Millie got a sneak peek of the new Sage Barista Express Impress at Sage HQ, but after an introductory demo it was time to test it from her own kitchen. Sage loaned her the machine for a month, meaning she was really able to put it through its paces ahead of writing this review. She also included a selection of beans from Caravan Coffee Roasters, Fireheart Coffee Roasters, and many more specialist blends to really see how well this machine is able to bring out the flavour of a great bean. One minor issue is that with the grinder and the Impress system built into the machine, it's near impossible to grind coffee into anything other than a portafilter (the filter basket with a handle the coffee comes through) . So if you happen to need large quantities of ground coffee for, say, cold brew, then you'll struggle to get the job done without having to manually fill up portafilter several times over. The Sage Barista Express Impress verdict My first impression of the Sage Barista Express Impress was that it's an attractive espresso machine that doesn't try too hard to shake off the traditions of its predecessor. There are still two main buttons on the right-hand side to choose either a single or double shot of espresso, and a switch on this side to run hot water (great for turning your espresso into an americano) or set the steam wand running. To make coffee, the Sage Barista Touch Impress has a ThermoJet heating system and 1430-1700 watts which achieves optimum extraction temperature and efficiency in just three seconds. Once in action, the Sage Barista Touch Impress grinds the right dose of fresh beans from the hopper and combines that with precise temperature control and water pressure for the best tasting brew.

Sage launches first coffee machine to precisely froth plant-based milks and we were one of the first to try it The Milky Plant is an all-in-one blender and strainer with one job – to make excellent plant milk– but how does it compete with cheaper alternatives? How does the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo measure up alongside other espresso machines? Find out in T3's review...With a coffee machine like this, it’s unsurprising that it comes with an expensive price tag. As of launch in September 2023, the Sage Barista Touch Impress is 1,199.95 and available to buy at Breville. It also comes with a 2 year repair warranty. Sage Barista Touch Impress review: Verdict The latest release from the home-coffee titans, the Sage Barista Express Impress has a real mouthful of a name, and that's because it's an iteration of one of the brand's oldest and most enduringly popular machines, the Sage Barista Express. The difference? It's got a brand new in-built tamping arm and an updated grinding dosage system. The book is well-written, sequential, and has photographs and illustrations covering every stage of set up and operation. In addition, there's an excellent section on getting the right grind and how to adjust this for the perfect extraction, texturing milk with the steam wand, using the hot water outlet, and even changing the water temperature for different beans. While the best bean to cup coffee machines offer delicious results that are similar (if not better) than your local coffee house, many people are put off by them for several reasons. Aside from the high price tag, bean to cup machines can come across quite daunting and difficult to use, mainly due to their size, accessories and attachments, and the fear and judgement of being called a coffee snob.

A standout feature of the Sage Barista Touch Impress is its speed. Many people think using a bean to cup machine like this over a pod coffee machine will take longer but it really didn’t. There are a few more steps to do compared to a pod model but the results are worth it, and you get to be more involved with the coffee making process which I enjoyed. All the change is on the left-hand side, which now features a dial to control manual does, a button to toggle filter size, a button to start grinding, and a handle that you pull down to tamp your coffee. The pressure this handle applies is consistent, so the only margin for error when setting up your shot is ground size and volume. After meeting with Sage, I was super excited to try out the Sage Barista Touch Impress at home, and the experience didn’t disappoint! As I mentioned previously, the Sage Barista Touch Impress took me a few minutes to get set up and the machine fits nicely and stylishly in my kitchen.A good footrest is as important to comfort as the chair you sit in, and Secretlab’s Professional Footrest is ideal for home or office use The KitchenAid 2.1L Food Processor offers unrivalled power and sharp knife skills… here’s T3’s full review