For something that is essentially a slightly automated manual lever machine, it is quite expensive. Anything from Flair or the other lever machine companies is far less than that.
Without actually fully heating the coffee for your and having a tank, etc, I don’t see a huge advantage here over those types of machines.
The flair 58 is 600+. So it's slightly more, but from a new manufacturer and has a unique design. I expected it to be at least a $1000, so I think it's definitely price competitive. Though I'd hold off until reviews come in.
So, the Flair 58 is their 'highest end' model and sports a 58mm portafilter... this thing is a 51mm portafilter which is basically only used on smaller portable machines. Also, it's listed on their website for $580. Not sure how you get to 600+ (unless you include tax, I guess).
A more comparable model from Flair would be either the Pro 3 ($325, all metal in the grouphead, pressure gauge, shot mirror... lots of included accessories) or the cheaper models they offer (Classic w/ pressure gauge, $230, Neo Flex, $99).
If you wanted to compare to the Cafelat Robot, that is also only $450... and is all metal, built like a tank, and has a very charming aesthetic.
The Meticulous is a lower end competition with the Decent Espresso DE1, or a more upscale version of the DIY stuff like Gaggiuino.
Given the author has given us essentially nothing regarding what is actually controllable (besides pressure control?), it's unclear to me what you even can do with it. A simple pressure control is pretty basic and not at all comparable to the Meticulous or a DE1.
- Group preheat (so it has some kind of heater)
- "Fully adjustable power" - ???
It does seem that the water tube either goes to a kettle and the pump is in the machine, or it goes to a pump, that you then need to attach to a machine, and that clear line is pressurized.
It does potentially have one feature the met doesn't (hinted at by allowing for filter brews): it'll be able to use up the entire water source, not a small amount of water you pour into the machine (similar to the Decent).
Edit: based on the manual just added, it seems like the pump is in the machine.
Best I can tell, with the manual released, this is literally just a pump and a group head. The dial appears to control the pump 'power' (voltage, I assume), and that's about it.
I'm really, really not seeing what could possibly justify this price. If the 'control' is just as simple as an analog knob, then this is no different than adding 'flow control' via a common dimmer switch to any other pump. I've done this modification on vibratory pump models myself, and they function just fine when dimer switch modded.
"Just a pump with a group head" is still pretty cool. It isn't revolutionary, temp control is a "big deal" in the community, but it's pretty cool that OP created that.
The pump absolutely is a "big deal" though if they can deliver on it. It has been attempted (Decent is trying to make one - actually they have been trying for years) and no one has delivered on a pump like that to date.
A small rotary pump would be innovative, nothing like that exists currently. Vibe pumps are loud, but they are tested tech and live forever. A drop in replacement rotary pump would have a big market if it can stand up to use.
Yes, they are pretty big. Just the pump alone is larger than the pump + motor for a vibe pump, and the motors for rotary pumps are like 4-5x the size of the pump. So you're really approaching 10x the size, it's kinda wild.
No offense, but we're not really comparing different things. You're offering an espresso machine that fundamentally has:
* No heating control
* No tank/water storage
* No milk frothing capability
The obvious comparison is a manual (lever) espresso machine that does not offer its own heating capability. It offers pressure control (via your arm) just fine.
Also, besides noise complaints and possibly some questionable reasoning involving vibe pump longevity, I have yet to see a compelling reason a rotary pump is better. They're 'nicer' and offered in higher end stuff, but performance wise a very good vibe pump seems just fine. Flow rates are more than adequate for pretty much any normal brewing method.
Regarding 51mm vs 58mm: you might be correct technically, but the ecosystem around accessories is firmly in the 58mm camp. As far as I can tell, the difference is so marginal it doesn't really matter anyways. Puck prep and other things will matter more for the average user.
Is it really? How many home users are really spending that much on an espresso machine? As someone who owns a ~$1000 machine (Profitec Go), I definitely feel like the $500-$1000 range is "end game" for the vast majority of people, not "very inexpensive".
A moka pot isn't an espresso machine. It only generates around 1.5 bars of pressure which is only slightly higher than what you get pushing an aeropress by hand. Espresso needs at minimum 6 bars, although traditionally it's 9 bars.
Costs at least a few minutes a day, which works out equivalent to plenty of dollars per year if you make it at home and have a well paying job. Works well but I hate cleaning it after making coffee.
I have had a Flair for a few years now and the time is an important aspect. I used to use a Jura and the whole 1-button thing led to me drinking way too much coffee as I also had it mounted next to my desk. The workflow is a meditation and at the end the reward is a (usually) perfect pair of espresso shots.
I am more of a tea guy but I think you can totally cancel the cost of preparing and cleaning it when considering it becomes part of a package of daily movements you should do to stay healthy.
Also you can totally work while the pot is getting to temperature.
Just washing the grounds out but takes time to cool the moka down. I guess I could leave the grounds in and clean it the next day but that idea is icky to me.
I preheat the moka with hot water and fill it with hot water from jug to reduce time to brew (necessary due to stove setup).
Also for $700 you don't want to be the guinea pig.