Flair 58 Plus Espresso Maker Setup Guide

Congratulations on your new Flair 58 Plus Espresso Maker! In this guide, you should find everything you need to setup and operate your manual espresso maker.

Step 1: Unboxing and Inspection

Remove the Flair 58 Plus Espresso Maker's carrying case from the box and place it on a stable, level surface.
Before assembling the espresso maker, inspect for damage that may have occurred during shipping. If you notice any damage, contact us immediately.
Save all packaging, as this is needed for returns and repairs.
Set aside the included quick start guide for reference.

Step 2: Water quality

Before introducing water to your Flair 58 Plus espresso maker, it's essential to test it to ensure it's adequately soft, around 50 ppm (parts per million). Use the included water test strips from your home barista starter kit to verify the hardness of your water. To learn more about our recommendations for water quality, check out our blog post, The Importance of Water and Your Espresso Machine.
Once you've confirmed your water quality is adequate, you can fill the brew head cylinder with boiling water and pre-heat for 30 seconds before brewing espresso. Note: do not use Zero water or reverse osmosis, as this will negatively impact the flavor of your espresso.

Step 3: Assembling the Flair 58 Plus

Install the espresso maker base and brew lever assembly together with the two included bolts. Make sure that the lever is in alignment before tightening down all the way.
Remove the cap from the brew cylinder connector and plug in the preheat controller cable. Keep the cap in a safe place for future use.
Attach the pressure gauge to the stem by slowly screwing in clockwise. Screw in completely, then orient the gauge to face upright.
Attach the shot mirror to the lower left of the frame. There is an embedded steel disc for this purpose only.
Unlike the Flair Classic and the Flair Pro/Pro 2, The Flair 58 Plus comes with the brew cylinder attached to the brew base. To remove, loosen the set screw and rotate clockwise.
Please note that the brew plunger will rotate over time, causing the stem tab to align with the plunger slot. If the two parts disengage from each other, follow the cleaning instructions to remove your plunger and re-orient correctly
Raise the brew lever to preheat the brew cylinder. Press a button on the preheat controller to select your desired preheat temperature, which is low, medium, or high. Insert the portafilter for preheat by aligning it with the brewing base and rotating the portafilter handle counterclockwise until it is firmly locked in place, roughly at the 4 o’clock position (Do not over-rotate).
Grind your beans with a burr grinder (hand grinder or electric) that can grind fine enough for espresso. Grind between 16-24g of espresso and attach the dosing funnel to the portafilter. Tamp the espresso grounds, and remove the dosing funnel. You are now ready to pull your first shot!

Step 4: Pulling a Shot:

Add brew water (198-208˚F, 92-97 ˚C) through the top of the brew cylinder. Add up to 90ml of water. Do not underfill the brew cylinder. Rotate the pressure gauge for best visibility. Lower the brew lever lever. The total extraction time should be around 35-45 seconds and at 6-9 BAR pressure if the grind and dose are optimal.
Remove the portafilter from the brew cylinder and purge the brew cylinder with water. Expel the remaining water by lowering the lever all the way down to expel the remaining liquid, and repeat as needed. Wipe the portafilter clean with a dry and clean microfiber towel.

For help dialing in your equipment or pulling shots, check out the articles below or reach out to our team of coffee experts and technicians.