Review: Flair Espresso Flair Signature Espresso Maker with Pressure Kit
By Curated Experts
Jack Hubbard and Derek Premenko
10 photos
The Curated Take
3.5/5
The Flair Signature Espresso Maker with Pressure Kit is ideal for espresso purists who enjoy a manual, minimalist brewing process. It's durable, portable, and offers total control over the espresso-making experience without any electronic components. However, it requires effort to manage temperature and pull consecutive shots. Its small portafilter size and lack of a steam wand limit its versatility, but it excels at producing high-quality espresso. For those willing to invest time and effort, it offers excellent value and the satisfaction of hands-on espresso creation.
Ideal for
- Built to last
- Portable for on-the-go espresso
- Minimalist design puts complete control in the user's hands
- Completely manual without any electronics to service
Not ideal for
- Back-to-back shots aren't convenient
- Managing temps on the brew chamber can be a constant struggle
- Relatively low max yield
Heat Time
The Flair Signature does not include a way to heat the machine out of the box. This means users either need to heat their water on the stovetop or in...Read more
Since there's no heating element onboard, I have to boil the water myself. Tempering the reservoir is pretty important, but I can do that with the steam from my kettle...Read more
Pressure Control
The Flair Signature's piston is equipped with a pressure gauge, so I will know exactly how much pressure is being generated at any point. To increase the pressure, press harder;...Read more
Without the pressure gauge, I'd be pretty lost on how hard or soft to pull down on the lever to extract my coffee. I can maintain a pretty steady nine...Read more
Portafilter Size
The portafilter on the Flair Signature is much narrower than those found on most machines on the market. As such, users may struggle to find accessories that properly fit it,...Read more
They've since come out with newer models that up the portafilter size, but this specific model is a 40mm portafilter. It does what I want it to do, but I...Read more
Steam Wand
The Flair Signature is a machine built with only the production of high-quality espresso in mind. If users would like to be able to make lattes, cappuccinos, or any such...Read more
This doesn't have a steam wand, but it's not supposed to. The goal of the Flair is to make good espresso, and that's it. To try to add a steam...Read more
Ease of Use
The Flair Signature is a machine that puts out what users put in; when they nail the process, they are treated to a top-notch shot. However, they probably won't enjoy...Read more
Being 100% manual means every single aspect is in a user's hands. This is a lot of work, especially considering that the reservoir has to sit right on top of...Read more
Espresso Extraction
Shots pulled on the Flair Signature can handily compete against those pulled on the best machines available, just as long as someone knows what they're doing. Provided they've got a...Read more
Many people buy a nice espresso machine and immediately buy a new portafilter basket for it. They don't need to with the Flair. It requires the right grinder to produce...Read more
Versatility
The Flair Signature exists to pull straight espresso, and that is all that it exists to do. What the Flair Signature lacks in versatility, it more than makes up for...Read more
The Flair Signature is meant to offer a means of making incredibly tasty espresso with minimal equipment needed. While it does that, that's all it'll ever do. It can't do...Read more
Temperature Stability
The Flair Signature's ability to stay at temperature is dependent on the user. If the user thoroughly preheats the brew chamber and moves with appropriate hustle, they can be fairly...Read more
The temp stability is another feature hacked in the pursuit of purity. No electronics will aid here. The reservoir must be tempered, the group head really can't be reasonably heated,...Read more
Quality
All-metal is unrealistic in the age of consumerism. But the Flair is mostly metal, with only bits of plastic and rubber where needed. The blend of quality and affordability is...Read more
Boiler Capacity
The Flair Signature, like all machines in the Flair lineup, does not use a boiler. The user will need to heat their water themselves, either on the stovetop or using...Read more
There's no boiler here—just a reservoir that holds precisely enough water for one shot. That's all one needs. If it had a boiler, it would violate the very virtue that...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Jack Hubbard
Derek Premenko
About the espresso equipment
- Model: Flair Espresso Flair Signature Espresso Maker with Pressure Kit
Test conditions
- When I bought this: December 2022
- Where I’ve used it: Exclusively at home in my kitchen
- How many times I've used it: 267
Expert Reviews of the Flair Espresso Flair Signature Espresso Maker with Pressure Kit
Jack Hubbard The Flair Signature is a machine capable of producing outstanding espresso, but users have to work for it. This was my introduction to a fully manual espresso, and for days, I was pulling what tasted like straight battery acid. I didn't let that keep me down; I tweaked my water temp here, ground a bit finer over there, tried to ease up a bit on the pressure at the end, and really gave that brew-chamber time to soak in some heat. Finally, I was graced with some proper espresso. The Flair Signature might be the right machine for someone who wants to be intimately involved in their espresso-making process.
Derek Premenko For Christmas a few years back, I decided to splurge a little and get my wife something to let her make really good espresso without breaking the bank. I figured the Flair was simple enough for my wife to use to make good espresso for her coffee in the morning while I made my pour-overs. Correction: This is a great way for me to make her espresso while I make my pour-overs.
After a good while of pulling shots on this guy, I'm actually quite impressed. It's very low maintenance because of how simple it is. But that simplicity also means pulling a shot is time-consuming. Double that time/effort for two shots. The portafilter basket is pretty small, so two shots are required for almost everything. But with a decent espresso grinder and a good bit of elbow grease (it's not easy to put nine bars of pressure through the espresso, but the gauge helps me to know exactly how hard to press), I'm able to pull shots that rival a higher-end machine, but for a fraction of the cost, double the work, and a good bit of satisfaction knowing I literally did all the work.
The Flair isn't for everyone, but for someone who really loves the minimalism and purity that zero electronics brings (and doesn't mind the time/effort required) but still wants really good espresso that they can pack up and take anywhere, this is a niche, but solid fit.
Product Specs
| Housing material | Chrome, Stainless steel |
| Water capacity (oz) | 2.03 |
| Available portafilters | Bottomless |
| Country of origin | China |
| Depth (in) | 12.5 |
| Features | Pressure gauge (boiler) |
Review Ratings
Averaged between reviewers, view below how all experts voted.
Heat Time
4/5
Jack Hubbard gave 2 of 5 stars. The Flair Signature does not include a way to heat the machine out of the box. This means users either need to heat their water on the stovetop or in an electric kettle. Additionally, they will need to pre-heat their brew chamber; this can be accomplished by repeatedly filling the chamber with hot water and dumping it, heating it in a pot of boiling water, or fashioning a rig to steam the brew chamber.
Derek Premenko gave 5 of 5 stars. Since there's no heating element onboard, I have to boil the water myself. Tempering the reservoir is pretty important, but I can do that with the steam from my kettle so that step doesn't take much longer. Keep in mind, it could take a very long time to heat up if someone's kettle/separate water heating system is awfully slow, but that has nothing to do with the Flair itself.
Pressure Control
5/5
Jack Hubbard gave 5 of 5 stars. The Flair Signature's piston is equipped with a pressure gauge, so I will know exactly how much pressure is being generated at any point. To increase the pressure, press harder; ease up on the lever to lessen the pressure. With the combination of the pressure gauge and the manual lever, I can make whatever sort of informed pressure adjustments I may desire.
Derek Premenko gave 5 of 5 stars. Without the pressure gauge, I'd be pretty lost on how hard or soft to pull down on the lever to extract my coffee. I can maintain a pretty steady nine bars with it, but it sure takes some elbow grease. Since it's all manual, I can even do a little burst of pressure at two bars for some pre-infusion, and I can let up on the pressure at the end of the shot to keep my espresso more balanced if I prefer. Being totally manual means I have to put in some work, but I also have 100% control, and I love that.
Portafilter Size
3/5
Jack Hubbard gave 2 of 5 stars. The portafilter on the Flair Signature is much narrower than those found on most machines on the market. As such, users may struggle to find accessories that properly fit it, and not all conventional wisdom about puck prep will be useful on the Signature. Experienced users may require a period of readjustment when first using the machine.
Derek Premenko gave 3 of 5 stars. They've since come out with newer models that up the portafilter size, but this specific model is a 40mm portafilter. It does what I want it to do, but I have to go for a 16g shot if I want it to pull properly, and that's just a bit too tiny for my preference. It also feels a little cheap since budget machines often opt for smaller portafilter sizes than the standard 58mm, but my ego isn't too hurt there: only a little. Since it's so much work to pull just one shot, it would be nice for the one shot to be all I need. But since it's so small, two is a must, and that's just double the work.
Steam Wand
3/5
Jack Hubbard gave 1 of 5 stars. The Flair Signature is a machine built with only the production of high-quality espresso in mind. If users would like to be able to make lattes, cappuccinos, or any such drink, they will need to find a separate solution. A common solution is to heat milk on the stovetop and create foam with a battery-powered foam wand.
Derek Premenko gave 5 of 5 stars. This doesn't have a steam wand, but it's not supposed to. The goal of the Flair is to make good espresso, and that's it. To try to add a steam wand would be to make another espresso machine, which they'd have to charge more for. At that point, they probably wouldn't offer the unique experience that one can only get from a Flair.
Ease of Use
2/5
Jack Hubbard gave 3 of 5 stars. The Flair Signature is a machine that puts out what users put in; when they nail the process, they are treated to a top-notch shot. However, they probably won't enjoy their cup if they flub too many variables. The proper process isn't necessarily difficult, but figuring out how to do that process is quite the task.
Derek Premenko gave 1 of 5 stars. Being 100% manual means every single aspect is in a user's hands. This is a lot of work, especially considering that the reservoir has to sit right on top of the portafilter, and there are five pieces that all layer together. It's genius, but it's a ton of work. One doesn't have any help from any neat features at all. This is purely metal and plastic (some rubber, too). But with some time, effort, practice, and expertise, owners can eventually pull a shot that would make the patron saint of coffee hum a hymn of praise while dismantling the whole operation to clean it and prep another shot.
Espresso Extraction
5/5
Jack Hubbard gave 5 of 5 stars. Shots pulled on the Flair Signature can handily compete against those pulled on the best machines available, just as long as someone knows what they're doing. Provided they've got a solid grinder, the ability to control brew temperature, pre-infusion time, flow rate, and output means they have practically unlimited freedom in their dialing-in process, so they can pull the absolute best out of any beans they get their hands on.
Derek Premenko gave 4 of 5 stars. Many people buy a nice espresso machine and immediately buy a new portafilter basket for it. They don't need to with the Flair. It requires the right grinder to produce a proper shot. Still, after a laborious extraction effort of exerting nine bars of pressure for around 20ish seconds, users could have a shot that could go head to head with a $3,000 machine's product, and who wins would depend more on outside factors like a barista and beans rather than the equipment. The Flair really is a standout brewer because one can get such good shots from so little. The caveat is this: It takes time, practice, and expertise to execute that kind of quality.
Versatility
3/5
Jack Hubbard gave 2 of 5 stars. The Flair Signature exists to pull straight espresso, and that is all that it exists to do. What the Flair Signature lacks in versatility, it more than makes up for in sheer ability.
Derek Premenko gave 3 of 5 stars. The Flair Signature is meant to offer a means of making incredibly tasty espresso with minimal equipment needed. While it does that, that's all it'll ever do. It can't do anything else at all. But for all that it isn't, what it is is truly unique, and I couldn't ask it to be much better.
Temperature Stability
3/5
Jack Hubbard gave 2 of 5 stars. The Flair Signature's ability to stay at temperature is dependent on the user. If the user thoroughly preheats the brew chamber and moves with appropriate hustle, they can be fairly comfortable that the water they use for their brew will be around the temperature they expect. The brew chamber may require another round of preheating if they want to pull shots back to back.
Derek Premenko gave 3 of 5 stars. The temp stability is another feature hacked in the pursuit of purity. No electronics will aid here. The reservoir must be tempered, the group head really can't be reasonably heated, and the water temp is only as hot or cool as one makes it to be (with an outside apparatus), and it will cool pretty quickly. So it has nothing to offer in the realm of temp stability, but it doesn't need to either.
Quality
4/5
Derek Premenko gave 4 of 5 stars. All-metal is unrealistic in the age of consumerism. But the Flair is mostly metal, with only bits of plastic and rubber where needed. The blend of quality and affordability is really unparalleled. I can make shots with $250 equipment (not including the grinder) that are just as tasty as, say, the Lucca A53, a Rocket Boxer, or a Uniq Stella (just some of the other machines I've personally used). There are a few ergonomic issues that are addressed in later models. Namely, the lack of rubber grip on the handle (it tends to slip) and the total redesign of the handle-end (see Flair 58 Plus) make for a far better user experience. I also wish they had added a full-size and handled portafilter on the earlier models, but any good company improves its designs over time. For being an earlier model, Flair really did things well.
Boiler Capacity
3/5
Jack Hubbard gave 1 of 5 stars. The Flair Signature, like all machines in the Flair lineup, does not use a boiler. The user will need to heat their water themselves, either on the stovetop or using a separate electric kettle. The machine's brew chamber holds enough water to pull one espresso at a time.
Derek Premenko gave 5 of 5 stars. There's no boiler here—just a reservoir that holds precisely enough water for one shot. That's all one needs. If it had a boiler, it would violate the very virtue that makes the Flair shine: minimalism.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Jack Hubbard The Flair Signature gives a coffee nerd staggering control over their espresso without breaking the bank. For about $250, owners can access to things like temp control, flow control, and pre-infusion.
Derek Premenko What's not to love about the Flair? It's the solution to a unique problem: good espresso on a budget. No, it doesn't have a steaming wand, so it's only good for iced drinks or straight espresso. Yes, it requires a good bit of coffee expertise and a decent grinder if it's going to produce anything worth drinking. But all I wanted was a cheap way to make espresso that tasted just as good as what I could make on a commercial machine in the shop. It actually doesn't disappoint. While my wife is the main espresso drinker in our house, it wows her and guests constantly for being so unique looking and still producing something way better than any other "budget" machine can.
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Jack Hubbard My favorite moment with this machine had to have been the first time I managed to pull a decent shot. The Flair Signature is as punishing as it is rewarding; for days, I choked down shots that ran the gamut from violently under-extracted to brashly over-extracted, but then, one day, I got everything just right, and I was sipping on ambrosia straight from Olympus.
Derek Premenko I have a new favorite moment every time someone new comes over, and I make them an unexpectedly good cup of coffee. When I offer them an iced latte, they tend to keep coming back for me. Just the other day, I had someone literally Apple Cash me some money to bring them iced coffee. I'm not trying to open up a home shop, but it's really pretty rare for someone to get cafe-quality coffee from home, especially if they haven't invested thousands in the proper gear to do it. So every time I watch someone's face light up in delight and confusion (because nobody expects homemade coffee to really be that special), I fall in love with the Flair all over again.
Why did you choose this product?
Jack Hubbard I chose the Flair because I find the act of making coffee nearly as nice as drinking coffee, and it forces me to be deeply involved in the coffee-making process. The Flair Signature was the most affordable in the Flair line, which came with a pressure gauge and metal tamper in the box.
Derek Premenko The choice to spend the money on our Flair came down to budget and quality. I wanted something affordable for my wife to make real iced coffee with, but I didn't want to skimp on the quality. I'd already spoiled her with a more commercial machine on our counter (which we used for business and then sold when we passed the business off), and having worked in coffee for years, I couldn't bring myself to spend a few hundred bucks on junk that would only give me passable shots. I wanted the best, but my wallet said, "Hey man, I'm a little thinner than you'd like for me to be if you want a really nice machine," so naturally, we chose to grab something so stripped down that it could fit in a travel case and TSA wouldn't bat an eye. No regrets two years later.
Jack Hubbard
Coffee ExpertDerek Premenko
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