If you love making coffee at home but want a more hands-on brewing method, the Flair NEO Flex is the perfect first step. It’s a basic, affordable frame that’s relatively simple to utilize.
I’ve tested the best coffee machines and the Flair NEO Flex makes some of the most aromatic coffee on the market. As with manual coffee machines, it’s a lot more complicated, but that means it’s a really satisfying process.
I’ve used the Flair Neo Flex to brew a variety of coffee drinks. I’ve also tested models that are ten times more steep, like the Italian brand La Pavoni, so I can give you a general idea of where to spend your money and where to go wild. Here’s everything you need to know.
Specifications
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| Dimensions | 12 x 12 x 4 inches |
| Materials | Brushed stainless steel with plastic |
| Libra | 4.51 pounds |
| Capacity | 60ml |
| Brewing type | Extraction |
Unpacking
The Flair NEO Flex comes in a stylish packaging. It’s like unwrapping a present, as the box is chunky and has luxurious foam cushioning for the various parts that come with the device.
The Flair comes with a pressurized basket (for the coffee), a regular basket (which can be bottomless), a brewing head and a pressure release valve (to prevent the coffee from being over-ground if the grind is too fine).
The casing is all plastic, which surprised me because it felt a bit affordable for such a premium package, but Flair has a reason for that. This is a “flex” model, which is designed to be lighter and easier to carry. They make other products with metal casings, but this one is supposed to have plastic flexibility.
Who would this be suitable for?
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Lightweight, portable and simple to store, this coffee maker is a great option if you’re looking for a basic model. It makes silky espresso and looks stylish on your countertop. If you don’t want to leave it out in the open, you can put it in a cabinet and match it with oddly shaped items.
This can be overwhelming for someone who is used to a coffee machine, but the instructions are basic and you will get used to it quickly. If you are someone who is looking for a coffee machine that is as close to an automatic bean machine as possible, this may annoy you. If you spend time with it, it will quickly become simple to utilize.
What does utilize look like?
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If you have never used one of these before, make sure you read the instructions or watch a YouTube video to see how it is done. First, I heated the cylinder with boiling water. The cylinder is diminutive, so I used Stagg Gooseneck Cauldron to obtain the most precise steam. There is a handy sleeve which allowed me to empty the cylinder once it was full and warmed by the boiling water.
I used a Fellow Stagg grinder to grind the coffee beans into a fine powder. Then I added 18 grams to the standard basket. If you’re using pre-ground or coarsely ground coffee, utilize the pressurized basket. Once the grounds were in the basket, I used the tamper to distribute the ground beans.
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Then I placed the basket in the stand, which was really secure. I placed the brewing head on the basket and refilled it with boiling water from a gooseneck kettle. I placed the plunger on top and slowly pulled the lever until I felt resistance. I was afraid I might break the stand, but gradually I applied more pressure until I got a full shot of espresso. This is useful if you have coffee scales like these from QVCwhich you can place under the espresso stand and measure the amount of coffee you want to make.
The espresso was silky and nutty. I’ve seen people recommend using boiling water, but mine was 190 degrees Fahrenheit. I didn’t want to burn the grounds and make the espresso taste too sour. I used a medium roast and wouldn’t recommend using a lighter grind, as it’s harder to extract.
Cleaning, storage and maintenance
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I would hand wash this whole thing in sultry, soapy water. There are lots of little spaces where grounds can collect, and you’re much more likely to get them out if you wash them yourself.
You can dismantle the stand and store it anywhere you want, as it is lightweight and compact. However, there are a lot of parts, so make sure you don’t lose any. It’s much less of a hassle to leave the stand in one piece. It looks newfangled and sleek, so it should be safe and sound to store on a countertop, especially if you have a coffee station.
How is it rated online?
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Many people like the NEO Flex. They find it simple to set up and utilize, and they enjoy brewing coffee by hand. Most people like the coffee flavors it can extract, but as I said, most utilize more developed beans, not lighter ones. This design is for beginners, so if you want to explore more coffee flavors, you may want to invest in something a little more complicated.
A few people have been concerned about the pressure release piston. It is designed to release water from the top of the brewing chamber if you grind too finely, but that is the only time you can utilize it. After that, you will need to buy a recent one. It is a good idea, but can be steep. It does prevent the frame from breaking though. Some people have found the frame to be squeaky or too adaptable, but I have not found anyone who has actually broken it, so it is more strong than it looks.
How does it compare?
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The Flair NEO Flex is basically a plastic version of the older model Flair Neo Classic, available on Amazon. It’s a bit more steep and has a stainless steel frame. The metal feels much more strong (and also more premium), so if you’re on a tight budget, it’s worth considering. However, to get the perfect grind for the Classic, you’ll need to invest in a more complicated, sophisticated grinder, which is a bit of a splurge for a beginner. If you’re not a coffee lover, you won’t notice the difference in taste anyway.
If you’re looking for a more upscale coffee maker, I can’t recommend the La Pavoni Professional enough. It looks absolutely stunning on your countertop. You’ll need to be comfortable handling all the different pressures, temperatures, and extractions, but if you can, you’ll be able to make some amazing coffee in this machine. It’s a completely different coffee maker than the Flair NEO Flex, but it does come with a hefty price tag. Instead of costing under a hundred dollars, it’ll cost over a grand (and you’ll need a specialty coffee grinder).
Is it worth buying?
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There’s beauty in simplicity, and this proves why. As a former barista, I’m always content to reach for a coffee, but manual coffee machines can be off-putting to the average coffee drinker.
However, during my test, I discovered that this basic machine is all you need to get started with coffee. It will extract the highest quality espresso without the noise, flashing, and beeping of a regular coffee machine.
If you are looking for a more strong frame, you can consider the classic model. It is more steep and an unnecessary investment for beginners, but it is worth considering.
How we test
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