Sage Coffee Machine | Complete Buying Guide 2021

Here at Balance, we are huge fans of Sage coffee machines. Using a Sage Espresso Machine is an incredible way to create world-class coffee right in the comfort of your own home. When paired with a beautiful speciality coffee, you’re onto a winner!

However, there are so many questions you need to ask when it comes to choosing and maintaining one of these fancy home coffee machines. In this post, we are going to be answering the most commonly-asked questions when it comes to Sage espresso machines.

Choosing a Sage Coffee Machine

Which coffee machine should you buy?

There are lots of different Sage machines to choose from, so it’s difficult to know which machine would work perfectly in your kitchen and your life! We’re here to help you decide which Sage machine will be the best fit for your needs.

sage-coffee-machines

Machine Size / Counter Space:

First of all, you need to think about space. If you’re upgrading from a piece of filter brewing equipment like a Cafetiere or a Moka pot, then the range of Sage coffee machines tend to be much larger by comparison. Another consideration you’ll need to think about is whether you choose a machine that has a Sage machine which has a built in grinder or one which is independent from the machine. The former has space saving benefits whereas, the latter is generally better for quality and consistency.

Finally, make sure you’ve got approval from your loved ones or friends first – sending back a brand new espresso machine won’t be fun. Measuring out your counter space is the most important first step to buying your sage coffee machine for home.

Here’s a list of the Sage coffee machines based on their dimensions and prices, approximately from smallest to largest.

1. The Sage Bambino Plus
Dimensions (cm) : H 45.4 x W 37.3 x D 39.2cm
Price: £399.95

2. The Sage Barista Pro
Dimensions (cm): H 45.4 x W 37.3 x D 39.2cm
Price: £699.95

3. Sage Dual Boiler 
Dimensions (cm) : H 37.3 x W 40.5 x D 37.7cm
Price: £1199.95

4. Sage Oracle Touch
Price: £1999.95
Dimensions (cm): H 45.4 x W 37.3 x D 39.2cm

Next up, we suggest thinking about how you prefer to drink coffee and what Sage machine might cater best to this:

Coffee Beginner? If you’re just dipping your toes into the home barista world, then the The Bambino Plus is probably the one you should go for. Moderately priced, fast heat up it’s a sure fire starting machine. The one downside to the Bambino Plus model is that it doesn’t include a coffee grinder. You’ll need to buy pre-ground coffee ground for espresso or instead grab yourself a separate grinder (more on grinders below).

Budding home barista? If espresso is your one true love, then the Sage Barista Express Coffee machine might your dream machine. This machine is known for its compact footprint and easy to grind and brewing, with assisted steaming using the temperature control milk jug.

Espresso Fiend? You’ll certainly impress your mates with the Sage Barista Pro as the name suggests, takes your coffee game to the next level as a pro. With espresso shot temperature adjustment, a built-in grinder and a powerful steam wand, it’s a great solution for the price to level up your coffee at home. Check out our unboxing video of the Barista Pro below.

Speed demon? If speed is of the essence and you like automation, then the Sage Oracle Touch Espresso Machine is your best bet. With this machine, you can add whole beans straight to the hopper, select your favourite drink from the touchscreen, and it’ll make it quickly for you. There’s no faff here!

The Cream of the Crop: Finally, the Sage Dual Boiler Espresso Machine is perfect for baristas who want to experiment and generally geek out about how temperature affects espresso and how to create the perfect espresso shot.

Filter coffee connoisseur: If you love a filter coffee, then the Sage Precision Brewer might be the best for you. There are many unique brewing modes which you can adjust further, such as changing the bloom time, flow rate or brewing temperature. There’s even an adaptor that will allow you to brew a pour-over coffee!

Finally, it’s also essential to compare prices. The Sage Bambino Plus is the most affordable option available (currently priced around £399), but it doesn’t come with a built-in coffee grinder. This means that if you want to grind your beans yourself, you’ll have to buy a coffee grinder separately or buy ground coffee (but we don’t recommend that). By contrast, a machine like the Sage Oracle has it all; a built-in bean grinder with automatic dosing and tamping, and provides automatic milk texturing. But this is a much pricier model, as it’s up at £1999.95. Your machine is your investment and your choice so we’ll leave that decision up to you. If you want any personalised advice, please email us on info@balancecoffee.co.uk, our team will be happy to answer any questions.

Where should I buy a Sage Coffee machine?

You can actually buy a Sage machine from us! However, wherever you buy your machine from, make sure that it includes the 2 year repair, replace or refund guarantee (which is given at the sole discretion of Sage Appliances).

Can I Buy Now and Pay Later on a Sage Espresso Machine?

Yes, we partner with the popular Clearpay for all buy now pay later purchases. It’s safe and secure and a great way to get that home coffee machine today and pay it back later without any interest.

sage-barista-pro-review

Do I need to buy a grinder with my Sage Coffee Machine?

If you’re looking to purchase either the Sage Bambino Pro or the Sage Dual Boiler models then we highly recommended it. Ground coffee deteriorates pretty quickly after its ground, unfortunately that’s just the nature of coffee as a product. If you want the best possible coffee experience you can get, invest in one of the Sage coffee grinders below and so that you can choose wholebean when you buy coffee online to ensure you get that perfect cup.

1. The Smart Grinder Pro by Sage

The Smart Grinder Pro by Sage

2. The Dose Control pro by Sage

Sage Coffee Grinder – The Dose Control Pro

How to use a Sage Coffee Machine?

Purchasing your new machine can be really exciting, but learning how to use it correctly is the really exciting part. What could be better than making coffee at home, just like your barista made it?

First of all, you’ll need to master the art of your favourite drinks. We’ve written some blog posts that cover all the basics, so you can make all the drinks for your friends and family.

How to clean a Sage coffee machine?

While some Sage coffee machines vary, many share similar designs and features and therefore can be cleaned similarly. (However please do check the instructions for your coffee machine before cleaning!) Helpfully, many of the Sage coffee machines use a similar cleaning practise. For example, models with a display have the message ‘Clean Me’, when that comes on when you need to do just that. This indicates that you need to run a flush-back cycle, which basically means that your machine will build up pressurised water (combined with a cleaning tablet) which will clean the internal workings of the machine. Your espresso machine will come with detailed instructions on how to do this.

Want to delve further into how to clean a sage machine? We’ve pulled together a tonne of useful tips to make sure you know how to keep your machine sparking and more importantly, to ensure you maintain tasty espresso all year round.

However, there are also other areas of your coffee machine that will need to be cleaned regularly. For example, the drip tray will show an ‘Empty Me’ sign whenever it is filled with water. Simply pour the water out and clean the tray. Another part of your machine that will need to be cleaned regularly is the knock-box (this is the box that you hit used coffee grounds into). You can throw the grounds in the bin or on top of flower beds.

How to descale a Sage coffee machine?

sage-descale-cleaner

It’s worth noting that the standard cleaning cycle does not descale your Sage coffee machine, so you’ll need to know how to do this as well. This is a pretty simple process as you enter a descale cycle and follow the instructions. Each machine is slightly different, so make sure you follow your Sage machine instructions to guide you through it. Luckily, we’ve produced and in depth cleaning guide so you can learn how to descale your sage coffee machine at home (we even created a how-to video).

Sage recommends that if you live in an area where water hardness is a level 4, you should clean your machine every 90 days. If you live in a level 6 area, you should clean it every 60 days. (You can find out your water hardness level with this website.)

Sage Espresso Machine FAQs

How can you reset a Sage coffee machine?

If you’re unhappy with your current settings on your coffee machine (such as the shot volumes or water temperature) you can easily reset them. Hold the programme button until the machine beeps three times, and then release the button. That’s all you need to do to go back to the default settings!

What is the best grind size for a Sage espresso machine?

All espresso machines use a fine grind setting. If you don’t have a grinder for your machine, you can find an espresso grind for all of our coffees.

We hope that answers many of your questions about Sage however, if you have more. Reach out to info@balancecoffee.co.uk

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The post Sage Coffee Machine | Complete Buying Guide 2021 appeared first on Balance Coffee.



from Balance Coffee https://balancecoffee.co.uk/sage-coffee-machine-faqs/

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