Yes, I spent money on a shot mirror.

No, I did not pay for a Weiss distribution technique tool.

Yes, I bought a dosing funnel.

No, I am not proud of myself.

Because this particular manual lever espresso maker likes to self-disassemble the plunger / piston while pulling a shot, the shot mirror became a necessity so I could keep an eye on the brew cylinder, pressure gauge, and extraction at once.

Video is silent because all you can hear is the angry stovetop steamer.

My current set-up with the Flair 58. Minus the kettle and stove-top steamer.

The arm is *tall*, so I cannot use it under a kitchen cabinet. I used the sink to get my head low enough to see the espresso coming out of the portafilter. Now I have a shot mirror.

I am annoyed the handle & chamber have a grippy coating because they attract dust and make me disinterested in cleaning espresso spatter elsewhere.