank you! Much appreciated
I am probably going to buy myself this next Christmas. I need to control myself and give my gaggia at least a year.
Thank you! Is it possible to put a 1 cup basket in the Flair (for example the IMS convex 8-10g that I stuff with 11g of coffee on the Rocket ... for information I also own the Cafelat Robot)?
Awesome!
Thanks Lance!
Thank YOU! You rock
Why did you bring up the Fallaini move? To my knowledge it's used to get more water into the brew chamber. In the video you can see the barista holding it down (which is the preinfusion phase) then letting it go up 50% and pressing it down again to fill the water chamber. Then he lets it go completely, so then the normal extraction starts. It's spring lever so the directions are reversed to the flair. Would love to hear more about the fallaini move and also about spring lever machines
I brought it up because it is part of the history of the lever machine AND Fellini is one of my favorite directors. I wanted to do a quick lever history and, considering the move was an important step in the evolution of lever profiles, I found it important to discuss very briefly.
And i'll do more in the future with spring machines.
Can't wait for those videos. I loved that bit about Fellini and I would love to hear more about it. Peace and love
I heard if I Pre heat high level (95°C) + 100°C boiling water = ~ 93°C output water, right ?? Please help me answer the question!! Thank you so much!
There is a crucial component of this geeky setup missing. And that is smart espresso profiler. Hardware made by the same people that made the app you presented.
Yup! Arrives Tuesday from Hungary
@@LanceHedrick Nice :D. Can't wait for the review!
I can't wait to play with it. That and my decent arrive on Tuesday I believe
@@LanceHedrick You lucky b#__$d. Regarding Decent. Do you think it will be possible to program it to simulate what you describe? I mean compensation for puck degradation and pressure decrease to be more dynamic about the extraction process. Right now it's programmable but completely static right? I saved my extraction many many times like that. Using my lever machine. I guess what I'm asking is can you program the flow rate curve not the pressure.
I believe that is something being worked on now- the ability to save shots by sensing the pressure based off grind size and adapting flow accordingly. We will see! I think Gagne already proposed a hack to emulate this