Exploring the Flair Neo: A Manual Espresso Experience
The Flair Neo offers coffee enthusiasts an opportunity to elevate their espresso experience from the comfort of their homes. While the Neo has been replaced by Flair with the NEO Flex the original Neo is what we own so join us as we embark on a journey to uncover the history, mechanics, and versatility of the Flair Neo.
A Glimpse into the Past:
The story of the Flair Neo is rooted in a passion for espresso and a desire to make high-quality coffee accessible to everyone. Founded by Intact Idea, a team of coffee enthusiasts based in Florida, Flair Espresso set out to reimagine the traditional espresso machine, focusing on simplicity, affordability, and performance.
The Flair Neo represents the culmination of years of research, development, and refinement, drawing inspiration from classic lever espresso machines while incorporating modern design elements and materials. Launched in 2020, the Flair Neo quickly gained recognition for its innovative approach to manual espresso brewing, earning praise from coffee professionals and home baristas alike.
Mechanics and Operation:
At first glance, the Flair Neo may appear deceptively simple – a compact, portable device consisting of a brewing head, lever, and pressure gauge. However, its beauty lies in its elegant design and the precision engineering that enables users to achieve café-quality espresso with ease.
Using the Flair Neo is a straightforward process that follows the principles of lever espresso brewing:
1. **Preparation**: Begin by preheating the brewing head and portafilter with hot water to ensure optimal temperature stability during extraction. We use a wide-mouth funnel and place it atop our kettle with the brew head cradled inside facing up. Grind your favorite espresso beans to a fine consistency, similar to table salt.
2. **Assembly**: Place the portafilter on a flat surface and add the ground coffee, distributing it evenly and leveling the surface with a gentle tap. Attach the brewing head to the portafilter, ensuring a secure fit.
3. **Brewing**: Attach the brew chamber to the portafilter and then fill the included reservoir with hot water. Place the plunger (or pressure gauge) into the top of the brew chamber and pull down the lever to apply pressure, initiating the extraction process. While you can use the Flair Neo without a pressure gauge we highly recommend the use of the pressure gauge as a visual guide to maintain consistent pressure throughout the extraction, aiming for a target pressure of 6-9 bars. This will result in a better-tasting cup and will allow you to replicate results with ease.
4. **Extraction**: As you apply pressure, watch as the rich, velvety espresso flows into the cup below. Adjust the extraction time and pressure as needed to achieve your desired flavor profile, experimenting with different variables such as grind size, amount of coffee, and water temperature to unlock new depths of complexity and nuance.
5. **Enjoyment**: Once the extraction is complete, savor the fruits of your labor – a perfectly brewed espresso with a rich crema and unparalleled depth of flavor. Take a moment to appreciate the fruits of your labor.
Recipe:
*Ingredients:*
- 12g of freshly ground espresso beans (fine grind)
- Filtered water
*Method:*
1. Preheat the brewing head and portafilter by rinsing them with hot water.
2. Grind 12g of espresso beans to a fine consistency, resembling table salt.
3. Place the portafilter on a flat surface and add the ground coffee, distributing it evenly.
4. Attach the brewing head to the portafilter and position the cup or carafe below.
5. Fill the brewing chamber with water (200F/93C) and place the plunger or pressure gauge on top.
6. Pull down the lever to initiate the extraction process, aiming for a target pressure of 6-9 bars.
7. Adjust the extraction time and pressure as needed to achieve your desired flavor profile.
8. Once the extraction is complete, savor the rich, velvety espresso and revel in the satisfaction of a job well done.
Conclusion: The Flair Neo represents a new era of espresso brewing, where simplicity meets sophistication. Whether you're a seasoned barista or an aspiring coffee enthusiast, the Flair Neo invites you to explore the artistry and creativity of manual espresso brewing, one delicious shot at a time.