The Sage Dual Boiler Espresso Machine, also known as the Breville Dual Boiler in America, is a highly regarded piece of coffee equipment for personal use. Aspiring baristas and coffee connoisseurs alike have flocked to this machine for its professional-grade features and reputation for producing café-quality espresso at home. In this review, we will explore the pros and cons of the Sage Dual Boiler Espresso Machine, addressing any potential issues we have encountered in our testing, and ultimately determine whether it is worth the investment.
Firstly, why would you buy a home espresso machine in the first place?
One of the most significant reasons to invest in a home espresso machine is the potential for substantial cost savings. Over time, the expense of buying coffee from coffee shops can add up significantly. The average price of a specialty coffee, such as a latte or cappuccino, can range from £2 to £6 or more, depending on where you live in the UK. For daily coffee drinkers, this cost can quickly become a significant portion of their monthly expenses. With a home espresso machine, you can make your favorite espresso-based drinks at a fraction of the cost per cup.
Another big reason for investing in a home espresso machine is that they offer the convenience of making your coffee whenever you want, without the need to travel to a café or wait in line. This is especially valuable for those of us with busy schedules who need their caffeine fix at various times throughout the day.
And finally, home espresso machines, like the Sage dual boiler, come with programmable settings that allow you to customize your coffee. You can choose the exact brewing temperature, shot duration, and milk froth level, allowing you to make the coffee that’s your favourite?
So what did we like about the Sage Dual Boiler?
One of the standout features of the Sage Dual Boiler is its dual boiler system, which allows for precise temperature control. Temperature is extremely important in the brewing process and even being a degree or two off can have drastic effects on the end result. The separate boilers for brewing and steaming ensure that you can pull a shot at the exact temperature you desire, resulting in a more consistent and delicious espresso. The dual boiler also allows you to brew and steam milk at the same time, a function that many other competitors in this price range don’t have. The machine boasts a PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controller, which further enhances temperature stability. This feature ensures that the temperature remains steady, preventing fluctuations that can negatively impact the quality of your espresso, many other espressos machines in this price range have issues with temperature stability, especially when making multiple shots of coffee the machines tend to drop in temperature resulting some poor tasting cups of coffee.
The Sage Dual Boiler allows you to customize various aspects of your espresso shots, including temperature and shot time, these tools are extremely helpful for improving extraction and for ultimately improving the desired end result. This level of customization enables you to fine-tune your brew to suit your personal taste preferences. Another feature we love is that you can set it to turn on automatically so that it’s hot and ready to go when you get out of bed in the morning, so no more waiting around for it to heat up.
The machine features a precise pressure gauge that allows you to monitor the extraction process. This information is invaluable for achieving the perfect extraction and crema consistency. We love this feature as it provides good feedback about if our coffee is ground to the right texture. A bug improvement on the Sage Dual Boiler compared to its little brother the Barista Express is the effectiveness of the steam wand. This machine’s 15-bar pump and powerful steam wand ensure you can create lattes and cappuccinos with velvety microfoam. The consistency and quality of steamed milk are remarkable. We found this was a massive step up in the quality and speed of the foaming compared to the Barista Express.
Finally that brings us onto build quality. The Sage Dual Boiler is built to last, with a sturdy stainless steel construction that not only looks sleek but also withstands the test of time. We thought that the machine felt expensive and sturdy, there were few scratchy plastic parts that could have made it feel cheap. It’s a machine that exudes quality.
No machine is perfect, which brings us on to some of the things we weren’t the biggest fans about the Sage Dual Boiler.
One of the most significant drawbacks of the Sage Dual Boiler is its cost coming in at £1299 along with the fact that it doesn’t come with a grinder which you will have to make a separate investment into. It is unquestionably an investment, which may deter some potential buyers. However, for those who are passionate about their espresso, the price is justified by the machine’s capabilities. For us, a way to think about it is if you buy two £3 coffees per day, over a year you are spending just over £2000 on coffee that may not even be what you like. If that’s the case then this may be an investment for you, but if you are only having 1 coffee a week, maybe stick to Starbucks.
Another potential issue people may run into us that this machine is relatively large and heavy, which means it may not be suitable for smaller kitchens or those with limited counter space. Consider your available space before purchasing and you may have to prioritise your kitchen gadgets for what you need the most.
While the machine offers a high level of customization, it also comes with a fairly steep learning curve. Beginners may find it challenging to master the art of espresso extraction and milk frothing. This may require some patience and practice. This goes back to above, if you are someone who drinks a lot of and/or is particular about their coffee, there are great resources out there for people to learn how to brew great espresso and it can be a really fun and exciting process to learn about coffee. But if you just want a basic caffeine fix, maybe this isn’t for you.
Who would benefit from investing in a Sage Dual Boiler?
The Sage Dual Boiler Espresso Machine is a top-tier espresso maker designed for the passionate coffee lover. Its precise temperature control, customization options, and exceptional build quality set it apart from many other home espresso machines. However, it’s not without its drawbacks, such as the high price point, learning curve, and the need for a separate grinder.
If you’re an espresso enthusiast who is willing to invest time in mastering the craft of making great espresso and have the budget to support it, the Sage Dual Boiler is an excellent choice. It offers the tools and capabilities to brew café-quality espresso and steam milk at barista quality levels.
For those on a tighter budget or who prioritize simplicity and convenience, there are other espresso machines on the market such as the Sage Barista Express that might be more suitable. Additionally, those with limited counter space should consider the machine’s size and footprint.
In conclusion, the Sage Dual Boiler Espresso Machine lives up to its reputation as a high-quality espresso machine. It excels in its ability to provide an authentic café experience at home. However, it’s not for everyone due to its cost and learning curve. Ultimately, the decision to invest in this machine depends on your level of commitment to the art of espresso and your willingness to put in the time and effort to master its operation.
Where to buy:Alternatively, if you want to look at the Barista Express, the link to that us here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sage-BES875UK-Barista-Express-Stainless/dp/B077YZXR1W/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3QEHRDJW8U9S9&keywords=barista+express&qid=1697976635&sprefix=Baris%252Caps%252C138&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%253Aamzn1.fos.16386313-b7bf-4b29-bfa1-0d3d5f3a0dd5&_encoding=UTF8&tag=maxwilliams07-21&linkCode=ur2&linkId=4e2d974a2d89ac4a59328b571e6af2c0&camp=1634&creative=6738
Here is our Favourite automatic grinder we like to pair with the Sage Dual Boiler: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sage-BCG820BSSUK-Smart-Grinder-Coffee/dp/B00P81AQUU/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2S8URD6V4ZRO0&keywords=sage+grinder&qid=1697976707&sprefix=Sage+grin%252Caps%252C145&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%253Aamzn1.fos.16386313-b7bf-4b29-bfa1-0d3d5f3a0dd5&_encoding=UTF8&tag=maxwilliams07-21&linkCode=ur2&linkId=a318b3fa05774e85b5c6f1cc41d738e1&camp=1634&creative=6738