So you're interested in buying the Sage Barista Pro vs Express vs Touch? But which deserves your hard-earned cash?
If you are like me, you'll want the maximum benefit for anything you spend your money on.
So, let me give you my 10+ years of experience working as a professional barista using each machine in two short paragraphs.
NOTE: There are two main categories of coffee lovers. One is the person who wants a quick cup of coffee without the extra fuss of all the details, and for them, a more automated machine like the Breville Barista Touch (Get It Here) should tick all the boxes.
The other category is the coffee lover who wants control over the brewing process and wants to learn how to make the best espresso in the comfort of their home. If you fall into the latter category, then the Breville Barista Pro (Get It Here) or Barista Express (Get It Here) is the way to go.
Let's jump right into the Sage barista pro vs Express vs touch comparison.
Comparison Table
The table below shows a quick head-to-head comparison of the barista pro vs express vs touch for simplicity.
|
Features |
Barista Pro |
Barista Express |
Barista Touch |
|
Touch Control |
No (LCD) |
No |
Yes |
|
Heating system |
Thermojet |
Thermocoil |
Thermojet |
|
Automatic steam wand |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Bean Hopper capacity |
250g |
250g |
250g |
|
Number of grind setting |
30 |
16 |
30 |
|
Heat up time |
3 seconds |
30 seconds |
3 seconds |
|
Integrated grinder |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Construction material |
Stainless steel |
Stainless steel |
Stainless steel |
|
Portafilter |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Dose funnel attachment |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Adjustable grind control |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Where To Buy Each Sage Machine Easily
Looking for a Sage coffee machine? You can choose from the Sage Barista Pro, Sage Barista Touch, or Sage Barista Express. Each one is special and great for making coffee at home.
The Sage Barista Pro is fast and makes coffee just right. You can buy it at online shops.
The Sage Barista Touch is easy to use with a touch screen. It's like having a coffee shop at home!
Find it in fancy appliance stores or online where you can see how it works and read what others think about it.
The Sage Barista Express is perfect for beginners and coffee lovers. It's simple and makes many coffee drinks. You can buy it online too.
When buying, think about the warranty, help from the store, and extra parts you might need. Pick the one that fits your coffee-making style and what you need at home.
Use the table below to select your machine choice and start brewing barista-style coffee at home:
| Product | Benefits | where to buy |
|---|---|---|
Sage Barista Touch |
|
Shop Now |
Sage Barista Pro |
|
Shop Now |
Sage Barista Express |
|
Shop Now |
Why You Should Trust This Sage Barista Pro Vs Express vs Touch Review
As an experienced barista who have been in the coffee industry for 10+ years, I know how crucial it is to choose the espresso machine that best suits your needs.
I have seen customers make the wrong choice and waste their money on a machine and other coffee brewing equipment that doesn't fit their needs.
That's why I'm here to give you an honest review and comparison of the Sage Barista Pro vs Barista Express vs Barista Touch.
So why should you trust the information coming from me?
I previously worked at a leading espresso machine brand called Sanremo.
I spent over six years in the sales and technical departments, recommending high-end espresso machines to a wide range of businesses, so I'm familiar with the coffee industry.
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I've developed a strong understanding of which machines are suitable for different levels of home baristas through my experience.
The Breville Barista Express vs Pro vs Touch are three of the most popular espresso machines available today, and these machines have a lot to offer.
Each of these espresso machines has unique functionalities that make them stand out, from sleek designs to intuitive barista controls.
But before you and dive in, let's first look at what coffee beans pair well with each machine.
What Coffee Beans To Pair With Each Coffee Machine
Today I'm not just giving you the Sage coffee machine comparisons. I'll be sharing my recommendations for coffee beans too.
When you buy one of these espresso machines, you might wonder what coffee beans will work best with it.
Fortunately, the Sage Barista Pro, Barista Express and Touch are all high-quality home machines that work well with all speciality coffees.
Click the "Shop Speciality Coffee & Save £5" button to get up to 20% discount as a first timer to enjoy a rich cup of speciality coffee crafted to improve your productivity. Don't miss out!
No matter what machine you pick, the Espresso Taster Pack will be a great match, giving you a perfect balance of flavours full of richness and complexity and keeping you motivated.
An espresso coffee subscription is also good for those who want to explore different espresso coffees.
With each recurring order, we'll switch up the coffees so you can try out all three: Level up Blend, Stability Blend, and Rotate espresso.
Whether it's the Sage Barista Pro espresso coffee machine, Barista Express or Touch, you'll enjoy some of the best speciality coffee beans for espresso in your home. Click here to visit our online speciality coffee shop.
Sage Barista Pro vs Express
The Sage Barista Express espresso coffee machine, like other Sage machine ranges, has been a best seller for years, offering great value for money with its numerous features that provide a superb at-home barista experience.
However, how does the Barista Pro compare? Is it worth spending a few more bucks on the Pro model, or is the Express just as good?
Well, let's find out, shall we?
Sage Barista Pro Overview
Several features make this espresso machine stand out when brewing an intriguing cup of coffee within minutes.
Every component has been carefully engineered, and the result is nothing short of a bold, piping-hot cup.
The Sage Barista Pro offers an interactive LCD that helps you monitor the entire coffee-making process, from grinding to extraction. It also features integrated burr coffee bean grinders, eliminating the need to purchase one separately.
To further enhance your coffee-making experience, the Barista Pro is equipped with a 54mm portafilter and digital temperature control.
In addition to these features, the machine also comes with a steam wand and a range of other accessories, allowing you to explore more complicated methods of coffee brewing.
With the Barista Pro in your home, you can enjoy every cup of espresso coffee precisely the way you want without compromising.
The days of waiting in a coffee shop queue will be a distant memory of the past.
Who Should Use This (Beginner, Expert or Intermediate)
The Barista Pro is an espresso machine that takes your home coffee experience up a notch.
It's perfectly suited for beginners who want a hassle-free experience when making their favourite espresso shot.
This machine makes all that feasible with an intuitive LCD, integrated grinder, PID temperature control, and a steam wand.
You won't have to spend much time grinding your coffee yourself, and you'll see the whole process right before you.
Sage Barista Pro Features
The Barista Pro espresso machine has a lot of features on offer. It includes:
1. An Intuitive LCD Display
The Barista Pro has an intuitive LCD interface with volumetric shot control that lets you see the whole coffee-making process.
Through this display, you can monitor the grind size, dose of coffee grounds and water temperature.
This helps you make a great-tasting cup of coffee by giving you more control over each process.
2. Built-in Conical Burr Grinder
An integrated coffee grinder is a crucial part of any espresso machine, and the Barista Pro comes with one of the best burr coffee grinders.
This feature saves you from buying a grinder separately. The other huge benefit of this is your saving on kitchen counter space.
Perfect if you need to persuade your partner to squeeze in your machine next to the toaster.
3. 54mm Porta-Filter
The portafilter is responsible for providing you with a cup of barista-quality espresso.
The Barista Pro comes with a 54mm portafilter, which provides ultimate consistency and balanced extraction of your coffee grounds.
This ensures that each cup is flavoured and has the perfect body.
4. Digital Temperature Control
Some espresso machines sometimes only produce quality coffee as a result of the temperature of the water.
The digital temperature control feature in the Sage Barista Pro allows you to precisely adjust the water temperature used for making espresso.
This ensures that you extract the maximum flavour from your coffee grounds while creating a perfect cup of espresso.
5. A Powerful Steam Wand
The steam wand in the Sage Barista Pro is powerful enough to create micro-foam milk texturing, which is essential for making exquisite latte art. Of course, this is a skill that needs some practice to master.
If you're an aspiring barista looking to create a range of patterns, you'll need to upgrade to a more premium coffee machine to achieve excellent microfoam.
The reason is simple; boiler power and additional capacity are required to achieve expert milk texture. For instance, the Eagle One Prima is a fantastic choice for this.
But once you get the hang of it, you can make delicious creamy coffee drinks with your Sage Barista Pro.
Some additional features of the Barista Pro that you'll find useful are its 1.9L capacity water reservoir, 250g bean hopper, and 30 precision grind settings.
Pros & Cons of Sage Barista Pro
The Sage Barista Pro offers a handful of pros that might tick all the boxes if you've been looking for a coffee machine to hone your barista game at home.
Nothing is ever perfect, so it also comes with a few drawbacks.
Pros
- It is designed with an intuitive interface with volumetric shot control. This means you can program the doses without manually starting and stopping the espresso shot
- You can enjoy consistently excellent espresso
- Built with an integrated precision conical burr grinder
- Its 54 mm stainless steel portafilter delivers full-bodied coffee
- Powerful steam pressure for fast microfoam
- It comes with a dose funnel attachment to reduce mess and waste
Cons
- Manual milk texturing
- You won't achieve expert-level micro-foam
Click the "Shop The Sage Barista Pro Now" button below to get this machine and start enjoying Barista-style coffee at home.
Sage Barista Express Overview
It is an easy-to-use espresso machine built with brushed stainless steel, providing long-lasting durability.
The Barista Express is an espresso machine with a more traditional feel as it does not have an LCD.
Since it doesn't come with an LCD, you'll have to use the button controls to make your coffee.
Nonetheless, it does come with a control panel which is the gauge. You won't find it in the Barista Pro. It helps you know your machine's temperature and even when to switch between brewing and steaming.
The Barista Express has an integrated steel conical burr grinder, so you won't need to buy a separate grinder for your coffee beans.
This makes it ideal for those who want to save time and money in the long run. The water tank has a capacity of 2L, while the bean hopper can hold up to 250g of beans.
With a 54mm portafilter, an integrated tamper and other accessories, the Barista Express can easily make café-quality espresso.
Who Should Use This (Beginner, Expert or Intermediate)
The Sage Barista Express is an excellent choice for beginners who would love to make and enjoy barista-style espresso drinks at home.
It comes with everything you'll need to get started, like an integrated burr grinder which is in-built and provides tremendous value. So you won't have to get one separately.
The learning curve of this espresso machine is friendly, which is a good thing if you're new to making your coffee at home.
Expert baristas will also enjoy the features Sage Barista Express has to offer, and not to mention you won't have to spend thousands to have this machine sitting in your kitchen.
Sage Barista Express Key Features List
- Construction and Durability
The Barista Express is constructed with stainless steel, making it easy to clean, maintain, and durable.
All buttons and knobs are designed for ease of use and are clearly labelled, so it's easy to find the right setting for your espresso shot.
Plus, its construction makes it look great on any countertop.
- Built-in Grinder
The Barista Express has a built-in grinder that saves time and effort by removing the guesswork from the grinding process.
Its stainless steel conical burr ensures consistent grinding and ensures you get the best espresso every time.
You'll still need to learn basic grinding adjustments to ensure your espresso coffee tastes perfectly. For example, if your shot is running too fast, you'll need to make it 'finer', whereas if it's choking up a little, you'll need to make the grind coarser.
- Digital Temperature Control
The Barista Express takes the guesswork out of heating water for espresso with its digital thermometer and PID control system.
This ensures that the water is at the perfect temperature every single time, eliminating any need for guesswork or relying on inaccurate kitchen thermometers.
As a result, it makes it easy to produce consistently great espresso every time.
- Steam Wand
The powerful steam wand gives precise texture control and allows you to achieve the perfect microfoam for your lattes and cappuccinos.
With all these features, it's no surprise that the Barista Pro is a top espresso machine from Sage.
Pros & Cons of Sage Barista Express
Like the Barista Pro, the Breville Barista Express has its pros and drawbacks.
Pros
- It has a simple interface with volumetric shot control
- It's designed with an integrated conical burr grinder
- Thermocoil heating system
- PID digital temperature control
- It has a powerful steam wand
Cons
- It doesn't offer a touchscreen control
- Perfect micro-foam isn't possible, but it's an excellent standard for beginner.
Click the "Shop The Sage Barista Express Now" button below to get this machine and start enjoying a toasty rich cup of coffee at home.
Sage Barista Pro vs Touch
The Breville Barista Touch has some unique features to offer coffee lovers, especially newbies who want to enjoy cafe-style espresso coffee at home.
But how exactly does it compare with the Barista Pro? Is the higher price point worth the features on offer, or is it better to stick with the Barista pro?
Well, you'll find this and more in this blog section.
Sage Barista Touch Overview
The Sage Barista Touch espresso coffee machine raises the bar a notch compared to its predecessors like the Barista Pro and Express.
The build is quite durable, thanks to its brushed stainless steel construction. It has an intuitive touchscreen operation, offering a more convenient espresso-making process.
With the Barista Touch, you can easily program your milk temperature and texture the way you need it.
Aside from its ease of operation, the Barista Touch has three other unique features: hand-free milk texturing, a purge function for the steam wand, and a preset cafe menu.
It features a thermojet heating system with PID temperature control and 30 grind precision setting, and its bean hopper can take up to 250g.
Who Should Use This (Beginner, Expert or Intermediate)
The Sage Barista Touch espresso machine is designed for those who are just getting into the home espresso-making game and those with some experience.
Its features make it easy for beginners to make great-tasting espresso-based drinks quickly and easily.
One of the reasons it's great for beginners is its intuitive touchscreen interface. With clear visual instructions, you can follow your progress through the brewing process with a simple touch.
Even those without prior coffee-making experience can make quality coffee with minimal fuss.
Sage Barista Touch Features List
- Touchscreen Control
The Sage Barista Touch offers you a touchscreen control for complete convenience.
You can control your drinks' settings and customisations with a simple touch.
- Thermojet Heating system with PID control
This system provides even heating throughout the machine, allowing for consistent espresso extraction. In addition, the PID control allows you to set the exact temperature you desire.
- Automatic Milk Texturing
This feature automates the milk texturing process, making it easier and faster for you to get perfectly textured milk every time.
- Integrated Burr Conical Grinder
This grinder is built into the machine, allowing for a consistent grind every time you make espresso. Plus, you won't have to purchase a grinder separately.
- Adjustable Grind Control
With the adjustable grind control, you can easily choose from 30 precision grind settings to get the perfect grind for your espresso.
- 30 Precision Grind Settings
You have 30 different grind settings to choose from, giving you complete control over the fineness of your espresso grounds.
This helps you get the perfect flavour profile for your espresso every time.
Pros & Cons of Barista Touch
Pros
- It comes with adjustable milk temperature and texture control
- Adjustable grind control
- Purge function for the steam wand
- It's easy to use
Cons
- The water filter can be difficult to replace
Click the "Shop The Sage Barista Touch Now" button below to get this machine and start enjoying Barista-style coffee at home.
Sage Barista Pro vs Sage Barista Express vs Sage Barista Touch Features
The Sage Barista Touch is a more advanced espresso machine than the Sage Barista Express and Sage Barista Pro, but it still shares some similarities.
These machines produce excellent coffee and are available at a great price. The key difference between the Barista Touch and the Barista Pro and Express is that the Touch is closer to being a fully automatic espresso coffee machine.
With the Sage Barista Touch, you won't be much involved in brewing. Instead, you'll have to choose, and the machine will brew your favourite coffee.
Well, as I've earlier said, this machine is closer to a fully automatic machine, but not completely because you'll still have to move the portafilter around when using the Barista Touch.
The Sage Barista Pro has most of the features in the Barista Touch. However, the Express offers a more traditional feel without any LCD, nor does it have touchscreen functionality.
Sage Barista Pro vs Barista Express vs Barista Touch Similarities
The Barista Pro, Express and Touch espresso machines from Sage have one significant similarity that is hard to miss, an integrated conical steel grinder to grind your coffee beans.
This ensures that you always have the freshest ground coffee available to make the perfect cup of espresso.
Durability
The construction material of these three machines is yet another similarity: they are all designed using brushed stainless steel that is durable and can stand the test of time.
Capacity
It can be boring if you fill up the machine with coffee beans every time. Fortunately, The Sage Barista Pro, Barista Express and Touch all come with a 250g bean hopper capacity for more convenience and the quantity of coffee you can make.
All three espresso machines from Sage feature a high-quality 54mm portafilter to hold your coffee grounds.
Grind Control
Another similar thing about these espresso coffee machines from Sage is that they feature adjustable grind control, so you can easily adjust the volume of your ground coffee.
So whether you need a fine or coarse grind, you can easily adjust it.
The Barista Express, Barista Pro and Touch all feature low-pressure pre-infusion followed by 9-bar extraction.
These machines are suited for coffee lovers who intend to step up their coffee game at home. So, they all feature a tamper, 54mm precision portafilter, stainless milk jug and Razor dose trimming tool to help improve your barista game at home.
In a nutshell:
- Integrated conical steel grinder
- Constructed using brushed stainless steel
- 250g bean hopper capacity
- 54mm portafilter
- Adjustable grind control
- Low-pressure pre-infusion
- Integrated tamper, 54mm precision portafilter, stainless milk jug and Razor dose trimming tool
Barista Pro vs Sage Barista Express vs Barista Touch Differences
One difference that is hard to miss between these three machines is their design interface.
The Barista Express offers a more traditional or manual feel where you'll have to use buttons and knobs throughout the process.
However, the Barista Pro allows you to monitor the process with an LCD. While the Barista Pro also offers touchscreen control that you can use to carry out your espresso-making process for a better experience.
Another difference is that the Sage Barista Touch and the Barista Pro come with a ThermoJet heating system with PID control, while the Barista Express features a Thermocoil system.
This means it takes the Express 30 seconds to heat up against the 3 seconds it takes the Touch and Barista Pro.
With the Barista Touch, you can easily carry out your milk texturing automatically, but you'll have to do that manually when you're using the Barista Express or Pro. This can be quite a time-consuming task and can affect the taste of your coffee.
Grind Settings
Regarding grind settings, the Pro and Barista Touch offer 30 precision grind settings, while you'll have to settle for 16 when using the Barista Express.
This can be a significant difference for those looking for greater control over their coffee-making process.
Size (Sage Barista Pro vs Express vs Touch)
The size of each Sage Barista model is a significant difference between them.
For example, the Barista Pro has a larger dimension of 35.4 x 34.3 x 40.6 cm compared to the Touch, which is 32 X 32 X 41 cm and the Express, which measures 31.8 x 35.1 x 40.4 cm. This makes the Pro the biggest.
While the Pro and Touch come with a Dose funnel attachment, the Express does not, so if you're looking for this accessory, you'll have to invest in one of the other two models.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this blog post section, I will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the Sage Barista Pro, Express and Touch espresso machines.
From differences in their features to figure out the one best suited for your home, I'll walk you through the key details.
What is the difference between Sage barista pro and sage Barista Express?
The Barista Pro has an LCD to monitor the process, but the Barista Express does not feature an LCD. The Pro also has a volumetric shot control, which allows you to fine-tune your coffee grinds, while the Express does not. Another difference is that the Barista Pro uses a ThermoJet heating system, while the Express settles for a Thermocoil system.
What are the differences between the Breville Barista Express and Touch?
The Breville Barista Express does not have a touchscreen control, but that's something you can enjoy using the Breville Touch. The Touch also has a Thermojet heating system, while the Express uses a Thermocoil system. You can automatically texture your milk with the Touch, whereas you'll have to do that manually with the Express.
What is the difference between Sage barista pro and sage Barista Touch?
One difference between the Sage Barista Pro vs touch is that the Breville Pro doesn't have touchscreen control, but you can enjoy that feature with the Barista Touch. You can also automatically texture your milk with the Touch, while you'll have to do that manually with the Pro. So if you're looking for a more automated experience, the Barista Touch might be your best bet.
Which is better, Barista Pro or Express?
While the Sage barista pro vs express machines is in the same category, the Barista Pro is better if you want more convenience and automation. You'll be able to use the LCD to monitor the process, and the volumetric shot control lets you fine-tune your coffee grinds. On the other hand, the ThermoJet heating system is faster, and you'll have more grind settings to choose from.
Does the Barista Pro have a cup warmer?
The Breville Barista Pro is one espresso machine that bags many cool features. But, even though the Barista Pro features a cup tray at the top, this machine doesn't have a cup warmer function.
Conclusion
There are two main categories of coffee lovers. One is the person who wants a quick cup of coffee without the extra fuss of all the details, and for them, a more automated machine like the Breville Barista Touch (Get It Here) should tick all the boxes.
The other category is the coffee lover who wants control over the brewing process and wants to learn how to make the best espresso in the comfort of their home. If you fall into the latter category, then the Breville Barista Pro (Get It Here) or Barista Express (Get It Here) is the way to go.
I hope this comparison of the Sage Barista Pro, Express and Touch has helped you decide which machine is suitable for you.
For an even better experience, why not subscribe to our coffee subscription service, which happens to be the best coffee subscription in the UK to receive freshly roasted coffee beans monthly? This way, you can make the perfect cup of coffee every time.
