Flair 58+2 – Lever-Actuated Espresso with 58mm Industry Standard
You pull the lever down. Resistance builds, evenly, perceptibly – no pump noise, no vibration, just your arm and the water slowly pushing through the puck. In the articulating shot mirror beneath the bottomless portafilter, you see the first drop emerge, dark and viscous. The resistance continues to increase, you follow it with a steady pull, and the shot flows. Ninety milliliters of water, eighteen grams of coffee grounds, no electronics between you and the extraction. This is the Flair principle – espresso as a direct mechanical experience.
Coffee Coaching Club is the exclusive Swiss importer of Flair Espresso. The Flair 58+2 is the current flagship of the Flair family and the evolution of the Flair 58+. Three specific changes: The preheat controller is now integrated into the base (instead of being external, between the power outlet and the device), the power supply is smaller, and the wiring is tidier. Functionally, everything that defines the 58 family remains – 58mm industry-standard portafilter, three preheat levels, pressure gauge on the brew head, magnetic shot mirror.
What makes the Flair 58+2 special
The 58mm portafilter is the same diameter used by commercial machines from La Marzocco to Rocket. This means: every VST, IMS, or Normcore precision basket, every 58mm tamper, every puck screen format from the portafilter world fits. If you later switch to a machine with E61 or a saturated group head, you can take your accessories with you. The Flair is not just an standalone item – it can be integrated into the larger portafilter ecosystem.
Extraction is via a manual lever press: you fill about 90 ml of hot water into the brew chamber, lift the lever, place it on the valve, and slowly pull it down. The pressure gauge shows the actual brew pressure in real time – unlike a pump machine, you see how the pressure is created by your arm strength. With the lever movement, you can perform a longer pre-infusion, build up the main pressure, and then release it at the end. This is a learning process, not automatic. The first shots are practice, grind size adjustment is the crucial lever, and after a week, you'll have developed a feel for the resistance. For reproducibility, it makes sense to work with a scale and timer – at CCC, we evaluate extraction by weight ratio (1:2 is the standard starting point), not by time alone. No shot is identical to the next. This is not a weakness of the Flair, but a characteristic of espresso.
The preheat controller is why the 58 family operates with greater thermal stability than earlier Flair models. An electrical component in the base directly preheats the brew head – three levels (Low, Medium, High) cover the temperature range for dark, medium, and light roasts. Heat-up time is about five minutes before you add the water. Without preheat, the hot water would immediately lose temperature to the cold brew chamber, and the shot would come out underextracted. With preheat, the temperature remains in the target range during extraction.
At a glance
| Design |
Manual lever press, piston-valve mechanism |
| Portafilter |
58mm industry standard, walnut handle, includes low-flow and high-flow baskets |
| Preheat Controller |
Integrated into base, three levels (Low, Medium, High) |
| Heat-up time |
Approx. 5 minutes |
| Dose |
16–20 g (expandable with other baskets) |
| Brew Chamber Water Volume |
90 ml |
| Yield |
Up to 55 ml |
| Dimensions |
19 × 34 × 28 cm |
| Pressure Gauge |
Analog pressure gauge on the brew head |
| Shot Mirror |
Articulating, magnetically attachable to the post |
| Scope of delivery |
Base with preheat controller, lever assembly with brew head, walnut portafilter, low-flow and high-flow baskets, walnut palm tamper, shot mirror, pressure gauge, power supply, drip tray, puck screen, Allen key |
Who the Flair 58+2 is for
The Flair 58+2 is for anyone who views espresso as a craft and prefers the mechanical directness of the lever over pump automation. For households where few shots are pulled per day and an energy-efficient, quiet setup is more important than a full-fledged two-boiler espresso machine. For anyone who consciously doesn't need a steam wand – the Flair makes espresso, not milk drinks. For people who switch between beans and use the temperature levels of the preheat controller as a tool: lower for dark roasts like Cozy Chocolate, higher for light roasts like Wild Peach.
The Flair is not a substitute for a portafilter machine. It is a category of its own. If you are looking for a classic espresso machine with a steam wand and automated pre-infusion, you will find suitable options in our Coffee Machines Collection. If you want to combine milk drinks with a lever workflow, supplement the Flair with the Flair Wizard Steamer or a Subminimal NanoFoamer. Our opinion is one of many – the Flair polarizes, and that's okay.
The right grinder
The Flair 58+2 is only as good as the grinder that precedes it. The 58mm puck is sensitive to grind size variations, and the manual lever operation makes inconsistencies in the puck immediately audible and palpable. For an honest start with espresso-capable grind size, we recommend the Varia VS3 or VS4 from our collection – we are the exclusive Swiss importer of Varia; the VS3 (38mm conical) and VS4 (53mm conical) deliver stable espresso grinding with good particle distribution.
If you want to push the Flair towards larger grinding discs and finer control, the next steps are the Varia VS6 (58mm flat, variable 500-1600 RPM) or the Weber Workshops EG-1 (80mm flat, magnetic, interchangeable burrs). For grind-by-weight with integrated scale: Mahlkönig E64 WS. For single-dose: Mahlkönig X64 SD. For purists who work with a hand grinder: Comandante C40 or Timemore Sculptor from our Timemore Collection.
Puck Prep and Scale
Lever operation benefits from clean puck preparation. From the Normcore Collection (Spring-Loaded Tamper, WDT Tool, Tamping Station) you get the materials for consistent distribution and even tamping in everyday use. If you're looking for the finest craftsmanship, Weber Workshops (Puck Screen, Moonraker WDT Tool, Tamping Station) offers the artisanal level. For scales: Acaia with flow rate display, or compact from the Normcore Collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate grinder for the Flair 58+2?
Yes. The Flair is a pure espresso machine without a grinder. An espresso-capable grinder with fine grind size adjustment is a prerequisite – without the right grind size, the shot will either run too fast or choke. For a start from our collection: Varia VS3 or VS4. For larger setups: VS6, Weber EG-1, Option-O Lagom, Mahlkönig E64 WS.
How long does it take to heat up?
About five minutes. You plug in the power adapter, select the preheat level (Low, Medium, or High), and the brew head electrically heats to the target temperature. During the heat-up time, you can grind and prepare the puck. The hot water (about 90 ml, approx. 95 °C) comes from an external kettle – the Flair does not heat water itself.
Can I steam milk with the Flair 58+2?
No, the Flair does not have a steam wand. For milk drinks, you combine it with the Flair Wizard Steamer (stovetop steamer, designed as a Flair accessory) or a Subminimal NanoFoamer (battery-powered hand frother, exclusive Swiss importer).
Which preheat level should I use for which roast?
Flair specifies three levels, designed for dark (Low), medium (Medium), and light roasts (High). This is a guideline, not a strict rule. By experimenting with grind size and preheat, you'll develop a feel for what works with which bean – the espresso philosophy at CCC is weight ratio before temperature before time, and all three together make the shot.
What's the difference between the Flair 58+2 and the Flair 58+ and Flair 58 (without Plus)?
The 58+2 has the preheat controller integrated into the base (with the 58+, it was an external in-line plug), the power supply is smaller, and the wiring is tidier. Functionally identical: walnut accents, shot mirror, 58mm portafilter. The Flair 58 (without Plus) is the basic model without walnut accents. All three models use the same 58mm standard and share the lever principle.
How reproducible is the shot with a manual lever press?
With a scale, timer, and stable grinder, it's reproducible within the bounds of what espresso generally allows – no shot is identical to the next, because the bean, humidity, and your arm pull change. This is not a weakness of the Flair, but applies to every espresso machine. Our advice: evaluate extraction by weight ratio (1:2 as a starting point), not by time.
Can I see the Flair 58+2 before purchasing?
Yes. The Flair is available for viewing in the showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich Oerlikon (Hagenholzstrasse 50b). You're welcome to bring your own beans – experiencing the lever pull and resistance live says more than any description.
How is the Flair 58+2 delivered?
Directly orderable online. Delivery throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein in 2 to 4 business days. Click and Collect in Bern and Zurich is always possible. Financing via Heylight is available.
Roastery Tip
The Flair 58+2 is regularly in use in our showroom – a good partner for the beans from our roastery. Cozy Chocolate and Nutty Delight run with a dense texture on the Flair – the chocolate notes and sweetness build through the manual pressure build-up, and the body remains round. Very Nutty for those who want maximum body without acidity, works very directly on the Flair. If you want to try light roasts like Wild Peach, set the preheat to High, grind a bit finer, and pull the lever with a longer pre-infusion – the peach note gets room to develop. This is our recommendation, one of many.
