The Top 10 Sage Coffee Machines – There Not All Worth The Money [Buyer’s Guide]

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclaimer for more information.

Entry-level espresso machines can only give you entry-level coffees. Of course, they will taste like decent brews, but would they be barista certified? NO! 

For a barista-level coffee, you must up your game. Sage coffee machines are one brand that gives you precision, consistency, accuracy, and adjustments, with a barista’s professional touch. 

To this date, Sage has manufactured one of the most demanding drip-coffee machines, two efficiently beautiful coffee grinders, bean-to-cup espresso machines, and home barista espresso machines. 

This article will explain each model’s specs to let you pick which Sage coffee machine will work best for you.

Update: I see a lot of confusion in the comments regarding the brand name Breville and Sage. They are the same company, but there was already a company called Breville in the UK, so to manufacture their product, they had to change it to another name, and Sage is what they picked.

If you are using Amazon in the UK, you will Sage products. If you’re anywhere else in the world, you see Breville.

Super-Automatic Sage Coffee Machines Are:

We will discuss their qualifications like appearance, performance, and specifications in more detail ahead in this article. 

Why Are Sage Coffee Machines Best In The Market?

  • In-built Grinder in many of the semi-automatic models allows you to ground directly in the Portafilter. 
  • Unlike other brands that render cheap products with low-quality accessories, these machines come with a stainless-steel tamper and razor to tamp and smoothen your ground’s coffee surface for even extraction. 
  • PID controller (The temperature is always under control)
  • Most of the sage semi-automatic models come with dual boilers. It extracts and steams the milk simultaneously without wasting time. 
  • Sage offers automatic milk frothing with programmable options to control milk texture and temperature. 
  • Unlike other entry-level devices that take time while heating up or do not heat enough, Sage Semi-automatic machines heat up within a matter of seconds with their innovative Thermojet. 
  • Stainless steel body. 

10 Best Sage Coffee Machines

Sage coffee machines will give you what they claim; automation at every stage (for super-automatic machines) and infinite programmable varieties (semi-automatic machines). 

This list will include choices of ultimate, advanced technologies, from the touch screen to dual boiler, variety of button controls, PID controller, Thermojet, multiple grind size settings (40+), Barista quality frothing. 

This table will conclude two bean-to-cup Sage machines, five home-barista Sage machines (with and without an in-built grinder), and three Nespresso Sage Espresso machines. 

1. Sage Oracle Touch 

The most visualizing demand in the market is the extravagant Sage Oracle Touch.

Its rectangular steel body suffixes with an in-built grinder, portafilter holder for the ground, a group head for extraction, and a steam wand. 

This bean-to-cup espresso machine auto-grinds, doses, tamps, pumps, and extracts the shots for you on a single touch. As the company likes to quote it, ‘Swipe, select, Enjoy.’ 

Sage Oracle Touch’s modernized device comes with a touch screen that allows you to swipe and select between expresso, latte, flat white, long black, and cappuccino.  

The in-built Grinder has conical burrs to give you consistency with every brew. It automatically grinds, doses (22grams), and tamps the ground coffee. You still have the manual liberty to disconnect the Portafilter from the Grinder’s outlet and fix it in the group head. 

Two befitting features of Sage Oracle Touch are Optimal Water Pressure and PID controller. Optimal water pressure regulates water’s infusion during the extraction to monitor and limit over or under-extraction. The PID controller controls the temperature of the water throughout the extraction. 

The machine is stepped with automated functions. That is, the timer, temperature, and texture are all set subsequently to give barista-level coffees. The device applies a pressure of 9-Bars from its 15-Bar Pump to extract high-defined crema and espresso. 

Another highly praised feature of Sage Oracle Touch is its automatic Steam wand and the quality microfoam it steams.

Oracle touch’s milk frothing is unmatched and still exceeds your cafe-like cappuccinos, and other milk-based beverages with tiny bubbles throughout its consistency! 

Performance

Every function of this machine is automated and stepped to accommodate commercial experiences to the brewers. Each stepped adjustment is profoundly analyzed before blending it into the machine’s performance. 

The machine begins to operate when you secure it in the switch. After loading the hopper with beans, the touch screen reveals three options- Grind, Brew, and Froth. 

Click the buttons in that order; once you are done grinding, the brewing starts at an optimal temperature and time. Extraction usually occurs at 8-10 seconds and shuts down at around 30 seconds (stepped). 

Up next is frothing; once your machine is done with brewing, frothing starts after selecting your choice. The frothing has levels and temperature adjustments. 

Please note: You can still customize your brew by adjusting the temperature, grind size, brewing time, milk temperature, and steam levels. It’s an automatic machine that is also programmable to meet your barista demands. 

Brewing Time: 

This sage coffee machine offers five different brews and has an automatic brewing period of 30 seconds. Once you fill the hopper with coffee beans, the device gives you three clickable options- Grind, Brew, And Froth. 

Dislocate the Portafilter from the Grinder and attach it to the group head to start brewing. It will automatically stop after 30 seconds. 

This brew option is clickable; a single touch will give you a single shot, the double click will provide you with two espresso cups, three clicks will let you adjust the brewing timing. 

  • Brewing Stepped Time: 30 Seconds.
  • Extraction starts at 8-10 Seconds after pre-infusion.

Brewing Temp: 

An excellent machine will brew at a temperature between 190 Degree Fahrenheit to 205 Degree Fahrenheit. It means the device should boil/heat the water at 190-205 Degree Fahrenheit at the extraction time. 

This temperature automatically reduces down to 160-180 Degrees Fahrenheit while pouring and serving, which is an ideal drinking temperature. 

Please note: Cheaper machines might claim excellent heating up technology but can’t sustain the correct temperature. 

  • Brewing temp: 190-205 Degrees Fahrenheit
  • Drinking Temp: 160-180 Degrees Fahrenheit

Do not try to sip your shots at 190-205 degrees; the high temperature will burn your tongue and won’t let you taste the coffee’s real flavors.

The PID controller stabilizes the temperature throughout the brewing period because everyone knows the significance of + or – 1 temperature degree; it can ruin your coffee!

Milk Temperature:

The stepped milk temperature is 65 Degree Celcius, and the milk frothing level is eight, but you can always adjust these settings with your preference. (170 Max)

Sage Oracle Touch has been known for its excellent milk frothing skills; it condenses the milk beautifully with tiny bubbles to create a microfoam. This micro-foam is thick and creates delicate milky art at the top. 

A low-quality foam will have more generous bubbles; the milk would be flat or light-weighted. 

Sage Oracle Touch comes with a milk texturing jar and is marked min-max levels to load the container just about the right measurement. Make sure you don’t cross the limit or do not under-fill to get the best of microfoam.  

This super-automatic machine has a dual boiler that allows you to steam and extract at the same time. Place the pitcher properly above the sensor line and the shot mug below the Portafilter, click the choices simultaneously and conserve time while brewing. 

Please note: You can also manually froth the milk by disabling the automatic settlements. 

Pressure

The machine has a 15-Bar pump pressure and applies 9-Bars of pressure while brewing. The 15-Bar is usually supplemented in the device to increase the persistence of 9-Bar pump pressure. It’s done to protect the Pump from wearing off.

Machines (usually cheaper products) that claim 20+ Bar pressure do not justify quality because higher bar pressure doesn’t endorse the machine’s worth. Your coffee will only ever need 9-bars for the perfect extraction. 

Moving on, Sage Oracle Touch also has a pre-infusion function that lets the water sit with coffee for an even extraction before the actual pressure implements. 

How Noisy Is It?

Given its in-built grinder feature, some noise is inevitable. The sound is not extremely noisy, but it won’t allow you to communicate either. The Grinder and the steaming wand produce most of the sound in this machine. 

On the other hand, extraction is pretty smooth, and you can hear a muted vibrating sound while extraction; it’s engaging for the people who enjoy brewing as a romantic ritual. 

When you operate the Grinder, the noise won’t allow you to have discussions or a peaceful morning. Similarly, steaming the milk will also create a disturbing sound, enough to not let you speak. 

Overall, it’s not too noisy compared to other machines who scream bloody hell, but it’s not that quiet either. You have to have some noise in the house! 

Cleaning Process

Cleaning is vital for preserving the machine longer without any further damage. To clean the Sage Oracle Touch, you will be given clear-cut instructions in the manual. The cleaning process is simple but make sure you are not washing it in the dishwasher. 

The Grinder and its conical burr: 

  • Unlock the Grinder, remove the beans and lock it again in place.
  • Turn on the Grinder and let all the coffee residue subside. 
  • After switching off the unit, remove the hopper and the upper burr and brush it clean. (Don’t use water.)
  • Brush the lower burr that’s fitted inside the hopper. 
  • Remove the tamping fan with the help of a tamper removal magnet.
  • Brush the outlet with a ground brush and replace the fan with your hand anew in the system. 
  • Lock the upper brush in the hopper manually. To lock it firmly, push the burr inside with enough force and slide it to the right of the Grinder. 
  • Settle the hopper back in the Grinder, and you are done! 

Water shouldn’t be used while cleaning the burrs; only use brushes. These brushes- burr brush, tamp removal magnet, and grinder brush come with the unit for free. (Refer to the manual to locate them)

Clean and brush your Grinder daily to remove undesired coffee residue. This residue causes stale-tasting coffees if not flushed after every use. 

The steaming wand: 

The steaming wand comes in contact with the liquid (milk) every day; cleaning it regularly after each use is crucial. It will guard the stainless steel wand and your anew milk’s taste from residual milk.

  • After every use, wipe the rod with a damp cloth.
  • Allow it to auto-clean afterward. Auto-Cleaning will steam hot water out of the wand to keep the steaming wand’s holes unclogged. 
  • If any of the steam wand’s holes get blocked, use the tip cleaner to unclog them. 
  • If it still doesn’t function well, use the steam wand cleaning powder to refine the tool. 
  • Add one packet of cleaning powder with 240 ml of hot water in the jug. Remove the steaming tip and allow it to soak in the solution with the steaming wand separately.
  • Leave the solution on the machine for 20 minutes, let it soak in properly.
  • Clean, rinse the wand and the tip to remove the solution. 
  • Steam continuously to remove the residual of the solution. 
  • Use a dry cloth to wipe the steaming wand, and it’s done. 

Tip-cleaning tools and steam wand cleaning powder are both present in the unit. Please note: Only use the steam cleaning powder if it gets clogged. For daily cleaning, damp wiping and activating steam will be enough. 

Cleaning the filter Basket and the Portafilter. 

Rinse the filter baskets in hot water after every brew. It’s also recommended to apply a clear water backflush to remove residual coffee from the group head, Portafilter, and the basket. 

If holes get blocked in the basket, soak them in hot water and dissolve a cleaning tablet in the solution. Let it soak for 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly afterward. 

How to use clear water backflush?

  • Insert the cleaning disc and a cleaning tablet inside the basket. 
  • Turn on the machine and click on the brew option. 
  • Allow the pressure to build up for 20 seconds.
  • Release the pressure. 
  • Repeat this five times to purge the group head and baskets thoroughly. 

Both cleaning tablets and the cleaning disc come with the unit. Refer to the manual to better understand the cleaning process and troubleshoot calls. 

Showering screen and group head

Wipe both with a damp cloth and periodically run hot water to remove the residual. The Hot water selection is available right below the brew option. 

Drip tray, storage tray, outer unit

These outer units are easy to clean, remove them from the device and damp clean every part with a cloth. For deep cleansing, remove the drip tray and wash it in a soapy solution, then rinse. 

The same goes with the storage tray; you can wipe the unit, external storage with a damp cloth, and occasionally with soapy water. Please do not use a harsh cleanser to wipe the machinery; it might scratch or discolor the unit. 

REFER TO THE MANUAL TO BETTER UNDERSTAND CLEANING STEPS AND INSTRUCTIONS! 

Appearance: 

It’s a spectacular sight to witness. The stainless steel body delivers grace at every angle, and the design is one of the most sophisticated masterpieces that you will come across. Sage Oracle Touch comes in two colors- brushed stainless steel and black truffle. 

My preferred choice would be black truffle because it’s easy to clean and wouldn’t get dirty quickly. Black truffle will also beautifully fit any-colored kitchen.

The material used to build it? The whole unit is constructed of brushed stainless steel. The dual boiler is also stainless steel, making your expensive machine worth every dollar. The charm and durability of stainless steel are incomparable. 

Is it digital, or does it have knobs and buttons? This particular machine is the more innovative variant of the old model, Sage Oracle. Sage Oracle is a buttoned machine. Unlike the preceding model, Sage oracle Touch is a smart device, and it comes with a touch screen display. 

You don’t click buttons in this machine; you swipe and select your smart-machine choices. The touch screen is undeviatingly in the center of the unit, and it starts functioning after you plug in the device. 

The first display screen will ask you to select from the five coffee varieties. You can swipe and click any one of them. Following that, it will display grind, brew, and milk options. You can click on them periodically and later customize the settings if you’d like. 

Location Of The Grinder: The Grinder is established on the machine’s right when looking from the front; the hopper is present at the top and is visible on the left head. It has a conical shape with a flat circular surface and lid. 

The Grinder is connected with a portafilter holder; you can directly attach the Portafilter to hold the ground; the machine will automatically auto-grind, dose, and tamp the beans.

Location Of The Portafilter: The Portafilter is attached in the group head. The group head is present at the center of the machine, right below the display screen. It is marked by instructions to lock the Portafilter easily. 

Location of the water reservoir: Unlike other machines, the water reservoir is present at the front to provide easy access. 

Location of the steamer: The steamer is present at the machine’s right (front view). You can move the steam wand front and back to adjust the milk texturing jar. 

Specifications

  • Voltage: 220-240 Volts
  • Basket Size: The basket diameter is 58mm (2.2 inches)
  • Beverage size: The machine grounds 22 grams of beans. The perfect coffee to water ratio used is 1:1 or 1:25. Twenty-two grams goes in, and 45 grams comes out. The beverage size would be 42-45 grams of coffee per cup.
  • Weight: 20.8Kgs
  • Dimensions: 39.2 X 37.3 X 45.4 CM
  • How much water does the reservoir hold? 2.5 liters

2. Sage Oracle

Another beautifully designed bean-to-cup/home barista Espresso machine is Sage Oracle. Its exterior is befitted with many vintage-looking buttons, not to mention the blue digital LCD contrast with the highly defined exterior steel/black paint.

Moreover, Sage Oracle Touch is a replica of Sage oracle Original with the difference of a touch screen. Its button settings and beautiful exterior make you feel like a real barista. 

The machine is equipped with an in-built grinder, a portafilter holder right below, a group head below the digital LCD screen, and many buttoned choices. 

These clickable options include grind-size settings, power button, one-two shots of espresso, hot water, long black (size and strength can be adjusted), Menu/exit, select dial (temperature/texture), steam display. 

On your right, you can see the grind size display and on your left is the display for milk temperature/temp. Apart from its beautiful appearance and buttoned visuals, this machine also features OVP (Regulates pressure for even extraction) and PID (Regulates water temperature for a smooth, enriching shot)

Complimenting its origin, Sage Oracle comes with an automatic steaming wand that gives you microfoam milk. All this glamour, sophistication, and features come at a much lower price than Sage Oracle Touch.  

Other interesting automatic features that Sage Oracle Original offers are self-tamping and dosing (22 grams), self-cleaning steam wand, dual stainless boiler (extracts and steams milk together without wasting time), pre-infusion (for even extraction).

The additional accessories include a single-sieve basket, a milk texturing jug, a grinder bin, and a cleaning unit.

Performance

Sage Oracle is a computerized yet programmable machine that grants you freedom over adjustments and still renders many automatic functions like auto-tamping, auto-dosing, and auto-grinding. 

You can program, and you can still benefit from the bean-to-cup coffee machine with a rich crema and dark espresso. The engine starts to operate when you put the beans in the hopper and switch on the power button. 

The functions are easy-to-navigate throughout the machine. Once the Grinder crushes the beans, it directly doses and tamps the ground inside the Portafilter. Please note: Do not operate the Grinder without the Portafilter. There is a portafilter holder right below to hold the ground coffee. 

Once the coffee is tamped, dislocate the Portafilter and attach it to the group head. From there, you can select the option for one-shot or two shots, hot water, and hot americano with texture/temperature setting. 

This machine comes with a small milk texturing jar, exquisite, complimenting the device. You can manually adjust the milk jar below the steaming wand and change the temperature and texture. The buttons are right beside the menu/exit button. The brew is ready! 

Brewing Time: 

Although the machine is programmable, an ideal brewing time selected by Sage Oracle is 30 seconds. The pre-infusion borders 8-9 seconds, and the extraction begins right after for 30 seconds. 

How to reprogram the extraction duration? While choosing one/two shots, press and hold the shot’s button to start pre-infusion. Release the button when met with the pre-infusion period (after 8-9 seconds). Use a coffee scale that comes with a timer to measure accurate timing. 

Once you loosen the pre-infusion direction, the pour will automatically begin. To stop the pour according to your needs, press the button again (one/two shots, whichever you selected) to stop the timer. 

The ideal timing for extraction is 30 seconds with pre-infusion included. Anything more or less will leave your coffee over-extracted or under-extracted. The shot clock will be shown on the digital blue display.

  • Brewing time: 30 seconds (programmable)
  • Pre-infusion time: 8-9 seconds (programmable) 
  • Hold the button to turn on the pre-infusion and let go of it. To stop the actual high-bar extraction, click the button again. 

Brewing Temperature

As discussed, the ideal brewing temperature is 190-205 degrees Fahrenheit. Surprisingly, you can also program the heat with this machine. 

Click on the menu button (you can find it on the right just beside the LCD.) After clicking the menu button, press the select dial (present across the menu option) 

Rotate the dial to optimize temperature according to your commands. You may or may not adjust the brewing temperature because the machine will do it for you anyway. Still, if you are a traditional barista demanding personal temperature optimization, Sage Oracle is always here for you. 

The temperature option, along with many other choices, will be displayed on the LCD screen. You can select and surf through them by rotating the selector dial. Once you press the dial, the digital reading will be shown on the LCD screen. 

  • Brewing Temperature: 190-205 degrees Fahrenheit (programmable) 
  • Default Temp: 93 degrees celsius.

Milk Temperature

The select dial will also allow you to adjust the milk temperature and the texture manually. Please note: this machine will enable you to froth the milk manually, and it also automatically steams the milk. 

There is a lever on the machine’s right with two labels- manual (top) and AUTO (below) to navigate between the two. Locate the lever up for manual milk texturing and below to initiate automatic milk texturing. 

The automatic milk texturing will steam your milk at 64 degrees celsius. On the other hand, the manual milk-steaming operation will switch off auto-timer and auto shut-off. 

While manually texturing the milk, rotate the select dial to decrease and increase the temperature.

To manually adjust the temperature, long-press the select dial until the screen (on the right) starts to show the temp, rotate to increase or decrease it. 

Also, remember, the dial button is responsible for many programmable options. So, this button will adjust not only the temperature but also milk textures. To change the milk texture, press the selector dial until a triangle starts to show on display. Surf through the various programmable options by clicking the select dial after clicking at the menu. 

  • Milk temperature: 64 degrees (programmable)

Pressure: 

Like Sage Oracle Touch, this espresso machine also has a 15-Bar of pump and pressures 9-Bars to extract quality coffee. The automatic pre-infusion is also programmable. 

To manually pre-infuse the pressure, click on the menu button until the digital screen displays all the programmable options at the display, select the pe-infusion option by surfing ahead. Press the select dial when you reach the pre-infusion option. Rotate the dialer to set Bar pressure. Press the dial again to select the pre-infusing timer. 

How Noisy Is It?

I would consider the noise to be average compared to other espresso machines and grinders. It sounds like a typical grinding machine being operated. The noise is not too loud, and neither is it muted. You can listen to it, but you cannot converse while the Grinder is doing its business. 

The noise squeaks at times and might awaken your morning before the coffee does, but it’s understandable. Its sound is very much similar to Sage Oracle, given their grinders are pretty much similar. 

The extraction doesn’t make loud noises but only silent purrs while delivering the coffee. On the other hand, a steam wand also makes sufficient noise to make you stop talking. The milk steaming is loud, not as loud as a grinder, but the noise certainly disturbs the silent air. 

Cleaning Process:

The cleaning process is very similar to Sage Oracle Touch, with additional descaling and flush boiler cleaning. You can find all the cleaning steps in the manual to better understand the settings. 

Sage Oracle Original has an automatic-cleaning feature to clean the machine. After every 200 extractions, the device will indicate a ‘clean me!’ notice. To automatically initiate cleaning, press the menu until you see the ‘cleaning cycle’ option on the display. Rotate the select dial to reach the prospect. 

Once you get to ‘clean me!’, press the selector dial to automate the function. The automatic cleaning cycle washes the shower screen with hot water and flushes clear water through the group head to wipe it clean.

To start the cycle, insert the silicone cleaning disc and a cleaning tablet in the basket, connect the Portafilter in the group head and activate ‘clean me.’ The LCD screen will show you the correct timer (countdown) for the whole cleaning process. 

Once the timer clocks zero, remove the Portafilter and check if the tablet is completely dissolved. If you see the remains of the capsule, restart the ‘cleaning cycle’ and continue until it’s dissolved. Rinse thoroughly afterward! 

Cleaning the Grinder:

Follow the grinder cleaning directions as mentioned for the Sage Oracle Touch. A quick summary on how to clean the Grinder. 

  • Unlock the hopper, brush the upper burr, and the lower burr. 
  • Remove the tamping fan with the help of the magnet and brush Grinder’s input and the tamping fan. 
  • Relocate the tamp fan, conical burrs, and the hopper back in its place. Firmly settle down with subtle pressure. 

Please do not use water while cleaning the Grinder. 

The steaming wand, Portafilter, and the baskets

Refer to Sage Oracle Touch; the cleaning instructions are very much similar and easy to understand. 

To clean the steaming wand, wipe it out with a damp cloth and automate the steam regularly after every use. 

To unclog the wand’s holes, dissolve the rod and the tip separately in the cleaning powder-water solution (one packet powder-240gms of water). Allow them to soak for 20 minutes, rinse the parts and steam continually until it smells neutral. 

For the Portafilter and the baskets, rinse them in hot water after every use. For occasional deep cleaning, allow the tools to soak in the cleaning tablet solution for 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly!

The outer unit, drip tray, and external storage. 

The outer unit should be cleaned with a damp cloth after every use and dried with a soft cloth. Do not use aggressive cleaners, detergents to clean the parts. 

To clean the drip tray, remove the grill and the ‘drain me’ indicator, soak the drip tray in soapy water and rinse thoroughly afterward. 

Please note: Do not clean or wash any of the parts in the dishwasher! 

Descaling And Flush Boiler

Water heaters often get the scaling of minerals, mostly calcium and magnesium. It’s natural for the minerals to scale a layer (white particles/paper-like buildup). This scaling can ruin your heater’s lifespan. 

Nevertheless, it’s easy to descale Sage Oracle.

  • Empty the drip tray. Please turn off the machine and allow it to rest for four hours. 
  • After the time duration, long-press ‘One cup’ and ‘power button’ together for 3 seconds. Make sure the machine is still switched off. 
  • After 3 seconds, R-SET will appear on the display screen, rotate the select dial until the display reads Dsec. Press the ‘select dial’ when you see Dsec.
  • The descaling outlet is present at the bottom right, just above the drip tray and behind the steaming wand. Uncover the silicon coat and screw open the valve on the right. 
  • Hide the drip tray with a cloth to avoid steam escape. Once you open the valve, steam will come out (press ‘one cup’ for three seconds if not released) 
  • Do the same with the second valve as well and allow the steam to pass. 
  • To screw it back securely, rotate the driver clockwise. (Don’t apply too much pressure as it might damage the delicate valves.)

Once the process is done, empty the drip tray, water boiler, and water tank. Make sure it’s not hot to touch, use kitchen mittens while handling the trays and water boilers.  

  • Prepare a solution of 1-liter warm water and one sachet of Sage descaler. 
  • Add this solution to the water tank. Press ‘One cup’ to initiate descaling. The timer will automatically start and show a countdown of 20 minutes.
  • The descaling solution will fill up the boiler and heat the solution for 20 minutes. This period is enough to dissolve scale buildup.  
  • After 20 minutes, empty the water tank and thoroughly rinse it with water. Refill the tank with clean water and allow it to descale for 20 more minutes. You can flush the boiler again to remove the descaling solution altogether. 

Appearance

If you’d instead prefer a vintage-looking espresso machine more than the modernized smart-machine, Sage Oracle Original will grace your kitchen gracefully. This machine also comes in two exotic colors- brushed steel and matte black truffle. 

The LCD screen has a blue backlight with significant digital readings. The machine has three display screens, two small for grind size readings and milk temperature/texture readings. 

The bigger one reads all the programmable actions provided by the machine. 

Material Used To build it: The mechanism and construction are similar to Sage Oracle Touch. The whole body of Sage Oracle is stainless steel. The boiler is also stainless steel to charm its overall body. 

Is It Digital, or does it have knobs and buttons? The only dissimilarity that Sage oracle and Sage Oracle Touch has is their display. Sage Oracle has a digital display with buttons and knobs to perform every programmable action. 

Click every button to feel like the real barista on the brew counter with a barista hat! This machine gives the adventure a home barista looks for. The truth is, we are so accustomed to smart-inventions, our heart demands something vintage and nostalgic. 

If that’s the case, Sage Oracle would be the best option for similar automatic function, design, and programmable variants at a much lower price than Sage Oracle Touch. 

The Grinder’s Location: The Grinder is present at the left, with its hopper sitting majestically on the machine’s top (left corner). The Grinder comes with a portafilter holder to dose and to tamp directly. 

The Portafilter location: The Portafilter can be plugged in both the systems, the Grinder, and the group head. The group head is located at the machine’s center, right below the digital screen and buttons. 

Location of the water reservoir: The water reservoir is present at the front. You can easily remove, refill the water reservoir in the machine without hindering your machine location. You remove the water tank from behind for cleaning purposes.

Location of the steamer: The steamer is present at the farthest of right; the wand is long and can be seen easily. You can use the rod by lifting it or putting it back in. It doesn’t rotate on all four sides. 

Specifications

  • Voltage: 220-240 Volts
  • Basket Size: 58mm diameter
  • Beverage Size: The machine automatically grinds 22 grams and gives 45 grams of extraction (1:1)
  • Weight: 19.3 kgs
  • Dimensions: 37.3 X 36.9 X 44.7
  • How much water does the reservoir hold: 2.5 liters 
  • Hopper capacity: 280gms
  • Milk Jug: 16 oz

3. Barista Touch

Another model in the smart-coffee machine list is ‘Barista Touch,’ ranking second after Sage Oracle Touch. The machine has a touch screen that lets you select and save six unique coffee brews. With three easy options, Barista Touch grinds, extracts, and textures milk. 

The machine is entirely programmable; you can select the grind size settings, grinding timer to dose accordingly (19-22 grams), tamp the ground coffee, select brew temperature, timer, and bar pressure. You can also adjust the milk temperature and milk texture with this machine. 

Barista Touch automatically foams the milk with the machine’s direction and senses the milk temperature from the container. The sensor is present at the drip tray base, where you keep the milk texturing jar. 

With PID and a thermojet heating system, the machine heats up for extraction in three seconds and doesn’t deviate from the optimal temperature.

Barista Touch is a miniature version of Sage Oracle Touch with customization at every step. This machine comes with a stainless steel tamper and a razor to tamp manually, rewarding you the pleasure of being a home barista. 

The machine brews six automatic coffees, including espresso, cappuccino, flat white, long black, latte, americano. Additionally, you can add six more manual brews with a personal name tag and coffee icon. 

Who is this machine for?

  • If you enjoy customization and want to try home barista skills with an A-grade smart-espresso machine, then Barista Touch is the one for you.
  • A miniature model to fit in the kitchen. The machine is also affordable (not as expensive as the touch oracle but with advanced technology at every step.)

Performance

As the name suggests, this sage model gives you the barista experience at the tip of your finger. You can automate a morning coffee or customize it like the real barista within a couple of seconds. 

Barista Touch, similar to all the sage models, is a high-quality machine and offers sophisticated performance at every level. 

Once you switch on the machine, the touchpad will ask you to choose between the six coffee varieties. The grinder will ask for grind size settings and grind time. The device will dose between 19-22 grams depending on the timer. 

Fortunately, it will grind the beans directly in the portafilter, spoiling you with the hand-free operation. Yes, you can hang the portafilter with the grinder to collect the ground coffee. You will find the tamper on your left side, detach it from the machine and tamp manually along with a razor. 

Attach the portafilter in the group head and click on the option brew as shown on the touch screen; you can adjust one cup, two cups, or brew time with a comfortable touch. Barista Touch doesn’t have a dual boiler; enjoy the beauty of brewing and texturing separately. 

Brewing Time:

The machine is pre stepped to brew in 30 seconds, but the timer is customizable. You can customize the brew timer according to your coffee demands. To manually change the brewing time, select the option ‘brew’ on the touchpad. It’s between the grind and milk options. 

Triple-click the button present right below the brew option to get to the brewing timer. 

If you click the button once, you will brew a single shot. By clicking it twice, you get double espresso cups, and three clicks will let you customize the brew timing. 

  • Brewing Stepped time: 30 seconds (customizable)
  • Pre-infusion: 8-10 seconds
  • Extraction Begins at 8-10 seconds right after pre-infusion finishes up. 

Brewing Temperature: 

The machine automatically adjusts the water temperature with its PID technology. PID is a water temperature controlling technology that extracts balanced coffee every time. 

As discussed, the optimal brewing temperature for espresso and espresso-based drinks is 190-205 degrees Fahrenheit. You can adjust the temperature in this machine manually! This machine doesn’t come with a dual boiler. So, you will have to brew and texture one by one. 

It also has a hot water outlet right below the portafilter head in the machine. To troubleshoot the temperature, always follow the complete setup procedure before brewing your coffees. Refer to the manual to know the setup steps. 

  • Ideal Brewing Temperature: 190-205 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Ideal drinking Temperature: 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit.

Milk Temperature

The Sage espresso coffee machines have excelled in the art of milk frothing. 

These machines froth the best milk with customized actions! The micro-foam milk flavors your mouth with thick foamed delights. 

You can automate the milk texturing/frothing, or you can customize the setting. To automatically froth the milk, click the milk button and place the jar on the temperature sensor. The milk will automatically start and will operate until the registered temperature is attained on the sensor. 

To customize these settings, click on the cylindrical button right below the froth option. The click will let you adjust the temperature and the texturing levels. You can customize these with the (-) minus button present on the left to decrease the setting and the (+) button to increase the texture/temperature. 

  • The max temperature for milk frothing: 170 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Max milk texturing levels: Eight
  • The ideal temperature to froth the milk is usually 50-60degrees Celsius (150-160 degrees Fahrenheit)

Pressure

The machine beautifully pre-infuses the ground coffee resting inside the portafilter for 8-10 seconds and then extracts at full pressure for the rest of the period. 

Tha automatic pre-infusion uses 2-3 bars of pressure to distribute boiling water in the ground coffee evenly and then uses 9 bars of pressure to extract the coffee for 30 seconds (or customized timing)

Barista Touch additionally has a high-quality 15-Bars pump and only uses 9-Bars to extract coffee. Please note: the optimal pressure to pull coffee remains 9-Bars, the 15 bars pump protects the machine from wearing off. 

  • Barista Touch’s Pump: 15 Bars
  • Pre-infusion: 2 Bars
  • Extracting Bar Pressure: 9-Bars

How Much Noise Does It Make?

Like every ideal Sage grinder, Barista Touch also makes enough noise to stop you mid-sentence. The noise is squeaky but won’t bleed your ears. You can easily ignore the sound once you get used to it. 

Fortunately, manual tamping saves the automatic-tamping noise. Yes, the auto-tamper fan does create noise, but that’s not the case with this particular machine. The extraction is pretty quiet and pleasing. 

Barista Touch’s frothing is very loud, but with the best-textured milk at a lower price than the expensive list Sage offers, the sound is worth every ounce.

The Cleaning Process:

The cleaning process for Barista Touch is pretty simple compared to Sage Oracle and Sage Oracle Touch, given its small size, minimal design, and functions. The machine requires both manual and automatic cleaning after every use. 

A ‘clean me’ notice will bounce on the screen to remind you of an automatic session, just like the Oracle touch machine. To activate automatic cleaning, click on the ‘clean me’ option and follow the steps shown on the screen. 

Auto-cleaning includes straightforward water flushing through the shower screen and the group head. For flushing it clean, insert the cleaning disc and cleaning tablet in the basket, locate the portafilter in the group head, allow the pressure to build up for 20 seconds, and release the tension. If the machine says otherwise, follow those instructions. 

Make sure you purge your shower screen and group head periodically to keep the insides of the machine clean. 

For cleaning other parts of Barista Touch, refer to the manual or this quick review on how to clean the whole machine. 

Warnings: 

  • Never dip the cord in water. 
  • Always use a damp cloth and gentle water while cleaning the outer surface. 
  • Do not wash the parts in a dishwasher.
  • Please be careful while brushing the conical burrs; they are very sharp and might hurt you. 
  • Descaling should always be performed with a water tank attached and filled. 
  • Never use water for the grinder.

How to clean the grinder?

Since every in-built Sage espresso grinder has the same mechanism, it will have a similar cleaning process. Clean the grinder as mentioned above in the ‘Sage Oracle Touch/Sage Oracle Original’-cleaning process. 

Always use a brush while cleaning the outlets and inlets of the grinder. To clean the portafilter holder in the grinder, use a brush.

The steaming wand:

The machine auto-purges after every use. Make sure to wipe the steamer before the auto-steaming begins. The steaming rod needs to be put in place to auto-purge. 

When you push the wand inward and settle it down in its original place after the milk texturing session, it auto steams into a big hole given in the drip tray for the same purpose. 

Baskets and the portafilter:

Refer to the instructions mentioned in the cleaning process section for Sage Oracle Touch Machine. The outer unit should also be cleaned with a damp cloth and no abrasive powders. 

Appearance

This minimalistic design comes in two colors- brushed stainless steel and black truffle with minimal customary buttons. There’s a single screen that will show every action that goes in and around the machine. 

The touch screen is positioned at the center, and its exterior is slightly different from Sage Oracle and Sage Oracle Touch’s model. The steaming wand, group head, and the grinder-portafilter holder are all shifted to the slightest of right to adjust a tamper at the very left. 

The tamper is stainless steel and is easy to detach and attach. Please note: Detach the tamper to use it properly and not the other way around. 

The material used to build the machine: Barista Touch has a stainless steel body with a BPA-free water tank. It is equipped with a stainless steel burr grinder, a stainless steel milk jar, four baskets, and a stainless steel tamper. 

Is it digital, or does it have knobs and buttons? Given its name, the machine neither has buttons, knobs and nor a digital display. It has a touch screen that offers automatic and programmable options. 

The screen is pretty minimal, occupying very little space and offering everything at its best. The touch screen will lead you in every direction with simple follow-up steps; click and continue until the coffee is finished. 

Barista Touch does have a grinder knob that lets you adjust the grind size settings. The grind size settings are between 1-40 turnarounds.

The location of the grinder: As mentioned, the grinder is slightly shifted to its right to adjust a tamper. It is approximately 60-65 mm away from the left. 

The portafilter location: Unlike other models, the group head is not positioned in the center and below the screen. You will find the group head very close to the milk steaming wand. 

Although it might seem suffocating to have them at such proximity, it doesn’t disturb your performance while brewing; you can still move your hand quickly in and around to export the portafilter, the steaming wand, and the tamper.

The location of the water reservoir: the water reservoir is present at the back of the machine. You can fill and detach it from there. The container is smaller compared to the larger machines. 

The steamer’s location: It is very close to the group head but remains located at the same place, just like in any other sage espresso model, to the very right.

Specifications

  • Voltage: 220-240 Volts
  • Basket size: 54mm
  • Beverage size: Depending on the dose of 19gms to 22 gms, you can expect a 1:2 ratio of coffee and the extraction ratio.
  • Weight: 12.7 kgs
  • Dimensions: 32.2 X 39.4 X 40.7
  • How much water does the reservoir hold: 2 liters
  • Bean Hopper Capacity: 250gms
  • Milk jug: 480ml
  • Grind Size settings: 30
  • Grind time: 30 seconds

4. Barista Express

Another minimalist model in the Sage Espresso Coffee machines is Barista Express. A completely manual/programmable espresso machine that lets you do it all. You can grind, dose, tamp, extract, and froth milk. 

Unlike other Sage models, Barista Express allows every action to be manual with snap buttons. These buttons comprise a power switch, one-cup, two-cup, hot water, and long black choices. A pressure gauge to display the bar pressure applied while brewing (including pre-infusion).  

You can program the grind amount, milk temp, milk texture in this machine. 

The excellent features include pressurized/non-pressurized baskets; these baskets wouldn’t mind a bad tamp, dose, or even grind size. Plus, its PID controller controls water temperature. The machine comes with a manual steaming wand that rotates out, a stainless steel tamper, and a temperature milk jug. 

Who Is This Machine For?

  • Someone who’d want a manual barista to try out home barista skills. 
  • A cheaper product compared to other expensive Sage models. 
  • A sophisticated model to suit your kitchen with a small, stainless steel body.

Performance

Barista Express is an entry-level home barista machine to allow you flexibility at every step. You can grind the beans, select the grind size, and froth your milk manually; Barista Express allows every action in your account. 

Once you power the button and fill the hopper, the machine will require instructions on the grind size setting and the amount of grind you’d want. Another option while fixating the perfect fresh ground is filter size (single or double). 

Please note: The grinder can directly grind in the portafilter as it comes with a portafilter holder; you can attach it and detach it at any given time. Once you choose the dosing, transfix the portafilter in the group head and click either one-shot or two-shots to start brewing. 

Since the actions are entirely manual, you don’t get a timer in this machine but instead freedom of clicking the button whenever you wish to stop the brewing time. Suppose you started the extraction by clicking one shot; you can control the action at any second by clicking the one-shot button again. 

Another knob on the right side of the body lets you choose between operating the steaming wand or releasing hot water for americano/long black. 

Brewing Time:

As mentioned, Barista Express is completely manual, so you have the liberty to start and stop the machine at any given time. They do not have a pre stepped timer to brew your coffee. The device can still run for 35 seconds if not manually stopped. 

Although the brewed coffee is still not too bitter or sour at 35 seconds, it’s still advised to stop the extraction period when you seem fit. The pre-infusion lasts for 4-7 seconds, as seen in the gauge, and then the full extraction starts. 

  • Brewing time: >35 seconds
  • Pre-infusion time: 4-7 seconds
  • Advised brewing time for Barista Express: 25-30 seconds unless you prefer a darker/light coffee. 

Brewing Temperature

Surprisingly enough, these clickable buttons have more to perform than you can see on the surface. Like the Oracle original machine, Barista Express can also program many things; one such action is regulating up the water temperature. 

Before we get into the details, the stepped water temperature for barista express is 93 degrees Celsius (200F) and is controlled by the PID technology to maintain perfect stability. 

To change the temperature:

  • Turn off the machine by clicking the power button. 
  • Long press the program dial and then press the power button again. 
  • You will enter an advanced temperature changing mode with a beeping light. 
  • To change the temperature, press the program button again within five seconds to enter the advanced temperature mode.
  • For increasing the temperature, click the one-shot button for +1 increment. For +2 increment, press the two-shots button. 
  • For decreasing the temperature, click the filter size button for a -1 decrease in the temperature. To reduce -2 at every click, press the power button. 

The machine will confirm the registered temperature with two beeps and will save it automatically. Please note: barista Express will require a pre-heat up of the system and a couple of shots before registering the temperature. Heat the system for 25 minutes to see visible changes in the temperature of the machine.

  • Stepped temperature: 93 degrees celsius. (programmable)

Milk temperature:

Milk temperature is also adjustable and handy with a temperature measuring jar that comes along the machine. The milk jar has a color strip that measures the temperature; it glows at every temperature reading. 

Experts suggest allowing the milk to steam until the milk jar reads 60-65 degrees celsius and then put the steam wand/hot water dial back to standby mode.

How to operate the steaming wand? On your right, there is a steam wand/hot water dial. To enter steam wand mode, rotate the dial to the left. For hot water, pivot the dialer to the right. 

To stop the program put the dialer back on standby mode. 

After switching on the steam mode, allow the machine to heat up for 8 seconds, and then turn off the steam wand. Adjust the milk jar and then turn the steam wand on again. 

  • Ideal milk temperature: 60-65 degrees celsius

Pressure: 

The machine applies 9 bars of pressure with its 15-Bar pump. The ideal gauge is perfect for noting your coffee’s extraction. If it’s below the line of 9 bars, the coffee will remain under-extracted. 

If it’s above the 9 bars line, the coffee will be over-extracted. The ideal coffee pressure should always remain 9bars. Please note: The quality of beans can also alter pressure build-up. So, always use fresh, dark-medium roasted beans from certified roasters! 

  • Ideal extraction periods should start at 4-7 seconds.
  • Ideal extraction period: 25-35 seconds. 

How Noisy Is It?

The grinder makes noise every time you increase or decrease the grind size settings. That’s pretty much given with every machine that comes with an inbuilt grinder. The extraction is also pleasingly quiet with a ranging purr sound. 

The steaming wand creates less sound compared to the machines above. The possible reason can be that it’s a single hole frothing wand and comparatively of less power. The steaming wand also creates unintentional sounds while heating up without a cause occasionally. 

The cleaning process:

The cleaning process is very much similar to other machines. You clean the hopper with a brush, the external storage with a damp cloth, the drip tray with soapy water. Befittingly, Barista Express also has a ‘clean me’ cycle. 

Auto-cleaning 

The clean me light brightens up when the machine needs auto-cleaning. Auto-cleaning usually back flushes the group head and shower screen to clean the insides. 

Preparation for automatic cleaning: Insert a cleaning disc in the filter basket and a cleaning tablet without the coffee. Insert the portafilter in the group head with the water tank filled with cold water. 

To commence this cycle, switch off the machine by clicking the power button. Press one cup, two cups, and power button together for 10 seconds. The cleaning cycle will backflush water for 5 minutes dissolving the tablet. 

If, after 5 minutes, the tablet is not dissolved, repeat the cycle until it completely melts. Once done, rinse the brew head with freshwater (without the disc, remove the disc) to remove any solution left in the group head. To rinse, click the two cup buttons with fresh water in the water reservoir.

Wipe the outlet with a dry cloth after the cycle. 

Descaling The machine:

To prime the machine for descaling. Dissolve descaling powder with 1-liter hot water. Pour the solution into the water tank. 

Press and hold the two cups and the power button to initiate the descaling cycle. 

The power button will spark continuously until heating up. The machine will illuminate the power button, one cup button, ‘clean me’ indicator, and the hot water outlet to indicate descaling is done. 

  • Press one cup to descale the coffee component for 25 seconds. Click the one cup button again to turn off the descaling. 
  • Descaling the steaming wand and hot water outlet: shift the dial to the left indicating steam wand and allow it to descale for 13 seconds. Switch the dial to the right to descale the hot water outlet. To temporarily stop descaling, dial it to standby mode. 
  • Repeat the step to empty the descaling solution. 
  • Once finished, rinse the water tank with fresh water and fill fresh water to flush the system. Repeat descaling with fresh water 4-5 times to remove any residual descaling solution. 

Please note Hard water results in scaling and requires descaling every 60-90 days. To avoid descaling often, check the hardness of the water; it should be below 4. 

To clean the grinder and other units, refer to the cleaning process explained above. 

Appearance:

Barista Express is a comparatively smaller model with an exquisite button system and gauge display. It comes in two furnished colors- brushed stainless steel and black truffle. The body is slightly shifted to its right to adjust a steel tamper on the machine. 

There’s a lot of room between the group head and the grinder’s portafilter holder. The same cannot be said for the group head and the steaming wand because there’s close to no space to adjust the milk jar on the counter. 

Nonetheless, since the machine requires manual frothing, you’d have to carry the jar in your hands to tastefully froth the milk to microfoam. 

The material used to build it: The body is stainless steel, and the water tank is made of plastic compared to other expensive devices. It also comes with a stainless steel tamper, milk jar, and razor. 

Is it digital, or does it have knobs and buttons: The machine doesn’t have a digital display and neither a numbered display to indicate accuracy. It has minimal buttons with minimal required functions, a couple of dials to adjust grind amount, hot water/steam wand, and grind size. 

Location of the grinder: Unlike other machines, the grinder holder isn’t present at the corner to the left but very close to the center. You can still see the hopper intact at the left corner, but the grinder holder is close to the center (on the left)

Location of the portafilter: The portafilter goes in and around the ground holder and the group head. The group head is very much close to the steaming wand to the right! 

Location of the water reservoir: The water reservoir is present at the back of the machine. You can easily manage it around, in, and out with the handle it comes with. 

Location of the steaming wand: The steaming rod is on the right side, very cornered. You will need to either place the milk jar on the kitchen counter or in your hand while steaming milk because there’s no space for the milk jar to adjust on the drip tray. The drip has an exit hole for the steam, though. 

Features And The Specifications

  • Voltage: 220-240 Volts
  • Basket: 54mm
  • Beverage size: 19-22 grams of ground coffee. The ratio of 1:2 (1gram of ground extracts 2 gram of shots)
  • Weight: 10.6 kgs
  • Dimension: 32.5 X 31 X 40 cms
  • Water reservoir capacity: 2 liters
  • Hopper capacity: 450 grams

5. Sage The Dual Boiler

The dual Boiler comes with two integrated boilers, one to boil the extracting water and the other to steam milk. Sage the dual Boiler is another minimalistic device with less on display but more on the programming side. 

The display has buttons, including a grind size gear on the left, a power button, followed by an LCD digital layout.

You will get the menu button, up/down buttons, and the exit button below the LCD screen. Up next is a pressure gauge compass, and below it are two bulbs (the left one indicates hot water and the right one indicates steaming wand)

The sequence is followed by a manual button, one cup, two cup options with a steam dial on the right.

You can program almost all the settings in this machine, including the shot temperature, pre-infusion time/temp, shot duration, skip pre-infusion, water hardness, etc., with the advanced settings. 

Additionally, the programmable settings include manual resetting of the shot volume, the shot temp, shot clock, timer, auto start, auto-cleaning, etc. 

Please note: The sage Boiler doesn’t come with an in-built grinder; the overall cost might weigh a little more expensive than your preferred budget if you buy a separate grinder.

Performance

If you are someone who would enjoy the manual availability more than the automatic functions for a much cheaper cost, Dual Boiler is the one for you. The perfection of a manual tamp, and manual frothing is incomparable when you perfect your barista skills. 

The machine brews excellent old-fashioned coffee where every step can be programmed, including frothing the milk and tamping. Nonetheless, this machine does come with stepped variations to brew your java if you want to lay back a little. 

The stepped functions give the desired extraction period, temperature, frothing temperature, and grind amount/time/size. Turn on the machine and swipe through the various programmable options to surf with the menu button. All the functions/readings can be shown on the digital display. 

Who is this machine for? If you already have a grinder, why invest in an expensive in-built grinder machine? This dual Boiler will give you Sage Oracle’s features without the grinder and the automatic steaming at a much lower price. All for a good cause!

Brewing Time:

The stepped timing for extraction is 30 seconds, but you can program it with simple steps. The pre-infusion period is 7 seconds; this is also programmable.

To adjust/ the brewing timing, follow these steps:

  • Press the menu button until the options appear on display. Navigate to the shot volume and press until the screen reads ‘one cup.’
  • Click one cup button (right of the machine) to start extraction and click the one cup button again to stop the extraction period. 

You can also skip the pre-infusion process if you’d prefer that. To remove pre-infusion, press and hold one cup button when brewing a single shot and press-hold 2 cups option when brewing two shots. 

Refer to the manual to adjust the pre-infusion timing. 

  • Brewing Time: 30 seconds (programable)
  • Pre-infusion: 7 seconds (programmable and removable)

Brewing Temperature

The double Boiler’s stepped temperature is 93 degrees celsius, but you can program it according to your preference. To program the brewing time:

  • Click on the menu option until the screen displays programmable options. 
  • Click the menu button again until you reach the shot temp displayed on the screen.  
  • The up and down button will increase and decrease the temperature. 
  • The range is 83 degrees to 96 degrees. 

Milk Temperature:

The default steaming temperature for the Dual Boiler is 135 degrees celsius. You can reset this context from the advanced settings. To enter advanced settings:

  • Switch off the power button.
  • Long-press one cup and then long-press the power button simultaneously. The menu button will lead you to varied options; click the up/down button until you read Stea on the digital screen (that’s the indicator for steaming temperature)
  • Click the menu button to select the steaming temperature. 
  • Use the up and down button to increase or decrease it. 
  • Click the menu button again to confirm the temp.
  • The machine will beep to verify the changes. 
  • Default steaming temperature: 135 degrees celsius.
  • Ideal milk temp: 60-65 degrees celsius. 

Pressure: 

The Dual Boiler also has a 15Bars of the pump; the machine only uses 9bars because that’s precise to extract the brew. The bar pressure can deviate due to bad tamping, wrong grind-size setting, so get your barista skills on board!

To enter the pre-infusion programs. 

  • Put the machine on standby mode
  • Press the up and down buttons together. 
  • The menu button will let you choose between the pre-infusion duration and the infusion power.
  • Pre-infusion Pump: 15Bars
  • Ideal Pressure: 9bars

How noisy is it?

Since this machine lacks a grinder, there’s no room left for any noise whatsoever. The steam wand is also an entry-level device and isn’t as strong as the rest of the high-end espresso machine. It will work slowly comparatively.

All for a good cause, you will have time to level-up your steaming/texturing skills, and you won’t have to bear the noise either. 

Cleaning process:

This machine also has an auto-cleaning process. It’s pretty similar to other machines. Sage, the Dual Boiler, demands auto-cleaning after every 200 extractions. The LCD will display a clean me option when required. 

Auto-cleaning

Preparation: The same as other machines, insert a cleaning disc, cleaning table in the basket, and connect the portafilter. 

  • To initiate auto-cleaning, click the menu button and navigate to ‘clean me .’Press the menu button until the LCD reads PUSH.
  • Push the Manual button (on the right)
  • The machine will start the countdown of 370 seconds and will backflush until the whole tablet is dissolved. 
  • Rinse the portafilter and basket afterward.

The rest of the cleaning process is similar except for the grinder because you don’t have one in this machine. For descaling, refer to the oracle touch machine. To initiate descaling:

  • Power off the machine.
  • Press hold the menu and then the power button for 3 seconds.
  • Until the machine reads Reset, use the up and down button to navigate descale(dSEC).
  • Press the menu button to confirm

Appearance:

Dual Boiler is beautifully minimalistic; you will see fewer buttons and physical tools. The machine is enormous, as big as the Oracle original, and very much spacious because it lacks an in-built grinder. 

You will see a bigger portafilter and group head in the center, a steaming wand on the right, and a tamper on the left. There’s a lot of room between these three; you can efficiently operate the machine without allowing it to be too messy. 

The dual Boiler comes in two colors- brushed stainless steel and black truffle. I remember a red dual boiler, but maybe it’s out of manufacturing services, as seen on Sage and Amazon. 

The machine has a blue LCD screen and a gauge indicating the pressure in the center.

The material used to build it? The body is stainless steel with a stainless steel boiler. Additionally, it is equipped with a stainless steel tamper and a milk jar.

Does it have a digital screen or knobs and buttons? It has both! You get a blue LCD digital screen that reads all the programmable and stepped functions. The machine also has knobs, dials, and buttons to brew perfect manual coffee. There’s a knob to control grind size at the left and a steam lever to select a steaming wand on the right side.

Location of the grinder: No grinder available with this machine. You can buy a separate grinder with this machine, though. Sage has the two most gorgeous grinders at entry-level prices.

Location of the portafilter: The portafilter and the group head are present at the machine’s center, right below the gauge pressure.

Location of the water reservoir: Since the machine has a lot of space, the outlet to fill the tank is present right at the front; you can also take the complete water tank out from behind for cleaning purposes. It’s bigger than what you will get in other in-built machines with the same price tag.

Location of the steamer: On the machine’s right side, you can find the manual steaming wand.

Specifications:

  • Voltage: 220-240 Volts
  • Basket size: 58mm (diameter)
  • Beverage size: Depending on the dose of 19gms to 22 gms, you can expect a 1:2 ratio of coffee and the extraction ratio. 
  • Weight: 15.5 kgs
  • Dimensions: 37.3 X 40.5 X 37.7 cms
  • How much water does the reservoir hold: 2.5 liters
  • Bean Hopper Capacity: no grinder
  • Milk jug: 16oz

6. The Bambino Plus

Bambino is my favorite machine ever invented. It’s so concise, so meager, and yet offers so many fulfilling features with automation. 

It’s a small grind-less machine with a PID controller, thermojet heater that heats the system in three seconds. The device automatically steams the milk with excellent micro-foams. The steaming wand has four holes to enhance the milk frothing. 

The Bambino plus also comes with a temperature sensor that senses and stops frothing automatically when the desired temperature is reached. It has three programmable levels for temperature and three milk-steaming levels for the foam. 

Not only this, The Bambino plus auto-purges the wand after every use. If you are looking for a mini-budget entry-level machine without the grinder but with an automatic steaming wand, Bambino has a lot to offer. 

It also affords pre-infusion, internal programmable options that allow you to switch between automatic frothing or manual frothing. Also, the machine has a great default setting, but you can permanently program that with easy steps.

Performance

If you compare Bambino with other similar brands of the same price tag, Bambino is unbeatable with the services it provides. Count them down; there’s automatic milk frothing, and yet the option to program it. There’s also auto-purging, temperature/texture settings. 

Additionally, you can also program pre-infusion according to your demands! The machine suggests a pre-infusion timer for 8-12 seconds. The device is itself easy to program. 

Why is this machine worth every dollar? Apart from the advanced technology, it comes with a stainless tamper (other brands give you a plastic tamper+scoop), an exclusive razor, a milk jar, pressurized baskets to mind the bad grind.

Brew Timing:

The stepped brew volume is 30 seconds; the machine automatically stops when it brews 30 ml of espresso (double for two shots). The extraction duration is programmable with easy steps. You can reset the pre-programmed timer for future brews. 

To attain that, 

  • Press and hold one cup and two cups simultaneously for two seconds.
  • The buttons will lighten up and will flash.
  • Press the one-cup button to start the extraction and click the same button once the desired volume/timer is reached.
  • The machine will register this change for coming brews.
  • Follow the same steps to reset the shot volume for two cups. 
  • Brewing timing: When the machine extracts 30ml of coffee, it stops. 
  • Extraction should start at 8-12 seconds unless you reprogram pre-infusion. 

Brewing Temperature:

The max brewing temperature in this machine is 190 Degrees Fahrenheit. The device has a PID controller that regulates your extraction’s temp; it also has a thermojet heating system that heats the engine in 3 seconds. 

It’s still suggested to pre-warm your cups, portafilter, and the machine itself for a couple of minutes (10-15). You cannot manually change the brewing temperature but expect the coffee to be anywhere between 190-200 degrees Fahrenheit.

This machine naturally produces hot espressos, so make sure you calm it down to 160-180 degrees before sipping it. Too hot can burn your taste and ruin your morning. 

  • Brewing Temp: 190-200 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  • Ideal drinking temp: 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Milk Temperature: 

The milk temperature in Bambino plus is programmable to three levels. You will find the temperature button on your right and the temperature indicator just beside the button. Click the button once for the minimum milk temp and thrice for max level. 

The same goes with milk texture; it’s present right below the temperature button with three microfoam levels. It’s often regarded as too hot, and you might need to cool the drink down before sipping it. 

Pressure:

The machine has a decent 15Bars of the pump like any other Sage’s espresso machine. It uses 9Bars to extract your perfect shot. The pre-infusion period is 8-12seconds, and with the pressurized baskets, don’t worry about the bad tamp or grind! 

You can program pre-infusion according to your needs. 

  • Press and hold the one/two cups button and only release when you want to stop the pre-infusion. 
  • Bar pump: 15bars
  • Full Power extraction: 9Bars
  • Pre-infusion: 8-12 seconds (programmable)

How Noisy Is It?

It’s a small machine with minimal approaches to espresso and programmability; there’s less to no sound at all produced with the Bambino plus. The steaming wand also makes a very decent noise; it’s not harsh to the ears. 

The extraction has a pleasing purr to it, and you can enjoy your morning without the noise with this Sage Bambino Plus Espresso Machine. 

Cleaning Process:

The cleaning process for a drip tray, external storage, steaming wand, auto-cleaning, auto-descaling is pretty much the same, but with different button operations. 

To auto-clean, the machine will illuminate one cup and two cup alternately after every 200 extractions. To stop it momentarily, power down the machine. It will start blinking again after you turn it back on. 

To initiate the auto-cleaning, 

  • Insert the cleaning disc and tablet in the portafilter, fill the tank with freshwater and be ready to go. 
  • Press and hold one cup and two cup together for five seconds, both the button will illuminate to indicate the cleaning mode is one. Click either one cup or two cup to start auto-cleaning. 
  • Remove and rinse the portafilter, basket with hot water to remove residual solution. 

The machine indicates the need for descaling by blinking one cup button, steam button and two cup button alternatively. 

To initiate descaling,

  • Power down the machine.
  • With the machine off, empty the water tank and fill it to the descaling limit marked on the tank. Add descaling solution the water
  • To start descaling, make sure the power button is off. 
  • Press and hold one cup and steam button together for 5 seconds. You will enter the descaling mode. 
  • Press one cup button again to start the descaling cycle. 
  • After it’s done, rinse the tank and the outlet to remove residual solution. 

Appearance

A miniature machine to offer you boundless features at a futile cost! It’s condensed with a group and he is steaming wand. Both are in a close proximity but still easy to operate. Despite its tiny size, the machine has a big water tank as big as the Sage’s Barista addition. 

Not only this, a cup warmer at the top, five programmable buttons, a hefty drip tray with a floating device to indicate overflow, auto-purge hole and whatnot! 

The material used to build it? The body is completely stainless steel and comes in two colors, brushed stainless steel and black truffle. 

Is it digital, or does it have knobs: The machine has five programmable buttons and two indicators that indicate the temperature level, texture level and in fact, they also indicate when the water tank is not attached and when the steaming wand is ready for frothing. It does not have digital LCD screen

The location of the grinder: No grinder

The location of the portafilter: The portafilter goes in the group head, the group head is present at your left. It’s not completely at the bay, you can still see a lot of free space on the left. The portafilter is close very close to the steaming wand and titled to the center.

The location of the water reservoir: It’s present at the back of the machine covering the whole length of Bambino plus and comes with a back handle for easy exporting. 

The location of the steamer: The steamer is present to your left and is condensed close to the group head. Nonetheless, you can perform steaming right at the drip tray despite its small model. The drip tray also has a sensor to detect milk’s temperature for automatic shut-off. 

Specifications: 

  • Voltage: 220-240Volts
  • Basket size: 54mm
  • beverage size: 30 ml for one shot and 60 for two shots with 19 grams of dose.
  • Weight: 7kgs
  • Dimensions: 19 X 32 X 31 cms
  • How much water does the reservoir hold: 1.9 litres.
  • Pitcher: 16oz

7. Duo temp Pro

Dop Temp Pro is the mainstream espresso machine model that offers minimal action but an instant, programmable brew. For the price and sophisticated features, Duo Temp Pro is one of the best entry-level machines. 

It doesn’t complicate you with technicality and multiple buttons; the easy arrangements let you switch between steam and espresso effortlessly. 

There’s a button to turn on/off the machine. A dial to switch to steam or brew. Following this, there’s a select button that lets you choose between steam and hot water.  

The machine is entirely programmable; click the button to turn on the extraction and click it again to turn off the extraction. Similarly, select the dial to steam and also to turn it off. 

Additional features include pre-infusion, micro-foam milk texturing, auto-cleaning, auto-purging, PID controller to stabilize the water temperature. 

Performance

The machine is for people who are starting their Sage Espresso journey. It’s comparatively cheaper and gives what’s asked to, manual espresso shots. Duo Temp doesn’t come with stepped functions; everything is in your hand, from brewing to steaming. 

The duo temp also pre-infuses and is a slow steamer. Now, you might think slow steaming is terrible. But for a person who is just starting the milk steaming art, Duo temp pro gives the user time to get used to the steamer. You can gently learn and froth without a strong gush of continuous steam. 

Brewing Time:

The machine doesn’t automatically stop. You will have to take action. The Duo Temp manual suggests extraction of 30 seconds, including the pre-infusion. 

How to manually extract? Please turn on the machine, purge it a couple of times to heat the outlets. Next, attach the portafilter in the group head, rotate the knob to its left for brewing. You will hear the gentle sound of pre-infusion, and then the extraction will start. 

Use a coffee scale that weighs and calculates the time to note the desired settings once you extract the required shot volume. Put the dial back to the standby mode. 

  • Ideal brewing time: 25-30 seconds. 

Brewing Temp and Milk Temp

You cannot adjust the temperature with Dup temp brew; the machine will automatically heat it accordingly. You cannot change the milk temperature either with this machine. 

Pressure

Duo Temp has 15-Bars of a pump. It uses 9 bars of pressure to extract the brew for you. Duo temp also pre-infuses with 2-3 bars of pressure for even extraction.

How noisy is it?

The machine is not noisy. It extracts noiselessly, and the steamer doesn’t make a fuss either. 

Cleaning Process:

It is easy to clean with the same back flushing and descaling process as other machines. You will need to backflush the duo temp every 2-3 months. Refer to the above cleaning process to understand how to perform backflushing. 

You don’t need to program the machine for backflushing; extract espresso shot with cleaning disc and cleaning tablet inside the portafilter (don’t add coffee) 

Appearance: 

The machine has minimal functions on display, with only two buttons and a center dial to select espresso/steam choices. It’s a bigger elegant model compared to other smaller semi-automatic cheaper options. 

It is stainless steel, top to bottom (the cup warmer is a different metal). It comes with ample water storage and a more oversized drip tray to accommodate the milk jar and the espresso cup together. 

The material used to build it: The machine is entirely stainless steel with a plastic water container and internal storage box. The tamper, razor, and milk jar is stainless steel, affirming quality and longevity. 

Is it digital, or does it have knobs, buttons? Duo Temp doesn’t have a digital screen. It has two buttons, one on the right to power the machine and the other on the left, to select between hot water and steam. The center has a dial to rotate for espresso and a steaming wand. 

The location of the grinder: No grinder

The Portafilter location: The group head is present at the center of the machine and gives a lot of space to the steaming wand. Despite the low price, duo temp has an in-built tamper holder on the left. 

The steaming wand’s location: The steaming rod is present at your right and is 360 degrees rotational. You can easily use the wand to froth milk without disturbing the portafilter or the espresso shot. 

The water reservoir location: It’s present at the back of the machine and runs through the length of the device. It’s more significant compared to other machines of the same price tag. 

Specifications

  • Voltage: 220-240 Volts
  • Basket size: 54mm
  • beverage size: Uses 19 grams of ground coffee and extracts a 1:2 ratio
  • Weight: 9.2 kgs
  • Dimensions: 27.9 X 25.4 X 30
  • How much water does the reservoir hold: 1.8 liters

8. Creatista Sage Plus

This compact machine comes with many brilliant automatic functions and a high-resolution display screen with programmable choices on the machine’s top. 

Creatista Sage Plus offers many default espresso drinks, including Lungo, Cappuccino, ristretto, cafe latte, flat white, latte macchiato. Why is Creatista Sage Plus more affordable and more unique?

Creatista is a capsule machine. With this machine, you don’t need to invest in a grinder or freshly-ground coffee because the device only accepts pre-ground coffee capsules that you insert in the outlet present at the top of the machine. 

Creastista, similar to every Sage Espresso machine, steam excellent micro-foam milk. You can still adjust the temperature, texture of the coffee according to your need. So, it offers the luxury of a one-click morning cup, but you can always get crafty with the home-barista manual features. 

Performance:

The milk frothing game of this concise Creatista machine is incomparable with manual temperature adjustments and texture setup, and a temperature sensor on the drip tray. You can program everything on this machine. 

The functions are pretty straightforward, and every step is written on the creative interface. Start the machine and insert a capsule in the outlet present at your left; next, select your favorite drink from the wide variety; the screen will let you program the shot volume, milk temperature, and milk texture. 

Click the start/cancel button to initiate the extraction and click the same button to stop the manual action. You can pre-program the timer by setting a shot volume. 

Brewing time: 

You can program the brew timing by programming the shot volume. The machine can adjust between 25-60mls. Use a timer and a coffee scale to measure the brewing time according to your preferred shot volume. 

To program the shot volume, choose a coffee and press the selector dial to pick the coffee. Three options will be shown on the machines, shot volume, milk temp, and milk texture. Press select dial on shot volume and rotate the chosen dial to register a shot volume. 

To save this as your default, press the select dial again(it will keep your choice for future reference). To not save it, press the start/cancel button. 

  • Brew time: 25-30 seconds. 

Brew temperature:

Creatista Sage Plus has a fast heating up system that heats the machine in 3 seconds. You can pour your favorite cup with stabilized temperature in three seconds. 

You cannot adjust the brew temperature in this machine, but it is considered the hottest Nespresso device. 

Stepped Temperature: 190-200 degrees Fahrenheit

Ideal drinking temperature: 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit.

If your coffee has the optimal temperature of 180 degrees and still tastes sour, make sure you are using the right beans, the proper roast, right tamping, grinding, etc.

Milk temperature:

You can adjust the milk temperature on this machine depending on your needs. To do so:

  1. Select your coffee, and press the dial to display the milk temperature and texture options.
  2. Press the select dial repeatedly to adjust the milk temperature.
  3. Rotate the dial to increase or decrease the temperature, press select dial again to save the changes. 

Creatista Sage Plus offers eleven adjustable milk temperature; you can adjust from 53 degrees celsius to 76 degrees celsius (133-168 degrees Fahrenheit)

  • The milk texture has eight levels (2-30mm)
  • Milk temp: 133-168 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Pressure

Unlike other Sage high-advanced machines, creates has a 19Bars of pump pressure to extract the best out of those pre-ground capsules. 

How noisy is it?

The machine does make noise while extracting and milk frothing. The extraction noise is subtle, but you can still hear it properly. The steaming wand creates weird noises while foaming the milk, but given Sage’s microfoam, the noise is worth it! 

Cleaning Process

The machine is small, and you might need to pay extra attention while cleaning because there can be many isolated areas. Pay extra attention while using the smaller drip stand for smaller cups. An additional small cup might lead to a messy drip all over the machine. 

The machine’s settings will guide you through descaling and auto-cleaning. Activate auto-cleaning every month to keep the wand’s pores unclogged and the internal fresh as a daisy. 

To auto-purge and descale, rotate the dialer until the screen reads maintenance, select by pressing the dialer. Then turn again to navigate to steam wand cleaning and descaling, press the dial again to initiate the process.

Empty the drip tray, water tank, and capsule container every day. Do not use harsh detergent on the body of the machine! 

The steaming wand auto-purges after every use. Make sure to clean it with a damp cloth before purging. 

Appearance:

I love the small interior; it doesn’t crowd your kitchen and can beautifully adjust on the counter. Its cylindrical body is gorgeous, utterly stainless steel; it shines beautifully. 

The design is elegant, with a capsule outlet and display screen at the top. A single minimal button and illuminating dial. Despite its small size, you can accommodate the espresso cup (small) and the milk jar together on the machine. 

You will find two colors for this machine as usual- the brushed stainless steel and black truffle. (The Breville manufacturer more color varieties)

The material to build this machine: Stainless steel, and it comes with aluminum capsules, stainless steel jug. 

Is it digital, or does it have knobs and buttons: This machine has a unique interface, it’s not a touch screen, but the display has creative visuals that can be controlled with a single button and a dial. These two are present right below the display screen on the top. 

Coffee Capsules: This machine doesn’t require freshly-ground coffee. You will need to buy capsules from Nespresso or other brands for the coffee. Sage Creatista Plus comes with free Nespresso pods to enjoy different tastes. 

The location of the portafilter? This machine doesn’t require a portafilter and thereby lacks a group head. Instead, there’s an extraction outlet that directly pours the coffee into the cup. This outlet is present on your left. 

The water reservoir location: It’s present at the back of the machine and runs along the length of the device. The water tank has a cylindrical view from the end. 

The location of the steamer: The steamer is present at your right. Due to the condensed body, it’s very close and compact to the extraction outlet. The wand is significant, and there’s a temperature sensor on the drip tray to measure the machine’s temperature.

Specifications:

  • Voltage: 220-240Volts
  • Basket Size: It doesn’t have one. 
  • beverage size: Three programmable cup sizes- 25, 40, 110ml
  • Weight: 5.2 kgs
  • Dimensions: 16.8 X 41.4 X 31 cms
  • How much water does the reservoir hold: 1.5 liters.

9. Creatista Sage Pro

If you are looking for a high-defined machine at a pro-level, Creatista Sage pro is your machine with automatic milk frothing and a thermojet that allows you to brew and froth milk at the same time! 

Not only this, Creatista is a smart-Nespresso+Sage capsule coffee machine. Yes, it comes with a touch screen; you perform every program and command automation with comfortable touch! 

Compared to other dual boilers, this machine comes to you a half or even less the price! It’s a cheap, high-end, automatic, programmable machine; the features are in abundance. 

Its sleek metal body compliments your kitchen counter with technology and superiority. If you are someone who enjoys capsule coffees, this machine gives you it all! The Sage’s automatic steaming wand is incomparable; it can beat Aeroccino without a blink! 

Performance

Creatista Pro is a fully-automatic machine! You can touch the button and get instant coffee brews and steamed milk together. To operate this machine, turn on the power button; it’s present at the top of the touch screen on your right. 

An excellent feature of the Creatista Pro touch screen is that it lets you decide the language. The instructions can be given in many languages and not just English. Anyways, once the power button is on, insert a capsule in the capsule outlet. Swipe between the eight pre-programmed coffees and program accordingly.

The machine allows you to adjust shot volume, milk temperature, milk texture. Touch on the desired coffee, the screen will show two options: a coffee cup (+,-) that will adjust volume and a milk jar with a thermometer sign. Tap to change either of the settings. 

Brew timing:

You can adjust the brewing timing by adjusting the brewing volume. This machine offers many brews and thus a lot of hot water volume (upto 200ml), brew volume (upto 130 ml)

  • For espresso, Creatista pro offers 30-70mls
  • For Lungo: it offers 70-130mls.
  • For ristretto: 10-30mls. 
  • Milk coffees: 10-130mls

You can easily adjust these settings from the touch screen. For instance, if you want an espresso, swipe up and down to navigate to the espresso. Touch the espresso, and you will be presented with two options: milk volume and milk temp. Increase or decrease the volume. 

Use a timer to brew your shot volume at the tip of your finger.

Brewing temperature: 

The machine doesn’t allow you to adjust the brewing temperature and does it automatically for you. As long as your thermometer reads 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s good to go! Creatista Pro does have a 3 seconds heat-up system, and you can brew instantly without waiting. 

Moreover, its thermojet heating system allows the machine to brew and steam simultaneously. 

Milk Temperature

To adjust the milk temperature, select the coffee you’d like, and the screen will lead you to the manual settings, touch the milk jar option shown right below the cup and reset the temp/texture. 

You can adjust the temperature between 50 degrees Celsius to 76 degrees with eleven levels. The milk temp is moderate in the machine, and it teams excellent milk. 

Pressure:

Every Nespresso+Sage Creatista capsule machine offers 19bars of the pump. You don’t need pre-infusion with the device because it doesn’t brew in the portafilter. 

How noisy is it?

The machine doesn’t make much noise. There’s gentle pouring when releasing water for an americano/ Lungo. The steaming wand does make a considerable amount of noise, but it reduces down as the milk volumes up. The extraction is pretty smooth and calm.

Cleaning Process:

The descaling and the auto-cleaning process is simple, and you can easily follow the steps shown on the touch screen. The menu option will lead you to descale and steam wand clean up.

Empty the drip tray, used capsule container, and the water tank every day. Start with a fresh and clean machine and items. 

Appearance

Creatista Pro has elegance and a precise finish at every angle. The machine is minimal with every setting inside of the touch screen. The touch screen is present at your right; it’s a big screen and almost look like a mobile phone (lengthwise) 

There’s a lever on the left that caps the capsule outlet. After brewing, reopening the lever again ejects the used capsule in the bin present right below. The extraction outlet is present at your left, and the milk foaming wand is present at the right. There’s enough space to extract and foam milk together at the same drip tray. 

Make sure you put the milk jar on the sensor provided in the drip tray. Moving forward, the design is entirely stainless steel, and as of now, you will find this in only one color: stainless steel. 

The material used to build it: As mentioned, the machine’s body is made of stainless steel and comes with a milk jar. 

Is it digital, or does it have knobs and button: This is a smart-Nespresso espresso machine and has a big touch screen to operate it. A single power button is present at the top. 

The location of the grinder: No grinder, no tamper, no portafilter, or group head. The extraction outlet is present at your left with a clickable small cup holder just below (between the drip tray and the outlet, you click it out and click it back in the machine)

The water reservoir location: The water tank is present at the back and runs along the machine’s length. It’s pretty spacious for the miniature size of the device. 

The location of the steamer: The steamer is present at your right 

Specifications

  • Voltage: 220-240
  • Basket size: no basket
  • beverage size: It offers many beverages ranging upto 130mls
  • Weight: 6.65kgs
  • Dimensions: 25.1 X 41.8 X 49.9
  • How much water does the reservoir hold: 2 liters

10. Creatista Sage Uno

Another beautifully designed model in the Nespresso line is Creatista Sage Uno. Its black sesame body is compact and fits beautifully and concisely on the kitchen counter. 

With buttoned functionality, Creatista Uno offers automatic steaming with three adjustable temperature settings, espresso, lungo, Ristretto (three cup sizes), three milk texture controls, cleaning, and descaling alerts. For its price, Sage’s automatic steaming wand is a big plus on the hit list.  

The automatic milk wand is powered by a fast heating up system that heats the course in 3 seconds. The machine also offers auto cleaning functionality; it auto-purges the steaming rod after every use. 

Performance

The machine brews excellent coffee with Nespresso capsules. It’s easy to operate, and you can program the device as well with side-hand automation. To turn on the machine, you can press any of the four buttons: Ristretto, lungo, espresso, or steam. 

Once done, position a milk jar with milk under the steaming wand above the sensor (make sure the jug touches the sensor to detect temperature.) Next, choose the cup size and press the button, the machine will start extraction. First, steam, select the temperature (small buttons) and the milk texture(little control) positioned above the steaming button and press the steam button. 

Brewing Time: 

The brewing time can be adjusted with the brew volume. This machine offers three cup sizes: Ristretto (extra small shot), espresso (a typical shot), and lungo (a big cup)

  • Small shot: 25ml
  • Espresso shot: 40ml
  • Lungo: 110ml

To manually change this volume, insert the capsule, press and hold the cup size button you want to extract, hold until the timer reaches the desired time and weight, release the button to register the new settings. 

Milk Temperature:

You can adjust the milk temperature in this machine as well! The programmability options are abundant! There’s a button to adjust the temperature with three levels. Click the button thrice for max temp and once for low temp. 

You can also texture the milk with three max levels to brew different milk-beverages along with the milk temp.

Pressure:

The machine uses 19bars of the pump to extract rich-flavored espresso and espresso-based drinks.

How noisy is it?

The machine does make a fair share of noise. The one thing that I noticed in this machine is that the extraction is loud as well. It’s pretty evident that the device is extracting.

The steaming wand is also noisy, you can hear weird sounds throughout the session, but it’s thoroughly validating. 

Cleaning process:

This Creatista Uno comes with two indicators: descaling requirements and the other steam wand cleaning. Both these indicators are present at the top of the buttons. They will illuminate when there’s a need for cleaning. 

Steam wand: The steamer auto-purges itself after every use to remove residual milk. Nonetheless, if the pores are clogged, you can use the steam cleaning needle present at the back of the machine below the water tank. 

  • Unscrew the steaming tip and unclog the holes with the needle. 
  • Use the same needle to unscrew the tip’s cap. 
  • Rinse the steaming wand in hot water, and dry pat them. (Don’t wash it in the dishwasher.)
  • Put them back together, and it’s ready to go!

Descaling:

  1. When the descaling light brightens up, turn off your machine.
  2. Empty the used-capsules container, the drip tray, and the water tank.
  3. Fill the water tank with a descaling solution (500 ml of water with a descaling sachet).
  4. Put a 1 liter of the container above the drip tray before starting. 

To turn on the descaling process, press and hold the Ristretto and the steam button for five seconds. You will enter the mode when both the buttons illuminate brightly. Press the ristretto button to start the cycle. 

  • The milk frothing level will indicate the levels of descaling. All three measurements illuminating will mean the machine is descaling
  • Two illuminating means first rinse cycle
  • One illuminating means last rinse cycle
  • Discard the solution and rinse the water tank once done. 
  • Fill in the water tank and flush the machine’s inlets and outlets by clicking the Ristretto or steam button.
  • Empty and rinse the water tank and drip tray. 

For other parts of the machine, use a dry cloth to mop the device dry. DOn’t use abrasive cleaners and do not wash pieces in the dishwasher. 

Appearance

Creatista Uno comes in a single color. Unlike other machines, the body of Creatista Uno is made of plastic, which can be a downside for people who’d want stainless steel, but if you can avoid the fact, Creatista doesn’t lack while availing features. 

Despite its plastic exterior, Creatista Uno looks beautiful and fits perfectly on your kitchen counter. The machine’s size is small but not suffocating; you can place the extraction cup with the milk jug without disturbing each other. 

The buttons, capsule outlet, and the lever are present at the top with two illuminating highlighters. Overall, the machine is put together smartly!

The material used to build it: The machine is made of glossy in-mold plastic and satin in-mold plastic backflush. Creatista Uno will come with a stainless steel milk jug and aluminum capsules.  

Is it digital, or does it have knobs and buttons: The machine does not have a digital display. Still, it does come with six functional illuminating buttons- two rows of three buttons sitting beautifully on the machine’s top. One row has Ristretto, espresso, and lungo. The other has two smaller buttons to adjust the milk temp and texture, followed by a steam button. 

The location of the capsule outlet and lever: the capsule outlet is present at the top left. It’s closed by a beautiful lever. You can also use the lever to discard used capsules by opening-closing them again once extraction is done. 

The extraction outlet location: Like every other Creatista invention, the extraction outlet is present at the top left. There’s a lot of space between the extraction outlet and the drip tray to accommodate different sized cups. For a smaller cup, there’s a little drip tray midway; you can click it out. 

The location of the reservoir: It’s present at the back and runs along with the machine. The water reservoir is transparent, unlike the body’s exterior. 

The steamer’s location: The steamer is present at your right and runs half the length of the machine. 

Specification

  • Voltage: 220-240volts
  • Basket size: No baskets
  • beverage size: ristretto, espresso, and lungo (25ml, 40mls, 110 ml)
  • Weight: 5.2kgs
  • Dimensions: 16.8 X 41.4 X 31cms
  • How much water does the reservoir hold: 1.5litres
  • Used-capsule container: 12 capsules. 
The owner of Coffee semantics Breville/Sage coffee machine sitting on his coffee bar
This is my Breville/Sage Oracle- it is by far the best cofffee machine I have ever owned

Home Barista Semi-Automatic Sage Coffee Machines

There is a certain amount of pleasure controlling your brew’s adjustment like temperature, grind size, tamping, dosing, pressuring, and extracting duration.

The sheer amount of effort that goes into brewing a single cup is worth the accolades you’ll get from your loved ones.

Brewing coffee is not just a simple hobby; it’s artistic and cultural. The morning ritual of grinding and brewing requires utmost concentration, time, and effort. 

If your clock allows you to embrace the coffee-making process and your heart contempts a luxurious, self-brewed coffee, Home Barista Espresso Machines are for you. 

These semi-automatic machines are programmable with countless automation. It allows you to design the flavor of your cup with personal preference.

You can self-grind beans, decide the preferred grind size, select the dosing, tamp the ground, pump the pressure, set the timer, froth the milk with minimal automation. 

Bean-to-cup Sage Coffee Machine

The constant routine of investing 10-15 minutes every morning to brew a single cup of espresso can get overwhelming when you are short on time.

The need and time it takes to grind, tamp, infuse, and pressurize are not things everyone can afford.

Assuming that you want a perfect espresso brew without having to go to the lengths of understanding the technical terms and science behind espresso machines and their adjustments, the precise pick for you would be Sage super-automatic coffee espresso machines. 

Sage And Nespresso Capsule Coffee Machines

Sometimes, grinding can be a heavy chore that consumes time and makes eerie noises disturbing your already confined time and schedule. To limit the existence of grinders, Nespresso and Sage manufacturers together invented high-technology capsule machines. 

These machines come with pre-packed ground coffee capsules that you can insert to brew your coffee instantly.

These all-steel models provide elegance in every aspect. Its design comprises touch display/button controls on the top of the body—two adjustable settings to accommodate smaller and bigger cups.  

Why are Sage-Nespresso Coffee Capsule Machines Superior?

  • It has a dual boiler that steams and extracts shots together. 
  • Touch screen to select your favorite brew. 
  • Adjustable temperature and textures. 
  • You can now save your favorite brew in the menu of Creatista Pro. 
  • All-steel body to provide elegance.
  • Sage’s automatic milk frothing technique. 

Are Breville And Sage coffee machines the same?

Yes, Breville and Sage Coffee machines are the same but from different countries. The Coffee machines run throughout the world with the same brand name, ‘Breville’ except for the UK. 

The UK changed Breville’s name to Sage coffee machines because it already had a Breville-named small company selling goods. To respect the separate company’s copyright, the UK suggested a change of name for the Breville brand, that’s Sage. 

Sage has a deep meaning that translates to being wise. This name profoundly suits the barista-level coffee machines and other custom appliances. 

The real difference that you’d witness between Breville US and Sage UK is the price tag. UK Sage products can charge a whopping amount compared to the Breville products. It doesn’t necessarily mean a quality difference but a manufacturing one. 

Although Breville and Sage are both the same brand, they are both manufactured in different countries and thus the price difference. Manufacturers update certain expectations in a machine that might change its algorithm, thereby the money, but it can significantly depend on other reasons. 

Also, Sage is developed by Heston Bluementhal; he’s a celebrity, making Sage’s an exclusive and renowned brand. 

If you are checking the prices on Amazon, you will see a vast difference due to a number of reasons:

  • The charges shown on the screen do not include taxes and delivery charges. The delivery charges can sum up a significant amount when you talk about international boundaries. 
  • Since Breville is an Australian brand, it’s cheaper in the country, but the franchise prices double up while being exported to a different manufacturer. In this case, the developer is Heston Bluementhal; he is a chef celebrity.
  • Choosing a vendor is equally important since the prices increase with every changed vendor. Try to order directly from the manufacturing company or the locale prestige store, or the direct website. You will see a lot more difference in the price tags while choosing the vendor correctly. 

Don’t confuse between various Sage/Breville Brands; while most of their machines look similar, they have different in-built features for every other device. 

The Sage prices can range anywhere from $300 to $2000. Especially, do not confuse between Sage Oracle Touch, Barista Touch, Sage Oracle Original, Sage Barista pro, Sage Dual boiler, Barista express. We have talked about every difference and detail in this post! 

What is sage by Heston Blumenthal?

Sage is a range of appliances comprising a list of advanced kitchen equipment. Sage develops coffee makers, espresso/Nespresso machines and bluicers, juicers, blenders, bread makers, food processors, tea kettles, ovens, cookers, etc. 

Heston Blumenthal is a UK celebrity Chef who is endeavored for his culinary skills and scientific approaches towards kitchen appliances. With his extreme scientific capacity, Blumenthal has invented many great machines to cook the best food worldwide. Not only are the coffee machines advanced, but every invention by Heston has been a super hit! 

Sage by Heston Blumenthal is an award-winning kitchen appliance company that gives ease to your home’s comfort. The technology and the mind behind this series create the best blend of food and science. 

Which Espresso Machine Is Best For you?

There is a lot of science that goes behind while designing an espresso machine. The variables are countless. Each Sage Espresso and Nespresso Machine will offer you a variety of features and technology. There are four scientific conclusions to espresso machines. 

A semi-automatic machine, fully automatic machine, super-automatic machine, and Creatista pod machine. Each machine has meaningful features that the other cannot beat. Depending on your needs, we’ll help you choose wisely which technical espresso machine is for you! 

Semi-Automatic Machines

Semi-automatic machines are half-automatic and half programmable. You can program your coffee with a couple of automatic functions like pre-infusion or pressurizing the water. 

Most of Sage’s Espresso machines are semi-automatic and yet provide full automation. That is, you can expect almost all the automatic options and still have the privilege to program the machine. 

Such is the case and quality of Sage appliances. While they might seem expensive, if you look at the vast diversity of functions and technology they provide, it’s worth it! 

While comparing similar priced semi-automatic machines, you will find out that Sage furnishes the most desirable features. Unlike other brands, its frame is stainless steel giving you elegance and promising you a long life companionship. The tamper is of high quality, accompanied by a razor. You also receive a free milk jar.

No matter the price, the machines will have a PID controller and thermojet heater to control the temperature and heat the system pretty fast. 

Any sage semi-automatic espresso machine will give you more than what it takes. From auto-cleaning to multiple temperature options, more significant and beautiful bodies, it’s a machine to afford. 

Sage Semi-Automatic machines range from $300- $2000. Please note: Every sage espresso machine will give you programmable features. 

Pros:

  • PID controller
  • Thermojet heater
  • Big water reservoir despite the minimal body
  • Programmability
  • Auto-cleaning and purging of the steaming wand

Cons:

  • No automatic frothing.
  • An authentic cheaper Sage Semi will consume time. 
  • You will have to invest a lot of time while brewing. 
  • It will have fewer features compared to other super-automatic machines.

Fully-Automatic Espresso Machine

Get the privilege to drink a coffee right from the click. Fully-automatic machines will brew and froth for you! On the other hand, it will still give you the freedom to grind because fully-automatic machines do not come with an in-built grinder. 

Along with grinding, you will also tamp the ground. If you are looking for effortless- one-touch coffees yet an automatic milk steaming morning, fully-automatic espresso machines can give you many entertaining programs. 

This machine is for people who already own a grinder and a quality tamper. With Sage’s fully automatic machines, you get a quality stainless steel tamper and an exclusive razor, which is rare in other brands. THE SERVICE!

Also, if you are someone who hasn’t leveled up the milk steaming techniques, fully-automatic machines will do it for you! Sage foams are the best micro-foams ever witnessed! 

Pros:

  • Get the coffee with a single touch!
  • Whole steamed milk without the hassle or the science.
  • Sage’s every automatic machine programmable.

Cons:

  • You do not get a grinder and an auto-tamping pleasure. You will have to dose and tamp the grinds manually.
  • Apart from sage’s full automation machines, other fully-automatic brands do not provide programmability. Fortunately, if you buy a sage’s espresso machine, you get both automation and programmability. So, you can switch from being a home-barista to a busy person who wants instant coffee in split seconds. Your Monday will be quick, and your Sundays will be brewed-filled with Sage. 

Sage’s Super-Automatic machine

The most advanced science behind espresso machines can only be found in Sage’s super-automatic additions with automation at every stage and yet programmability. Such is its delicate science. 

There’s no comparison when it comes to sage’s super-automatic technique. The variety is abundant wherever direction you go. 

Super-automatic machines can also be called bean-to-cup machines because they come with an in-built grinder that grinds, auto-doses, and tamps your coffee. 

As discussed, super-automatic machines froth milk automatically and produce the best microfoam milk! You can still program every option labeled on the screen! Upgrading its game on a newer level, Sage now has smart-espresso machines with a touch screen to choose, automate, add, and process your coffee. 

Pros

  • Automation at every stage
  • The machine auto-tamps, doses, brews perfect espressos.
  • Best milk frothing.
  • Dual Boiler, i.e., you froth and extract together.
  • Quick heat up with thermojet.
  • Many programmable options with automation.

Cons

  • The machine auto-doses, which can be a negative if you don’t want the exact amount. It leads to a lot of coffee wastage!
  • Auto-tamps! It can be damaging, too, because some people prefer automatic machines and yet want to have the privilege of manual tamping. Manual tamping can outlive automatic tamp, true!
  • It will auto-froth with little to adjust; you can change the temperature and the texture, but nothing more than that.

Creatista Pod Machines

Do you want a super-automatic machine that costs half the amount of super-automatic machines and takes less time to brew your coffee? I present to you the mini super-automatic, grinder-less Nespresso+Sage’s Creatista Pod machines. 

Nespresso machines do not need a grinder or freshly ground beans. It uses pre-packed coffee capsules to brew your fast morning espresso cup. That’s right; you don’t need to spend time grinding, very busy, eh? Sage has the solution! 

These smart-Creatista pods come with a touch screen, automatic steaming wand, and automatic brewing. Just dial the buttons and enjoy your favorite cup.

Pros:

  • Cheaper.
  • Faster.
  • Advanced technology.
  • Automatic functions.
  • Doesn’t require a grinder.
  • Thermojet

Cons

  • You cannot use freshly ground beans unless you invest in reusable pods. The freshness is still lost.
  • The body is small, will brew less. 
  • Congested exterior. 

Who are these machines not meant for?

Sage Oracle Touch, Sage Oracle Original, might not be the espresso machine for you:

  • If you are on a tight budget and cannot invest $1000-$2000 on a coffee machine yet! 
  • If you do not enjoy auto-dosing, auto-milk and auto-tamping. This machine won’t let you dose, tamp, or froth. 
  • If you already have an efficient grinder, don’t invest in expensive in-built grinders. 

Dual Boiler is not for you if

  • If you are tight on a budget. 
  • If you want an inbuilt grinder.
  • If you do not mind extracting and steaming at different times (Dual boiler is expensive because it has dual boiler to steam and extract simultaneously)
  • If you want auto-tamping and auto-dosing.

Barista Touch and Barista Express is not for you:

  • If you already have a grinder.
  • If you want auto-tamping and auto-dosing
  • Barista Express doesn’t come with a touch screen.
  • Barista Touch doesn’t come with buttons
  • Barista Touch doesn’t allow you manual frothing. Barista Express doesn’t allow you automatic steaming.
  • If you want bigger models
  • If you want bigger water tanks

Bambino is not for you if you:

  • If you want to manually froth the milk’.
  • If you want instant coffees.
  • If you want a bigger machine with a bigger drip tray.

Duo Temp is not for you:

  • If you want a lot of programmable options. 
  • If you prefer concise model
  • Duo temp doesn’t auto-milk.
  • It’s an entry-level machine with basic features. 

Creatista Sage Pro are not for you:

  • If you’re on a tight budget.
  • If you want to brew fresh coffee.
  • Creatista pro comes with an automatic wand. Some people prefer manual frothing.
  • It’s completely automatic. 
  • The machine has a touch screen. 
  • Thermojet.

Creatista Plus and Uno:

  • They use capsules to brew coffee. You cannot brew fresh coffee.
  • Creatista Uno has a plastic body
  • They are small. 
  • Creatista uno doesn’t have an automatic steamer.
  • They do not have thermojet to froth and extract together. 

What should you look for in a quality espresso machine?

When there’s a comparison between machines, it’s not necessary that both the devices are wrong products or of low quality. This comparison tells you about the features of both the devices and which one you would want for yourself. 

The Eleven beautiful Sage machines are no less than one another; they have different builds, different features to satisfy various consumers. The question is, what features would you want badly in an espresso machine, and what features you wouldn’t mind not having. 

A couple of deciding factors to look out for that will support your budget:

Grinder or no grinder: Do you want an in-built grinder, or do you already have one? If you don’t want an in-built grinder in your espresso machine but want the advanced technology Sage offers, go with the dual boiler. 

Dual boiler or no Dual boiler: Do you want dual boilers, or are you perfectly fine extracting and steaming at different times? Dual boilers can be an expensive addition; it doubles your machine’s cost. If you can avoid the unavailability of dual boilers; Barista express, barista pro, barista touch are perfect. 

All three machines are equipped with advanced technology. If you want an easy entry-level machine, bambino plus is an excellent choice as well.

Touch or no touch screen: Touch screen is an expensive addition to espresso machines. Would you do just fine by handling the buttons, knobs, a digital screen, then why hurt your budget? 

  • The digital version of Oracle Touch is Oracle original.
  • The digital version of Barista touch is Barista express and Barista Pro. 
  • The digital version of Creastila pro is Creatista Plus.

Automatic Or Programmable Machine: Automatic milk frothing, automatic dosing, automatic tamping: Automatic machines are costly. If you would instead want the manual functions and can afford a couple of minutes to brew, why invest in an expensive automatic machine? 

For more features and no automatic milk frothing, go with barista express and barista pro. 

Auto dosing or no auto-dosing and tamping: Some people still prefer manual dosing because that will conserve coffee and manual tamping is undeniably fine. If you enjoy manual actions, don’t pay more than the amount you should, buy barista express, barista pro, barista touch, dual boiler(expensive), and bambino. 

Fresh ground coffee or pre-ground coffee: If you can avoid the freshly ground requirement of the perfect brew, then Nespresso+Sage’s capsule machine is much cheaper, along with a touch screen, dual boiler, instant automatic coffee. You will only ever be paying ⅓ of the Sage oracle machine’s actual price with the same features but no grinder or freshly ground coffee. 

Are Sage Coffee machines any good

There’s always the downfall of the price tag, despite the multiple features, $2000 is an immense amount to pay for morning cups. The deciding factor is your budget limit. Does it fall in your budget, or is it worth paying dollars for an entry-level machine?

Sage develops entry-level espresso machines; it’s not even for commercial usage. So, is it the right choice? Yes and No. 

Yes, because every feature that Sage offers is exclusive to the brand, and you wouldn’t find this advanced technology accomplished with excellent service anywhere else. Plus, Sage believes in very detailed orientation; every small visualization, craft, and tech of this machine is keenly studied and built. 

I have seen fair-share numbers of entry-level espresso machines, and nothing matches the efficiency of Sage appliances. The insignificantly significant tamper is of quality, they invest in a razor, and although this sounds petty, nobody can defy the importance of the perfect tamp! 

Fortunately, Sage starts with a price tag of $300 (offers may give you a great deal). If you cannot go with a magnificent Sage oracle, bambino plus equally provides tempting espresso shots. 

There are Eleven creative choices for you to choose from and each machine gives you decent features as discussed above (budget-wise), pick the machine that best suits your preference and the budget!

Which is the best Sage coffee machine

With Sage, there’s no worse coffee machine. You get different features with different devices. Thus, the preferred sage device for you would depend on the features that you’d want. 

Universally for an entry-level machine that fits your budget, entertains you with multiple functions, offers many autonomic functions, Sage, the BAMBINO PLUS, is hands down the best Sage machine if you are starting your Sage journey!

Why is Bambino Plus the best?

  • First of all, it’s affordable. 
  • Second, it has automatic frothing, and Sage has the best automatic steaming wand. So, you get what Sage is highly known for or at a much lower price. 
  • It’s small, doesn’t complicate you with multiple settings, and offers programmability and automation together. 

What is the best machine for home use?

A semi-automatic machine is considered and recommended by professional baristas to try out your coffee brewing skills. A semi-automatic machine will give you automation along with the freedom to brew your textured coffee. 

This machine allows you to set the volume, temperature, pre-infusion(sometimes), milk frothing, and tamping. Semi-automatic machines are entry-level espresso machines to practice your coffee game right at home. They are affordable, easy to store on the counter, very intimate since it’s a home device.

If you enjoy brewing art as a creative morning ritual, then semi-automatic machines will be the perfect choice for you, given the flexibility it provides. 

These semi-automatic machines do not have an in-built grinder. Still, please remember that every Sage’s Espresso machine can be considered semi-automatic because they allow programmability despite the automatic options. (except Nespresso) 

  • Affordable
  • Automation and yet programmable
  • Play the real barista at home.