Sales of at-home coffee machines have boomed in recent years (41% of Brits now own one, according to a 2025 Statista report), with many of us upgrading from instant granules to sophisticated gadgets that promise barista-quality coffee from the comfort of our homes.
As such, a good coffee machine no longer feels like a luxury, but a staple appliance that every kitchen should have – and there’s now a dizzying array of models out there to cater to every taste and budget.
As a coffee expert and qualified barista, I’ve tested upwards of 60 coffee machines and get questions all the time about which models I’d actually recommend. Of the brands I’m asked about most, though, Sage is undoubtedly the most coveted of all.
Known as Breville around the rest of the world (different from Breville UK), the Australian appliance brand is renowned for its sleek chrome designs, innovative tech and professional-grade results, and it has a well-earned reputation as the go-to choice for anyone serious about their coffee.
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Its product range is impressively broad too, spanning everything from high-end bean-to-cup models to simpler coffee grinders and accessories.
But with prices ranging from £329.95 to £2,499.95, buying a Sage coffee machine can feel like a big decision, especially if you’re at the beginning of your coffee journey. So, are these gadgets really worth the investment or are you better off buying something less expensive?
I don’t think a Sage is the perfect coffee machine for everyone, but if the five things below really matter to you, it could be one of the best possible additions to your kitchen – providing you choose a model that suits your needs and budget.
Are Sage coffee machines worth it? Yes, if…
You want consistency over convenience
Perhaps the biggest appeal of a coffee machine is the promise of a quick caffeine hit at the touch of a button. But if it’s consistency you’re after – that is, a reliably great cup of coffee every single time – a Sage machine will deliver where many others fall short.
Of course, you will get a faster, more hands-off experience from using a fully automatic coffee model, but what a Sage really excels at is producing repeatable quality results.
Photography: Natalie Bass / Good Food
Its bean-to-cup and higher-end espresso machines in particular are engineered to replicate the careful processes used by professional baristas, and features including precise temperature controls, adjustable grind settings and auto-tamping guarantee that every shot of espresso is extracted under the perfect conditions.
The grinders on its newer bean-to-cup models also learn the dose and grind size needed for each brew, so even if the machine gets it wrong the first time, it will self-correct for the next.
You can save your favourite settings on models like the Barista Touch Impress and the Oracle Jet, too, eliminating the hassle of fiddling with the customisation settings every time you make a drink.
You love the ritual of making coffee as much as drinking it
Unlike fully automatic models that take care of everything behind closed doors, a Sage machine leaves all the fun, tactile parts of the process of coffee-making to the user.
When choosing a coffee machine, I’d recommend thinking about just how hands-on you want to be. The Sage the Barista Express and Sage the Barista Pro, for example, are better suited to those who want as much control as possible, as tasks like dosing and tamping the coffee grounds need to be done manually.
If – like me – you’d prefer something with a bit more automation, models like the Barista Touch Impress and the Oracle Jet offer the perfect sweet spot. They have features like assisted tamping and auto-dosing, which eliminates the messier parts of brewing fresh coffee at home, plus on-screen digital prompts that guide you through each step of the process.
Sage also recently developed a new machine, the Oracle Dual Boiler, which has two user modes (manual and auto) that you can switch between. This means you can cater to different users – for instance, if there’s someone in your household who just wants great coffee with a bit of assistance, they can use the auto mode, while the manual mode works best for those who want full control.
You want lots of features, but not a 200-page instruction manual
Personally, one of the things I love most about Sage’s coffee machines is just how user-friendly they are – which is quite remarkable when you consider just how much tech is built into them.
As a product tester, it’s part of my job to study the manual of every gadget I review, but not everyone wants to wade through hundreds of pages of instructions or spend hours learning how to use their new coffee machine.
Sage strikes a sweet spot between customisation and user-friendliness and its machines are packed with professional-level features, but are still designed to be approachable even if you’re new to brewing espresso at home.
Those in the range that have a digital touchscreen – like the Barista Touch Impress, Oracle Jet and Oracle Dual Boiler – will walk you through every step and provide helpful tips along the way, like whether you need to tweak your grind size. You can start with the standard menu of drinks if you just want the basics, or dive deeper into the settings when you want to fine-tune your coffee.
As customer support goes, Sage is also a cut above most other brands, as if you find yourself experiencing problems with your machine, you can instantly get in touch with a member of the team via the live chat window on the website.
You buy speciality coffee beans that you want to do justice to
If you already buy fresh coffee beans for your at-home machine (something I would – and will always – encourage), you’re already well on your way to brewing great coffee. Always remember that what you put into the machine is usually what you’ll get out, and stale beans do not make good espresso.
However, if you’re only using a sub-par machine that doesn’t have the level of precision you want, you might feel like you’re not letting the coffee live up to its full potential.
With a Sage bean-to-cup machine, you have a much wider range of grind settings and extraction controls, so you can fully tailor the grind to suit the beans – be it light, medium or dark roast.
Most models also allow you to adjust the water temperature, flow rate and extraction time, which means you can highlight the unique flavours and aromas of your beans, rather than brew a generic espresso shot each time.
You’re willing to learn (just a little)
While I think Sage coffee machines are user-friendly, they do reward a bit of curiosity and willingness to learn. Unlike coffee pod machines or ultra-basic filter coffee machines, you’ll get the best results if you’re open to tweaking the settings or trying new things.
You don’t need to be a trained barista – just interested enough to occasionally experiment with a different grind size or milk texture. As these machines provide instant feedback, they’ll help you hone your technique over time and many users find that they’re able to consistently produce drinks that match their exact taste after a bit of tinkering.
If you want to upskill further, Sage also runs online masterclasses and workshops on everything from perfecting your latte art to dialling in your coffee beans, so you can fully make the most of your machine.
Which Sage coffee machine is best?
Available from John Lewis & Partners (£1,199), Amazon (£1,198.90), Sage (£1,199.95)
Star rating: 5/5
The Barista Touch Impress is a versatile bean-to-cup machine that strikes the perfect balance between convenience and control. It also comes with a cold-extraction function, which allows you to make cold brew-style drinks quickly.
The intuitive touchscreen guides you through set-up and drink selection, offering a choice of hot and cold beverages and step-by-step prompts for dialling in your grind and espresso settings.
Assisted tamping takes the guesswork out of dosing and the machine auto-corrects each dose for next time. There’s plenty of scope to customise your drinks, too, including milk froth settings for different types of milk – whether dairy or plant-based.
Be prepared for the set-up to take a bit of time, but once you’ve dialled in your coffee beans, this machine produces rich, barista-grade espresso with glossy crema. Read more about the Barista Touch Impress in our guide to the best coffee machines.
Available from:
Sage the Oracle Jet
Available from Sage (£1,699.95), Currys (£1,699.99), Lakeland (£1,699.99)
Star rating: 5/5
As one of Sage’s most high-spec bean-to-cup models, the Oracle Jet combines smart tech with user-friendly features – including WiFi connectivity, which means it installs software upgrades remotely to prolong the life of the machine.
The touchscreen display is ultra-intuitive, offering light and dark modes for personalisation, and the machine gives helpful prompts for grinding adjustments if your espresso pours too slowly or too quickly.
It has a large footprint, but is approximately 3cm smaller (in height and width) and almost 8kg lighter than the Oracle Touch – plus, there are lockable wheels on the base, which make it easy to move around the worktop for cleaning. Read more about the Oracle Jet in our guide to the best bean-to-cup coffee machines.
Available from:
Sage the Bambino Plus
Available from Harts of Stur (£398.95), Amazon (£399), Very (£399), AO (£399), John Lewis & Partners (£399), Sage (£399.95), Currys (£399.99)
Star rating: 4.5/5
The Bambino Plus is a compact mid-range espresso machine that punches well above its weight, and it’s perfect for smaller kitchens or those who want a simple, stylish mid-range model without sacrificing quality.
It’s very easy to use, with controls for single or double espresso, steam and hot water. There’s also a steam wand, which allows you to select your preferred milk temperature and texture, and a stainless steel milk jug.
While it’s slightly larger than the standard Bambino, the extra space means you can fit a cup and milk jug side by side on the drip tray. It also feels built to last, and if you have the budget to spend, this machine is truly a no-brainer. Read our full Bambino Plus review.
Available from:
Sage the Barista Express
Available from John Lewis & Partners (£449), Amazon (£449), Sage (£499.95), Lakeland (£499.99)
Star rating: 4.5/5
This is one of Sage’s most popular bean-to-cup coffee machines, with enough features to satisfy beginners and anyone wanting to hone their skills.
There are 15 grind settings on offer and the controls are mostly manual, so you’ll be grinding, dosing and tamping the grounds, then texturing the milk yourself – ideal if you want to learn, but not so complicated that entry-level baristas should feel intimidated.
In test, the Barista Express produced quality espresso with a rich crema and plenty of aroma, and the steam wand was powerful enough to create silky milk for lattes and cappuccinos.
This machine is also one of the more affordable options in Sage’s bean-to-cup range, making it a worthy investment if you’re keen to start making proper coffee at home without too much fuss or expense.
Available from:
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