For most people, a great cup of espresso is associated with a cafe, a trained barista, and a large piece of expensive equipment. Options for brewing at home are scarce and pricey, and the ability to have your favorite espresso drink – on the GO – is even more difficult to come by. 

But, for so many of us, our morning espresso is the fuel we need to take on our biggest challenges. It’s the way we greet our day, the comfort that raises us from our beds, hotel rooms, campsites and places far from home. Why should we settle for less, right at the exact moment we need the boost to be our best?

Introducing the Flair GO, a fully-capable lever espresso machine that folds into a compact case suitable for any destination. Brew bottomless or with pods. It’s truly cafe-quality espresso on the GO. 

The Best Travel Espresso

We designed the Flair GO for anyone who has left home and bemoaned the loss of their favorite espresso drink. We get it. Coffee is a lifestyle, a ritual and a feeling of comfort all wrapped into one. 

Luckily, as the Flair GO is a lever-based espresso maker with a pressure gauge, there’s no reason you can’t get the exact quality of espresso you’re used to at home, while on the road. That’s because manual lever espresso makers give you full control over the brewing process, and allow you to replicate the outcomes from $1,000+ dollar cafe machines. With the Flair GO’s collapsible design that fits easily into bags, carry-ons, vans, boats, and bikes, you can enjoy the best of lever-espresso from wherever you are. 

We are willing to go out on a limb and say this will be the best travel espresso you’ve ever had, maybe even better than what you get at home.

Pod-Able – Adding Pods to Lever Espresso

We aren’t sure if “Pod-Able” is a word, but it’s a great descriptor for the Flair GO. That’s because the Flair GO will feature a first for the Flair Espresso lineup, the ability to brew with pods! This addition is important for the GO, as it allows people to lean into the most convenient way to brew espresso while traveling. No need for grinders or dialing in, just a convenient little pod that slips into the Flair GO right before brewing. 

If you’re interested in brewing with pods, just pick the “Pods” model!

Brewing Bottomless

For those that still want the full control of a lever machine, we will also offer the Flair GO in a “Grounds.” model. The “Grounds” model will come with Flair’s existing Bottomless 2-in-1 Portafilter, which requires a high-quality burr grinder to dial-in, but also provides full control over all the brewing variables. 

If you dream about espresso when you go to sleep, this is the Flair GO for you. Just select the “Grounds” model when pledging!

Camp Durable Materials

The Flair GO can be described many ways: modern, space-age, or avant-garde; but one adjective you’ll never hear is fragile. That’s because we designed the Flair GO to last for a lifetime of outdoor and on-the-go brews. 

The frame of the GO is made from aircraft grade, forged 6061 aluminum with anodized highlights. The brew cylinder is crafted from milled stainless steel. Together, they make one tough little espresso maker. Just don’t drop it in the ocean, it’ll sink!

Design Inspired by Yoga

To get the compact design of the Flair GO, we turned to yogis for inspiration. And what do yogis do? They bend and pivot. And so does the Flair GO. Featuring six different pivot points, the GO unfolds from a compact form – that fits in the palm of your hand – to a fully functioning lever espresso machine. 

To ensure a stable base, we’ve designed a locking pin and friction locks to guarantee your GO never collapses while brewing, only when you’re ready to pack up camp and hit the road.

Sized for Espresso Anywhere

So what do we mean when we say compact? Well it’s safe to say that the Flair GO is the most compact lever espresso maker we’ve ever seen. 

It’s roughly 1/3 the size of Flair’s standard line of espresso makers. When collapsed, the Flair GO measures just 3.5in x 7in x 3.25in. It fits into a case that’s roughly 9.5in x 5.25in x 4in (253*135*104mm) and includes the Flair GO frame, brew cylinder, pressure gauge, portafilter and accessories. That’s small enough for almost any backpack or suitcase, trust us, we tried.

When fully unfolded the Flair GO measures 12in x 5in x 10.5in (305mm x 125mm x 262mm) with the lever lowered, and a height of 20in (515mm) with the lever completely raised.

No Preheat Needed

You can’t have a travel espresso maker that’s hard to use or a time suck. The last thing anybody wants when rolling out of bed early in the morning for a big mountain day is a complex brewing process. Because of this, we decided to include our thin-walled, no-preheat cylinder. The sides of this stainless steel cylinder are thin enough that they won’t suck the heat from your brew water, ensuring a hot cup of espresso the first time you brew.

Under Pressure – Overjoyed

The key component to a great cup of espresso is the pressure used to extract all the flavors and tastes that are hidden within your grounds. With the Flair GO, you can ensure you’re hitting the pressure you need by using the included pressure gauge. Lower the lever and brew in the “Espresso Zone” to ensure a syrupy cup and a great head of crema. The Flair GO will easily brew between 6-9 BAR, exactly that needed to brew delicious espresso.

The gauge also helps you to understand if you need to change any of the elements of your brew when dialing-in the bottomless portafilter. It’s 100% control of your espresso, so it’s just the way you like it.

Simple, Three-Step Workflow

So how does it work, and what kind of brew times can you expect? Using a pod, you can be ready to brew in the time it takes to boil your brew water, after completing three simple steps. Just pop the pod into the portafilter, add your boiled water to the cylinder, and lower the lever. 

When using the Bottomless 2-in-1 portafilter, you’ll need to ground your freshly roasted beans with an espresso capable burr grinder, tamp them after adding to the portafilter and add the dispersion screen. This prep can be done while your water is boiling,  which means you can be ready to brew in just a few minutes. If you don’t have that kind of time to spare, maybe you should skip the snooze button…

What’s in a Flair GO

Your Flair GO comes as a full travel espresso kit. Backers can choose between the “Pod” or the “Grounds” model, which will determine which portafilter and accessories they receive. Below find the included items that come with each of the Flair GO models:

Flair GO “Pod” Model Includes:

• Flair GO Frame
• Thin-walled, No-preheat Cylinder with a Silicone Sleeve
• Pod Portafilter
• Pressure gauge and piston
• Custom Carrying Case

Flair GO “Grounds” Model Includes:

• Flair GO Frame
• Thin-walled, No-preheat Cylinder with Silicone Sleeve
• Bottomless 2-in-1 Portafilter
• Pressure Gauge and Piston
• Custom Carrying Case
• Stainless Steel Tamper 
• Stainless Steel Dispersion Screen
• Dosing Funnel

To brew great espresso, customers will also need access to a hot water kettle. In the case of the “Grounds” model, customers will need a high-quality, espresso-capable burr grinder, like our Flair Royal. You won’t be able to get a true espresso extraction with pre-ground coffee and the bottomless 2-in-1 portafilter.

Choose Your Color

Backers of the Flair GO on Indiegogo can choose between black or forest green. No matter which color you choose, you’ll be brewing delicious espresso outdoors in no time.

How Durable is the Flair GO?

So, how durable is the Flair GO Overall? Incredibly durable!!! We’ve gone to great lengths, both in design and assignment of materials usage, to ensure long life and durability specifically in the rugged environs and dynamic use case scenarios for which the Flair Go is intended.

For starters, the entirety of the frame of the Go is constructed from 6061-T6 aluminum, chosen for its exceptional performance in regards to strength, fatigue life, and corrosion resistance. We want you and your Go to fly high wherever your journey takes you, so it seems fitting we’re using aerospace aluminum to outfit you both for the journey.

How Durable Are the Pivot Points Specifically??

All 6 of the pivot pins (7 if you count the press roller : ) on the Flair GO are crafted from hardened stainless steel pins designed to be incredibly durable and last for years of espresso brewing fun. Additionally, the GO has been designed with a proprietary mechanism which holds the lever assembly locked into place once unfolded, ensuring that the GO will only fold when the release is pushed. 

We incorporated “hard stop” points into the design of each pivot point – or enlarged “flats” – where two parts meet at the end of their range of motion, ensuring plenty of surface area to dissipate focal point force deformation. This is most easily noticeable at the mating surfaces of the front legs and the portafilter base, but is employed throughout the design at the folding lever pivot, the lever pivot, and the rear leg.  These squared edges of 6061 forged aluminum ensure a hard stop when unfolded, even under extreme forces.

In short, the pivot points of the Flair GO were among the most key design considerations, and are taking the majority of our focus. We are extremely confident these pivots will last for years, and absolutely can withstand the forces needed to brew genuine espresso.

What Type of Stress Testing is Underway?

• Proof of concept (2 units, 100% machined)
• T1 (3 units, forged)
• T2 (15 units, forged and post-forging finish machining)
• T3 (25 units, under process)

These refinements will help align the orbits between the pivots to our desired level of precision, so each Flair Go’s solar system will run as smoothly as the next.  Once we have T3 units in hand we’ll resume IRL stress testing, and expect great results.

Can the GO Really Brew at Espresso Pressure?

100%. The GO can brew at espresso pressure, and beyond, up to 12 bar (but from taste experience we do not recommend this!), just like all other Flair units, even our Flagship 58+.

How Long Will the Flair GO Last?

We’re designing and manufacturing the Go to last many, many years when used and cared for properly. With three iterations under our belt, we feel confident we’re going to meet and exceed this expectation.

Is There A Warranty?

Currently, the warranty is slated to be a minimum of 1 year. This will be extended to all campaign buyers from the time they receive their unit!

Buy Now, Accessorize Later

Want all the goodies to truly level up your espresso-on-the-go? Flair’s got you covered during the survey stage of the campaign. Right before we are ready to ship, we’ll open up a store to allow you to purchase add-ons like the Royal Hand Grinder, WDT tools, scales and of course, additional Pod or Bottomless portafilters.

Who is the Flair GO for?

Being compact is great for travel espresso, or espresso while camping. But the Flair GO shouldn’t be limited to espresso away from home. The small footprint and included carrying case makes the GO perfect for people without lots of space, or who don’t want to have their espresso maker taking up room on their countertops 24/7. We’re looking at you, small apartment owners, or you weekend espresso warriors, or you office brewers, or even you, the friends and family brunch entertainers!

In short, if you love espresso, and want to brew wherever you are, the Flair GO is for you.

Flair GO Initial Reviews

While the Flair GO is still in development, we’ve had the chance to introduce this small but mighty espresso maker to a few individuals to hear what they’ve got to say. Take Chuck Parker for instance, from Huckleberry Roasters in Colorado. He’s an avid bike-packer, and this is what he had to say.

Here’s a few other comments from Chuck.

• “One of the things that I like about the Flair is that it is true espresso, not brewed like espresso”
• “Living in a city, this will take up significantly less space”
• “I make espresso tonics a lot in my house, and this is just the perfect application”
• “Everything I’ve made with the Flair is comparable to what I’d get at a cafe”

If you’re not yet convinced, you can take comfort in knowing that Flair has been in business for over seven years, designing and manufacturing lever espresso makers. We’re proud to say that we’ve earned a 4.5 star rating from 1,000s of customers. Check out some reviews below for our other products!

All About Flair

The Flair Mission: Espresso for All

Flair believes in making espresso accessible for all. We strive to design a portfolio of products that cater to all budgets and experience levels. We firmly believe that everyone can brew incredible espresso, and we seek to create products that make this a reality for anyone with the interest and passion. 

The Flair company is based on three key values. First, we are here to support you regardless of where you are on your espresso journey. We focus on high end customer support, when needed, and seek to be educators in the espresso space.

Second, we believe in espresso anywhere. From kitchens to campsites, from coffee carts to world class restaurants – Flair is dedicated to providing espresso makers and tools that are accessible to all, and can be used anywhere. The Flair GO is a huge addition to our portfolio in this regard.

Third, we are dedicated to quality espresso, shot after shot. We are committed to offering high-quality products that not only last, but also grow with you. We seek to ensure affordable upgrade pathways as users continue on their espresso journey, and as we ourselves innovate and improve.

The Flair Family (Our Team)

Flair is an established company with eight years of design experience bringing manual espresso makers to life, two of which were launched through Kickstarter! We strive to do right by every customer we serve, which is exemplified in our hundreds of five star reviews for our webstore experience and customer service. 

Our company is comprised of a global team of passionate espresso lovers, based around the United States, Canada and Asia. In total, our small-but-mighty team numbers 18 members. We are so happy to welcome you to our campaign, and hopefully to the Flair family.

Status of the Flair GO

We want to be transparent in our design process, so that every backer of the Flair GO has a good understanding of when they can expect their product to arrive. As of the launch of the Flair GO on Indiegogo, in September or 2024, we are well on our way to completing the design for the Flair GO. The basic molds for the frame have been completed, as has the brew cylinder and pressure gauge.

We are still working on final iterations to test when it comes to the Pod portafilter, to ensure an incredible espresso experience. This work is on-going, and while much progress has been made, we expect a few more iterations before making molds and moving to final production.

Our official delivery timeline is January of 2025, and we are striving to ensure that we can hit these estimates. Full details and updates will be provided to any and all backers once they pledge.

Shipping Information

Please note that the pledge amount does not include shipping, import duties, or country-based taxes. If applicable, these will be charged when we are ready to ship your product, estimated in January 2025. Right before shipping, we will send you a survey to confirm your address and pay any applicable costs associated with the delivery of your product.

Please note, shipping for U.S. located backers will be free.

Delivery for international backers will incur shipping charges, import duties and country taxes, depending on the location. We understand these are expensive. But we always strive to find the best shipping method for customers that wish to back our projects.

Please refer to the table below for estimated shipping costs to specific regions and countries. Remember, these are estimates based on current courier rates and estimated pledge amounts. These estimates are subject to change, and may increase as add-ons are purchased and the weight of your shipment increases, which may increase shipping charges and mandatory VAT in specific countries.