u/codetardo

So, we all love Blue Tokai’s Silver Oak Cafe blend. I’ve been exploring more of their coffees lately, and I’ve found another one that absolutely deserves attention, Elkhill Estate.

Honestly, it gives Silver Oak some serious competition. The flavour profile is different, but it has the same intensity, acidity, and sweetness that I love.
I think I’ve officially found my new favourite.

Link to my previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/IndiaCoffee/s/5oFIGqEfeQ

I’ve got pretty much everything else dialed in, brew basket, grind size, coffee dose, etc. But tamping is the one thing I just can’t seem to keep consistent.
Some shots I tamp a bit too hard, some a bit too light, and every now and then I somehow get it just right 😂
The stock Flair tamper doesn’t exactly make things easier. Is there a trick to getting more consistent with it?
Also, do click-feedback/calibrated tampers work with the Flair Classic? Would love to hear what you guys are using.

I’ve tried quite a lot of coffee from different roasters, Araku, Grind & Co. Australia, coffees from Indonesia, and a bunch of others.
I mostly make lattes, so I’ve experimented with quite a few beans.

But for some reason, Blue Tokai Silver Oak Cafe Blend just hits different for me.
If I had to choose one coffee to keep drinking, I’d probably pick Silver Oak. The thing I really like is how consistent it feels every time I buy it. The flavour, sweetness, roast bitterness, everything just feels really balanced. Nothing is screaming for attention.

And one weird thing I’ve noticed: after having a big 225ml cup, if I take a deep breath afterwards, there’s this really nice aroma that comes through and kind of lingers. It’s hard to explain, but I really enjoy it.
Maybe I’m just biased towards Silver Oak but I genuinely want to know, what is it about this blend that makes it taste so different to me?
Anyone else feel the same?

I’ve been using the Timemore Whirly with my Flair Classic for the last 10 days and honestly, it’s been amazing.

I previously used the Timemore C3 ESP Pro for about a year. It worked well, but grinding below 0.6 was a serious workout. It almost felt like the burrs weren’t biting into the beans and 0.7 was usually the lowest setting.

With the Whirly, I’ve gone as fine as 0.2 without any effort. It grinds, shuts itself off when it’s done, and the consistency has been excellent. The shots are pulling beautifully with loads of crema.

One of the biggest reasons I switched was that using a manual grinder and a Flair lever for every cup was just too much arm work.
Picked it up for ₹10.5k on Flipkart, and I have zero regrets.

If you’re thinking about buying the Timemore C5, I’d say spend a little extra and get the Whirly instead. Totally worth it.

Mayank kicked off the show, Kunal Kamra followed and Shyam Rangeela finished with a bang

Been on a coffee journey for a while now. Started with a moka pot and used it for about 1.5 years. It made great coffee, but I always felt it overheated the brew and muted many of the flavours and delicate notes.

Then I moved to a Delonghi EC890. Upgraded it with a few accessories, enjoyed it for a month, and eventually sold it. It was a capable machine, but the heavy use of plastic in the internal plumbing and the lack of pressure profiling made me want something with more control.

Now I’m using the Flair Classic (2025 model), imported by @coffee.plus.in, and I’m absolutely loving it. Every shot is hands-on, every variable is in my control, and I’m finally tasting espresso the way it’s meant to be.

Still learning. Still experimenting. But that’s the fun part.

Brand-new part that came with my Flair Classic. Never used.
Make it yours for just ₹3,000.

Just pulled my first espresso with the Flair Classic latest 2025 model and damn, I love it. The control it gives you is incredible. The machine feels extremely solid and the stainless steel brew chamber was one of the main reasons I bought it. It comes with almost everything you need, even a dosing funnel. Pulling the lever down and watching the first drops of espresso appear is unbelievably satisfying.

One thing that surprised me is how simple it is to use. There are way fewer steps than with a typical espresso machine, so it’s actually faster and easier for me. Cleanup is basically the same as a moka pot, which I’m already used to.

For some background, I used a moka pot for 2 years before this, but the coffee always tasted a bit flat to me and I couldn’t really taste the flavor notes.
After that, I bought a Delonghi EC890, but only kept it for 31 days because it uses too much plastic in the brew path for my liking.

I preordered the Flair Classic through CoffeePlus.in. They imported it and shipped it as soon as it arrived at the airport. It took 19 days from placing the order to delivery, which I think was pretty reasonable.
My next upgrade will be the stainless steel piston and pressure gauge. Once I have those, I’ll be making 100% plastic-free coffee.

I paid ₹22,036.50, but since I have a corporate account, I was able to claim the 18% GST back. That brought my effective cost down to ₹18,675 (excluding GST), which is a pretty sick deal and almost matches the US price.

The Flair Classic has been a completely different experience so far. Can’t wait to keep dialing it in.
Any tips from experienced Flair owners?

Selling my 31-day-old Delonghi EC890 in mint condition. It’s a lovely little machine and has been working perfectly, but I’ve realized espresso is a bit more hands-on than I expected.

Included:

Delonghi EC890 (under warranty)
THW portafilter + 16–18g basket (17 days old)
Supvox single-shot basket (8–12g)

Location: Ludhiana, Punjab
Can ship anywhere in India with upfront payment.

Price: ₹13,500 for everything.

Feel free to DM for photos or any questions.