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Rok vs Flair Manual Espresso Machine Showdown
Find out the main benefits, features offered, and any limitations to select the manual espresso machine.
Published November 30, 2021
Erik Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
With more and more people choosing to make their own espresso at home compared to buying it from a coffee shop, manual home espresso machines are only getting even smarter due to modern technology, which has empowered many regular coffee drinkers to start making their own espresso at home, producing as much as fifteen bars of pressure to pull the perfect espresso shot, just like using a commercial coffee machine.
If you are looking for a portable coffee maker that makes coffee similar to espresso, there are plenty of good options to consider. However, for those who want a larger countertop espresso machine for their kitchen, the two main brand options to choose from are ROK and Flair. Both of these devices are loved and highly rated by home espresso and coffee enthusiasts, but if you want to make espresso at home using a manual machine, you’ll probably end up having to choose between the two. Keep reading for a showdown between the two manual espresso machines to find out more about the main benefits, features offered, and any limitations to make it easier for you to select the manual espresso machine that is the best fit for your kitchen, coffee habits, and circumstances.
The ROK Espresso Machine
A tried and tested option when it comes to manual espresso machines, the ROK espresso maker has been around since 2012, and is ROK Kitchen Tools’ flagship appliance. While it’s certainly not perfect and does not offer a very easy to use option, most people who’ve tried it will agree that it is certainly worth learning more about using it as it’s capable of pulling consistently delicious and balanced shots of espresso.
The body is made from high-grade, sturdy, and shiny aluminum. Essentially, the device is a BPA-free plastic water chamber that is connected to two arms. When the arms are pushed down, five to ten bars of pressure are created to pull an espresso shot through the portafilter.
Another perk of getting this machine is that you get a massive ten-year warranty on the aluminum pieces of the machine. On the downside, you’ll only get a two-year warranty on the plastic pieces; however, the good news is that if these do break after the warranty is up, they tend to be cheap and easy to replace.
Due to the side-raising arms on this espresso machine, you will need quite a decent amount of counter space for it to fit in your kitchen nicely. It weighs seven pounds, so it’s certainly not the heaviest model on the market, but not the lightest either.
The Process
The ROK GC espresso maker does not claim to be the simplest espresso machine option out there when it comes to pulling shots. To make espresso using this machine, you should start by loading the portafilter with around 7-8g of finely ground coffee, before tamping the grounds, attaching the portafilter to the brewer, and filling up the water reservoir with boiled water.
Then lift the aluminum arms of the machine. This pre-infuses the grounds with water. Wait five seconds, then press down hard on the arms for around 20-30 seconds. You may need to lift and press again around halfway through. Stop pressing down when your shot glass is filled with around 25ml of espresso with a nice crema on top.
While the ROK’s process for making espresso might not be the easiest out there, it’s not confusing or difficult either and most people get to grips with it easily after just a few tries.
It is worth bearing in mind that the ROK does not come with its own heating element, therefore when you use the device, it is likely to cook, which can quickly pull the heat from the water you add. As a result, you might get a shot that is under extracted. If you’re considering investing in a ROK coffee machine, a simple way to fix this is to run a clean shot of hot water through the machine before brewing, which will heat the machine up and prevent under-extraction.
What’s the Coffee Like?
Espresso shots pulled from the ROK espresso machine can be delicious, balanced, and rich as long as you get all the elements right. Make sure that that the ground coffee you use is fine enough, and you will get a nice, fine layer of crema on the top of your espresso. Some users have reported getting a ‘very strong black coffee’ from the machine rather than an actual espresso; however, this is one of the most common things that can happen if you’ve not ground your coffee enough.
Main Features
- Portafilter: 7-8g
- Pressure: Five to ten bars
- Mechanism: Two arms mounted on the sides
- Material: BPA-free plastic and aluminum
- Comes With: Milk frother, double spout attachment, scoop, tamper, carrying tin
The Flair
Although the Flair espresso maker is fairly new to a market that is already saturated, it has already become one of the most popular options out there. Even before it was launched, it managed to raise over fifty thousand dollars for its Kickstarter campaign in 2016. Since then, it has become one of the most-loved manual espresso makers around the world, with some former long-term ROK users even jumping ship.
Similar to the ROK, the Flair’s body is made with high-grade aluminum, but with stainless steel rather than BPA-free plastic. The device is basically an aluminum frame that is attached to a long arm. This generates pressure inside a brewing head, beneath the arm. Rather than pressing the arm to the side like with the ROK, you pull it down towards you to pull the espresso shot, which some users say is a more comfortable mechanism for them compared to the ROK’s side-mounted arms.
One main difference between the ROK and the Flair espresso machine is that the Flair is much easier to clean. It is designed to completely come apart for easier storage and cleaning. You can detach the brewing head, which makes cleaning up easier than ever as all you need to do is rinse it under running water. It comes with a carrying case, which the rest of the brewer easily fits into when detached.
The Process
To pull an espresso shot using the Flair, you will need to place 16-22g of coffee grounds into the brewing head before tamping it down and locking it into the frame. Then attach the piston and begin to press down slowly on the arm, creating a steady ten to sixteen bars of pressure. A double shot of espresso will usually take around 25-45 seconds.
Similar to the ROK, the process of brewing using the Flair might not be the hardest, but it’s also not quite as easy as pushing a button. Most users say that they get better results when they preheat the brewing head with warm water, since the cold stainless steel can cause your water to cool down quickly and lead to an under-extracted shot of espresso.
What’s the Coffee Like?
For the most part, Flair users tend to love this manual espresso machine. It makes balanced and rich shots and as long as you get the coffee grounds fine enough, you’ll get a fine crema on the top of your shot. In fact, the Flair has actually converted many previous ROK users, with many offering a lot of positive feedback about this machine.
Main Features
- Portafilter: 6-22g
- Pressure: Up to sixteen bars
- Mechanism: One arm that is front facing
- Material: Stainless steel and aluminum
- Included: Scoop, tamper, and carrying case
Getting the Best Espresso Every Time
While there are lots of reasons to consider either the ROK or the Flair if you want to brew your own espresso at home, bear in mind that the beans you choose will make the biggest difference when it comes to the quality of your final shot. To get the best results from whichever espresso maker you choose for your home, it’s important that you choose fresh, high-quality beans every time.
Along with choosing the best quality and freshest beans that you can find, it’s also important to make sure that you get the grind size right. With either the ROK or the Flair, using coffee grounds that are too coarse will result in a shot that is more like a strong black coffee, without any crema on the top. The best way to get the right grind size is to use a burr grinder and set it to extra fine. The consistency of your coffee grounds should be similar to flour.
Finally, be sure to store your coffee beans well to keep them fresh as long as possible. A vacuum-sealed cannister with a one-way vent system to let out CO2 gases without allowing anything else into the cannister is the best possible way to store your coffee beans if you want to prolong their freshness for as long as possible.
If you want to brew espresso at home using a manual machine, these are the two best options to consider. Both are hugely popular and offer great results.
About the author
Erik Hedlund
With Era of We and The Coffee Lab, I hope to share knowledge, increase the value of coffee – and secure the future of coffee.
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