FLAIR 58 DETHRONED?: Superkop and Sonic S7 Review

Summary

In this video, Lance Hedrick explores if the Flare 58x espresso machine's dominance is over by comparing it with the Super Cop Espresso Machine and the MW3 Bomber Sonic S7. He discusses design, build quality, workflow, and performance, including temperature and pressure profiles. Lance finds the Flare 58x still holds its ground due to its thermal stability, built-in pressure gauge, and affordable price, despite the competitors' unique features and approaches.

Takeaways

• 🔥 Lance Hedrick discusses if the King of home lever espresso machines still reigns supreme or if it's been dethroned by new contenders.
• 🆚 Two competitors are evaluated: the Super Cop Espresso Machine and the MW3 Bomber Sonic S7, both around $800 compared to the Flare 58X at closer to $500.
• 🎥 A short sponsored segment for BetterHelp is included, offering a 10% discount for the first month of therapy services.
• 🆓 Lance received the MW3 Bomber for free to review, while the Super Cop was purchased after the Milan Expo.
• 🏆 Both machines will be given away through Patreon competitions, indicating Lance won't keep them.
• 🏷 The Sonic S7 is noted for its stainless steel construction and a unique lever mechanism similar to the Flare 58.
• 📏 The Sonic S7 includes a self-leveling tamper and two types of baskets for different coffee dosages.
• 🌡 Preheating is crucial for the Sonic S7 to achieve optimal brewing temperatures, unlike the Flare which retains more heat.
• 🔩 The Super Cop features a ratchet system for pressure application, differing from traditional lever mechanisms.
• 💧 The Super Cop does not require preheating and maintains temperature well, but the wooden base could be a point of failure over time.
• ☕ Despite the new machines' innovations, Lance concludes that the Flare 58X remains unbeaten in terms of performance, quality, and price.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is a comparison of two espresso machines, the Super Cop Espresso Machine and the MW3 Bomber Sonic S7, to determine if they can dethrone the popular Flare 58 espresso machine.

What is the significance of the Flare 58 in the espresso machine market?

The Flare 58 is considered a benchmark in the espresso machine market, sparking a renewal of interest in lever machines for home use and serving as a comparison standard for other machines.

What is the price range of the Super Cop Espresso Machine and the MW3 Bomber Sonic S7?

Both the Super Cop Espresso Machine and the MW3 Bomber Sonic S7 are priced around $800, which is higher than the Flare 58 that costs closer to $500 or $600 with a heating element.

What is unique about the design of the Sonic S7 espresso machine?

The Sonic S7 features a direct lever mechanism, a built-in monometer for pressure monitoring, a self-leveling tamper, and two different types of baskets for espresso preparation.

What is the workflow of the Sonic S7 similar to?

The workflow of the Sonic S7 is similar to that of the Flare 58, involving a lever mechanism to fill the chamber with water and press it down to extract espresso.

What is the issue with the thermal stability of the Sonic S7?

The Sonic S7 has a stainless steel brewing chamber that lacks thermal stability and requires extensive preheating to maintain optimal temperatures for espresso extraction.

What is special about the pressure application system of the Super Cop Espresso Machine?

The Super Cop Espresso Machine uses a ratchet system to increase pressure, which is a novel approach that makes building pressure easier on the user's arm compared to traditional lever systems.

How does the Super Cop Espresso Machine handle temperature without preheating?

The Super Cop Espresso Machine can maintain sufficient brewing temperatures without preheating, thanks to its design that doesn't rely on external heat retention like the Flare 58's silicone wrap.

What is the potential issue with the plastic water cup of the Super Cop Espresso Machine?

The plastic water cup of the Super Cop Espresso Machine is made from food-safe polycarbonate, but there's a concern about possible BPA leeching above 70°C and the long-term durability of the plastic.

What is the opinion of the presenter regarding the competition between these espresso machines and the Flare 58?

The presenter concludes that while the Super Cop and Sonic S7 offer unique features and are valid options, the Flare 58 remains unbeaten in terms of performance, quality, and price, retaining its position as the 'King' of home espresso machines.

What does the presenter suggest about the necessity of a pressure gauge on the Super Cop Espresso Machine?

The presenter notes that while the Super Cop Espresso Machine lacks a pressure gauge, users are still achieving good results, suggesting that the feel and technique can compensate for the absence of a gauge, although it adds a steep learning curve.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Introduction to the Espresso Machine Review

Lance Hedrick introduces a video exploring whether the current 'King' of home espresso machines, the Flare 58, has been dethroned by two new contenders: the Super Cop Espresso Machine and the MW3 Bomber Sonic S7. He mentions a renewal of interest in lever machines sparked by the Flare's launch and sets the stage for a comparison. Lance also discusses his experience with mental health and introduces BetterHelp, a therapy service that sponsored the video, offering a discount for the first month of use.

05:01

🛠 A Closer Look at the Sonic S7 Espresso Machine

The Sonic S7 is examined in detail, highlighting its construction from 304 stainless steel and aluminate alloys. It features a lever mechanism similar to the Flare 58, with a piston and one-way holes for water flow. The machine includes a built-in manometer, a self-leveling tamper, and two types of baskets for different coffee doses. Lance discusses the workflow, noting the need for preheating the brewing chamber due to the lack of a heating element, and shares his initial impressions of the machine's performance.

10:03

🌡 Testing the Sonic S7's Temperature and Preheating

Lance conducts a temperature test on the Sonic S7, starting with room-temperature water and then preheating the machine. He finds that the machine requires multiple preheating sessions to reach optimal temperatures for espresso extraction. He also notes the machine's rapid heat loss due to the lack of insulation and compares it to the Flare 58's heat retention. The video captures the process of pulling a shot with the Sonic S7, emphasizing the unique flow pattern observed during extraction.

15:04

🔩 Exploring the Super Cop Espresso Machine's Ratchet System

The Super Cop Espresso Machine is introduced with a focus on its innovative ratchet system for building pressure. Unlike traditional lever machines, the Super Cop uses a piston with a gasket and a ratchet mechanism that makes it easier to achieve 9 bars of pressure. Lance discusses the machine's components, including the food-safe polycarbonate water cup and the lack of a pressure gauge, which he compensates for with a Bluetooth transducer. He also mentions the machine's aesthetic appeal and the option for wall mounting.

20:05

🌡️ Temperature and Extraction Test for Super Cop Espresso Machine

Lance tests the temperature and extraction process of the Super Cop Espresso Machine. He notes that the machine does not require preheating and can achieve suitable extraction temperatures with boiling water. The video demonstrates the use of a modified cup to measure pressure during extraction, showing that the ratchet system allows for easy pressure building but also results in pressure dips between ratchets. Lance discusses the learning curve and the importance of feel and technique when using the Super Cop.

🏆 Conclusion: The Flare 58x Remains Uncontested

In conclusion, Lance reflects on the performance of both the Sonic S7 and the Super Cop Espresso Machine. While he appreciates the unique features and appeal of both machines, he determines that the Flare 58x still offers the best value for money and performance. He acknowledges the enjoyment factor and conversational draw of the new machines but ultimately sides with the Flare 58x for its reliability and ease of use. Lance invites viewers to check out his Patreon and other social media platforms for more content and giveaways.

Keywords

💡Flare 58

The Flare 58 is a manual lever espresso machine, often seen as a benchmark in the home espresso machine market. In the video, it is referred to as 'the King,' symbolizing its dominance in the space. The main question posed in the video is whether newer competitors can surpass the performance and value of the Flare 58.

💡Sonic S7

The Sonic S7 is one of the two competing espresso machines reviewed in the video. It uses a direct lever system similar to the Flare 58 but has differences in thermal stability and design. It is priced higher than the Flare 58 and is critiqued for losing heat quickly due to its single-walled brewing chamber.

💡Super Cop

The Super Cop is the second competitor discussed in the video. It uses a unique ratchet system to generate pressure for espresso extraction, making it easier to achieve 9 bars of pressure. Its distinctive design and functionality are highlighted as novel, though it faces challenges in terms of learning curve and lack of a built-in pressure gauge.

💡Thermal Stability

Thermal stability refers to the machine's ability to maintain consistent brewing temperatures. In espresso making, this is critical for achieving good results, especially with lighter roasts. The video emphasizes the lack of thermal stability in the Sonic S7 due to its single-walled construction, compared to the Flare 58’s better heat retention.

💡Lever Espresso Machines

Lever espresso machines, such as the Flare 58 and Sonic S7, use manual pressure generated by a lever to extract espresso. This type of machine requires more involvement from the user but allows for precise control over the extraction process. The video compares different lever systems and their ease of use.

💡Ratchet System

The ratchet system is the mechanism used by the Super Cop machine to generate pressure. This system creates pressure incrementally, making it easier on the user’s arm compared to traditional lever systems. However, the video points out that the ratchet system leads to fluctuations in pressure, which may affect the consistency of the espresso shot.

💡Preheating

Preheating is the process of warming up the brewing chamber to ensure that the espresso is brewed at an optimal temperature. The video demonstrates the necessity of preheating machines like the Sonic S7 to avoid low-temperature extractions, especially since it lacks a built-in heating element like the Flare 58.

💡Monometer

A monometer is a pressure gauge that displays the extraction pressure during brewing. The video highlights the importance of having a monometer on espresso machines to ensure consistent pressure. The absence of a monometer on the Super Cop machine is noted as a drawback, though the company plans to add one in future models.

💡Patreon

Patreon is a membership platform that allows content creators to provide exclusive content to supporters. In the video, Lance Hedrick mentions that both machines (the Sonic S7 and Super Cop) will be given away through competitions to his Patreon supporters, offering an additional incentive for people to support him there.

💡Manual Espresso Brewing

Manual espresso brewing involves physically applying pressure to extract espresso, as opposed to using an electric pump found in automatic machines. The video discusses various manual brewing methods, like those found in the Flare 58, Sonic S7, and Super Cop, comparing the experience and results each machine offers.

Highlights

Introduction to the question of whether the King of home lever espresso machines has been dethroned.

Review of two competitors to the reigning King: the Super Cop Espresso Machine and the MW3 Bomber Sonic S7.

Mention of the importance of the Flare 58x in the market and its influence on other machines.

Sponsorship segment discussing BetterHelp mental health services.

Honest disclosure about receiving the MW3 Bomber for free to review.

Overview of the build quality and price comparison of the Sonic S7 and Super Cop Espresso Machine to the Flare 58x.

Description of the Sonic S7's construction materials and design.

Explanation of the lever mechanism in the Sonic S7 and its similarity to the Flare 58.

Discussion on the importance of a built-in monometer for direct lever machines.

Overview of the accessories included with the Sonic S7, such as the tamper and baskets.

Mention of the unique suitcase carrying case option for the Sonic S7.

Workflow comparison between the Sonic S7 and Flare 58, emphasizing the need for preheating.

Temperature testing of the Sonic S7 and its performance at room temperature.

Observation of the standing water issue on the piston of the Sonic S7 after extraction.

Introduction to the Super Cop Espresso Machine and its innovative ratchet pressure system.

Discussion on the potential longevity and durability of the Super Cop's components.

Comparison of the pressure application and ease of use between the Super Cop and traditional lever machines.

Temperature testing of the Super Cop and its performance without preheating.

Final thoughts on whether the Flare 58x has been dethroned by the Sonic S7 or Super Cop.

Conclusion and call to action for viewers to support the channel through Patreon and other platforms.

Transcripts

what's up everyone Lance Hedrick here

and today we're going to ask the all

important question is the King

dead it's no secret that when flare

launched they began kind of a renewal of

interest in lever machines at home and

it seems to be the barometer with which

we measure everything else on the market

no King no Monarch lasts forever is it

time that this one Falls well I've got

two competitors right now that I'd like

to take a look at in today's video and

we'll see if the King has been

dethroned so today we're going to take a

look at two recent contenders which is

the super cop espresso machine and the

MW3 bomber Sonic S7 but before we get

into that here's a short segment from

today's sponsor of the video better

help now I've been very open about this

online I struggle with mental health for

the longest time I never really sought

out help and things kind of escalated

over the years and so finally I decided

to go and get some and this this is

where better help can come in at least

it did for me and it can help you as

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that works for you and then you begin

your sessions this will give you 10% off

your first month using the service so if

you are someone that's been considering

getting help with your mental health

consider checking out better help now I

have a discount code below for 10% off

your first month if you go to www.b

betterhelp.com ledric you'll get that

discount for the first month and you can

try it out and see if it works for you

now of course every time that link is

clicked it does help the channel so I

just want to be fully transparent with

that but anyway thank you better help

for sponsoring let's continue on with

the video now it is important to make a

quick disclaimer with some of these

machines now the mhw 3 bomber I did get

for free from them in order to review

and this was before I made my video

announcing I was buying everything I got

the shipment confirmation before the new

year began and it took like 8 weeks to

get here now as for the super cop I got

it right after the Expo in Milan last

year so I've had it for quite a few

months both of these units will be going

to sumon of my patreon through

competitions so I won't be keeping them

but now let's start The

Showdown two different approaches than

how they're making espresso but two very

solidly built machines they both sit

around $800 or so whereas the flare 58x

is closer to 500 the 58 with the heating

element is around 600 you must

outperform it pretty well in order to

call for a higher price tag so first

we're going to take a look at the Sonic

S7 you may already recognize this

company they're known for making a lot

of accessories for espresso preparation

and things like that they came out with

their own original type of design to

offer the home Barista a direct lever

machine so this is constructed of 304

stainless steel aluminate Alloys and

then there's some silicon and obviously

we see wood we have a lever right here

when you lift it fills the chamber with

the water and when you go back down it

presses it so it's a similar mechanism

to the flare 58 where there's a piston

inside they're holes in it that is one

way so when you lift up the water goes

through you push down the water is

pressed using that piston

Force we have a monometer that's built

in which is a necessity these days

especially with direct lever machines in

order to follow what you're doing so you

can try to replicate your experience as

well as dial in your coffee to specific

profiles it also comes with their tamper

which is a self-leveling tamper and it

has a rippled base if you're curious

about tampers I got a video here you can

check out this little distributor which

um you if you're watching this channel

you likely know my thoughts on those but

we won't really get into it you also get

two different types of baskets one

that's heavily tapered and then one

that's kind of a bigger base basket that

holds about 20 G of coffee and this

little shot glass which is actually a 58

mm diameter kind of neat um but yeah you

can pull your espresso into it you can

measure beans with it whatever you want

you can get a strip down version or you

can get it one with the suit the

carrying case which is a very welcome

Trend with more and more machines coming

like that starting with the decent

espresso machine that kind of ships in a

case a suitcase you have the zero which

comes in the Pelican case type thing and

they also offer something like that so I

got the one with the

suitcase but this is where things are a

bit interesting it's nice it's quality

it's going to hold it it has all the

foam inside

but who in their right mind has taking

this on an airplane there's a plane on

it and that word guess what you going to

do about it you could probably just you

know have your kid call all over it or

something spray paintt it do some Fe

work or something so as you can see it

comes with all the parts that are needed

to make good espresso when it arrives it

is essentially all built you just have

to screw in the handle right here so

there's a little thumb screw right here

just screw it right on in and you're

essentially good to go what is the

workflow on it honestly it's very

similar to that of a flare 58 the

Brewing chamber is this hunk of

stainless steel you really need to

preheat the mess out of it otherwise

it's just not going to be very hot and

since there's no heating element here

it's all based on your Kettle I like on

the flare you have that kind of silicone

wrap that helps retain some of the Heat

this one you don't have that so it's

going to dissipate a bit quicker so

we're going to go ahead take a look at

that I'm obviously pulling out my

thermocouple we'll pull a shot and then

we'll move on to the super

cop so mind you I'm starting with this

at room temperature so I'm going to go

ahead and fill it up and we'll see with

the first pull completely room

temperature what it does to the temp so

we lift this up it sucks the water down

really nicely really efficiently all of

it's been sucked now we're going to push

down we're 64

65 looks like we're peeking at 65 before

it starts to plummet now we're down to

62

60

69 it's just going to stay at 59 it

looks like and then as this is going out

I'm going to go ahead and

reheat all right so we've done all the

preheating now I'm just going to release

the water and then we'll fill it up and

measure what it's like after this

preheat so here we

are get all that out now we're going to

put the skat back in like we're locking

on our actual Porta filter with coffee

and here we

go and start the push so now we're at

83.2 with one

preheat so it looks like it may need a

solid two full preheating sessions where

you put boiling water in and let it sit

in order for it to hit that 90° mark

this was obviously boiling water so it

should give us a little extra pre

preheating then we'll put boiling water

in one more time read it one final time

and then we'll move on with an actual

shot so here we go quickly time is of

the essence when you're using these

types of levers so we lift drop it in

and we go this time we are at 83 again

this steel right here it gets super hot

to the touch it's not double walled or

anything it uh it rapidly loses heat so

in order to really make sure you're

getting the best of this you really need

to preheat a lot unless of course you're

using a really dark roast in which case

one preheat will do fine 83 85° is going

to be more than fine for a dark roast of

coffee all right we've got our coffee

ready let's go ahead and dose it into

our pter

filter put this back

down we

lift and we begin

going up immediately

to um nine bar we're going to chill

here and slowly

descend it's really weird pulling from

behind the table but we're doing a good

job doing a good

job we're keeping that flow out at about

1 1.2 g a

second

and we're going to be

done

right now you lift to stop the plunger

and you're good to

go it's not bad first off because the

arm is so long it's actually a bit

easier to get that nine bar than on a

flare 58 um so it's a bit it's a bit

nicer to get that before I knew I needed

to preheat the absolute mess out of it

and before I knew that even doing that I

was still getting lower temperatures

something unique was happening when I

was pulling my espresso immediately the

bottom of the basket would cover and it

would drip out really quickly for a few

seconds and then it would almost like

choke and this actually reminds me of

the experience when you're using pretty

cool water to brew coffee now I'm

thinking back on I was probably sitting

at like 70 or 75° C when making that

espresso that water did not want to get

through at that lower temperature higher

temperatures it doesn't a better job but

what I have noticed is there's a bit of

a lack of body maybe because I'm using

lighter roast and it's doing a a cooler

temperature you also have standing water

on top of the Piston Once you pull it

back up and retract it there's a decent

amount we have quite a bit of water

that's just sitting up there that you

can't really do anything with it's been

decent espressos but when you're looking

at that 800 $850 price point

I'm I I wish I didn't have to faf around

as much if you have one and you enjoy it

very valid I'm glad you enjoy it this is

just me kind of giving my thoughts let's

move on to the super

[Music]

call we've had the spinny with the Aram

we've had the pump with the Pico presso

we've had the Seesaw with the unar Nomad

which is still one of the goats in my

opinion video link right there from a

few years ago but now we have a new way

of producing pressure we still have a

piston inside but the way that the

pressure is increased is is using a

ratchet system it's a really neat Nifty

thing and in fact I really like to watch

it without anything there so you're

going down up the rung up the rung and

you see here's a piston with a gasket

around it it's all CNC miled stainless

steel

inside and then we come to the top then

when you pull back a little bit

more so satisfying and it makes building

pressure a whole lot easier on your arm

but of course there are down Ides with

it whenever you're lifting back up

you're obviously relieving pressure from

the puck so you get a pressure curve

that kind of looks like this this one is

definitely lasting Generations upon

generations to come the only real

failure points in this would be the

water cup where you place water this is

made from a food safe polycarbonate I

didn't I couldn't find online if it was

BPA free I have to imagine it is because

we have a lot of studies that show above

70° that you're getting some leeching

going on uh but I've got to imagine it's

BPA free if it's saying uh food safe it

does you know no no dishwasher this

could obviously be a fail safe over over

the years so I would potentially buy

multiple cups if you were you know

investing in something like this and

wanting it to last decades because it's

this plastic you don't need to preheat

so similar claim to like the robot no

preheating of course we're going to put

that to the test and the other thing is

just this wooden base it can warp over

time it doesn't seem very well treated

um it's a bit difficult to rub espresso

spurts off of it they do have a second

opt

with the setup here you can get it wall

mounted now I actually love the wall

mounted look I know it's very polarizing

a lot of people don't like it but when I

was at the mumac Museum I saw this

machine right here from

F and I love the idea of sitting on a

train back in the 60s or so and you have

the you know the person on the train

come you like an espresso they walk over

and they pull it from a wall lever which

I think is so cool and when I saw that I

was like dang I really want one of those

I wonder if I can find one to restore

and mount somewhere in my house still on

the look so if you have a lead on one of

those old famous let me know cuz your

boy will pick it up and restore it but

anyway there's no real place for me to

Mount this so I'm using just the wooden

base which gives a decent counter

balance for the pressure you're putting

on the system another thing that you'll

immediately notice is there's no

pressure gauge there's no monometer how

the heck are you supposed to know what

pressure you're at well thankfully mosat

press sensor made a little prototype cup

with a hole here to read pressure using

his BL Bluetooth transducer the people

at Super cop are kind enough to let me

borrow it in order to run tests they

have no idea what I'm doing with it they

are planning on adding a pressure gauge

in the coming months or year I don't I

don't know the timeline to it but

they're trying to figure out a good

place to put

it really nice Porta filters really

heavy duty and as you notice there are

no wings on it there are no flaps on the

side you can get a spouted one and yes

other baskets do fit in

this come on baby ow here's a VST for

instance and then if you switch the

spring out you can also get like the

sworks or a fancy basket to fit in then

whenever you get your coffee ground up

you put it in the basket you Tamp it

down you just place this which has its

own gasket on it and its own built-in

shower screen you place it into the

basket like so it fits really snugly in

there due to that gasket then you put

water in here they say there's a 60 mm

limit but honestly I can get 50 to 55

mls in the cup if I go all the way um so

it's got to be more than 60 because

about I don't know 30 or 40 Ms are being

absorbed into the puck I guess when they

say 60 mil limit they're talking about

on the

scale have to get this piston all the

way up so you got to do that fun little

thing and you just slide it directly in

there's no real good way to track what

you're doing but it seems that people

are getting great shots regardless so

whenever I show you the Bluetooth

reading of the pressure don't be fretful

thinking those variations and pressure

is going to negatively affect the coffee

in a big way a lot of people love the

Simplicity of it and the fact that it is

so easy to create 9 bar without going

hard but as you can imagine especially

for people like me who are crazy and

have way too much muscle to know what to

do with cuz I am as big as the rock well

you're going to overshoot the pressure

pretty easily just know you need to go

down smoothly and get a proper grind

size I will say I think because of that

there's a pretty steep learning curve to

it but I guess it just depends if you

get lucky with the grind size if you

have experience whatever it might

be so now we're going to test the

temperature of this machine now I won't

be able to be as precise as I was with

this because the skas won't fit in here

we're going to pour the water into the

cup and we're going to see what the

temperature is inside the cup

immediately obviously whatever the

temperature is in this we we're not

going over regardless of what there is

so we know that the temperature is at

its peak once it's in here because then

we put it in we're not increasing

temperature at all yes we'll increase

the pressure which I guess guess could

have a minor effect because pressurizing

it can increase the temperature but in

reality it's not going to do too much

now we need to take into account that

this piston is stainless steel so unless

it's preheated it's going to leech some

of that temperature out even if there's

an air pocket it will still affect the

temperature so with boiling water I just

pulled off the boil and threw it in

there it's at 90 C without any

preheating at all down to 87

now yeah so it does continue to drop so

speed is of the essence whenever you're

doing this so you want to get that shot

ready tamped place this on pour it in

and go as quickly as possible so we've

got the water back at Boiling we're

going to put it in this

preheated cup and we're going to take a

temperature now we're at 92 it's already

dropping though we're at

915 so it looks like after one preheat

you can get up to about 92° if you are

using really lightly roasted coffees

it's probably worth it to preheat it a

bit make sure the basket is hot and make

sure the Piston is hot as well but other

than that even with lighter coffees 90°

is sufficient as long as you're quick

with your workflow I often pull light

roasted coffees at 90 I don't don't

really think you really need to push the

temperature too too high all right we

got our coffee tamped and ready to go

I've got my modified Cup on here let's

get our boiling

water fill this bad boy up lock it in so

you'll be able to follow along with my

extraction and see how the pressure is

with this ratchet

system so as you can see there's that

dip as I'm quickly filling up the puck

with water I did the first couple really

quickly my my grind's a little tight

right here don't really worry about that

as much as watching the pressure so this

will just be a longer shot but no

worries so we're just kind of living and

you see I'm not really I'm not having to

push that hard this ratchet system

really makes it a lot easier their goal

was to give something to where you

wouldn't need like you know a 1 meter

long lever in order to make an easy nine

bar shot so I'm dipping on the pressure

let me go back

up I've read online that some people

think each ratchet is going to give you

like a consistent pressure just

depending on your uh grind size but I've

not found that to be the case I can I

can push it really high if I want you

see that I got up to 14 bar and again

we're on the next one I can get up look

at that I can get up to 14 so that's the

issue is if you think you need to push

as hard as a flare you're going to have

some really wonky shots of coffee and

then you can kind of just live down here

but again I can force it way up I ran

out of water but that's what it looks

like when you're pulling a

shot what is inevitable is in between

each rung you are going to lose pressure

no it's not unseating the puck like a

solenoid valve wood it's not sucking

anything out you're lessening the

pressure momentarily as you're going to

the next rung that's why you saw I like

to go quickly to minimize the amount of

time that the pressure has dipped on the

Puck's surface you're going strictly off

of feel and the feel is not super

accurate because every time it feels a

little different and that's just because

you're going with this ratchet system

which is giving you kind of different

angles different torque throughout as

you're going to the different ratchet

levels it can be a little confusing that

being said this can give you incredible

texture it is very easy to use as far as

pulling down the lever it's kind of fun

and novel and honestly I think it's a

statement piece I'm sure if you had this

hanging on your wall it would be the

center of a slew of conversations always

taste what you pull even if it's not

very good and that is not very good that

being said it's not super bitter it's

just really watery and kind of and I

like

[Music]

it makes it difficult to kind of remove

the and you know what they say if you're

coming for the king you best not miss

and even though I don't think these are

misses as far as they're placed on the

market and they and they're validity to

many customers who want them or have

them I don't think that when we get down

to the Brass tax and we're looking at

bang for your buck as well as quality

and all the things kind of put into one

the flare 58x is pretty difficult to

beat in terms of its performance its

quality and its

price sometimes you just want a coffee

this does the art this does the good

stuff it gives you nice texture and

there it is the Sonic S7 while it does

look pretty nice I do wish that there

was a little bit more thought put behind

the the chamber here for thermal

stability cuz right now it just doesn't

really have much thermal stability at

all it just rapidly loses heat I enjoy

the offset lever arm I enjoy the build

of it the weight of it I think both of

these are great additions to the market

in the sense that uh it's going to add

some flavor and there going to be people

who are very much drawn to either one of

these no I don't think the King has been

dethroned the flare 58 is here to stay a

little bit longer uncontested in my

opinion yes the lever is a bit more

difficult to create the same pressure as

these two especially the ratchet system

but you have a monometer built in you

have the Porta filter with a 58 mm that

can be replaced with other ones and you

have the thermal heating element here

even if you don't have that element and

you have the X this still has a great

thermal stability due to this wrapping

that's going on up at the top to

maintain the heat really well do I love

the cfat RO robot yes and it's my choice

to brew on I prefer brewing with it it

is a more fun Brewing method than the

flare 58 but if I'm doing a light

roasted coffee this rain Supreme I'm

just giving you my point of view and so

take that for what you will I'm not

endorsing anything to be bought I am

just telling you my thoughts on these

machines because I think they're really

cool and I love to play around with

machines and share my thoughts on them

so that is kind of that thank you for

watching up until now please check out

my patreon below because you know I'll

be giving these things away uh through

competitions there uh please you know

check out my second YouTube where I do a

lot of rant style things you know my

Instagram all those different things

anywhere you want to support is greatly

appreciated by me thank you so much I

hope that you brew something tasty today

and cheers