Experience barista-level coffee: A review of the Sage Barista Touch Impress with barista support

When it comes to crafting the perfect espresso at home, the Sage Barista Touch Impress stands out as a top contender. This advanced espresso machine combines sleek design with cutting-edge technology, promising to elevate your coffee experience. In this review, we’ll delve into its standout features, compare it to other models in the Sage lineup, and share our thoughts on whether it’s worth the investment.

The most important features of the Sage Barista Touch Impress

The Sage Barista Touch Impress boasts several features designed to simplify the espresso-making process while delivering professional-grade results. Let's have a closer look at what makes this machine special.

Size and Design

The Sage Barista Touch Impress is not just about performance—it also shines in the design department. With its stainless steel finish, it adds a touch of elegance to any kitchen. The machine is designed with a modern aesthetic in mind, featuring clean lines and a minimalist approach that makes it visually appealing.

In terms of size, the Barista Touch Impress is relatively compact for a machine that packs in so many features. However, it’s worth noting that it does require a bit of counter space, measuring approximately 32 cm in width, 39 cm in height, and 41 cm in depth. This makes it a suitable fit for most kitchens, though it might be a tight squeeze in particularly small spaces.

Despite its size, the machine is thoughtfully designed for convenience. The water tank is accessible from the back, but the machine can be easily moved forward thanks to its relatively light weight for a semi-automatic espresso machine. The integrated storage compartment for accessories, such as cleaning tools, adds to the machine's practicality, keeping everything you need in one place.

Intuitive touchscreen and barista support

The Sage Barista Touch Impress simplifies the coffee-making process with its intuitive touchscreen interface. With just three steps—selecting the grind size, choosing the preparation method, and setting the milk texture—you can brew your favorite coffee with ease. The 'Barista Guidance' system offers real-time feedback, ensuring each step is executed precisely, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned coffee enthusiast.

The touchscreen also allows for extensive customization, letting you adjust coffee intensity, temperature, and milk texture to your preferences. Plus, you can save up to eight personalized drink profiles, each with its own unique name and settings. This makes it easy to enjoy your favorite coffee styles at the touch of a button, offering both convenience and a professional-level experience right at home.

ThermoJet

One of the standout features of the Sage Barista Touch Impress is its cutting-edge ThermoJet heating system. This technology allows the machine to reach the optimal extraction temperature in just 3 seconds, eliminating the typical long wait time associated with traditional espresso machines. For busy mornings or when you're craving a quick coffee fix, this rapid heat-up ensures you can start your day without delay. Whether you're preparing a single espresso shot or multiple beverages back-to-back, the ThermoJet system keeps up with your pace, ensuring consistent performance every time.

Not only does the fast heat-up time enhance convenience, but it also contributes to maintaining the freshness and quality of your coffee. With water quickly reaching the precise temperature needed for extraction, you avoid the risk of under-extracted coffee caused by fluctuating temperatures. The quick temperature control also supports energy efficiency, reducing the time the machine stays on and thus saving power. Overall, the ThermoJet technology ensures that your coffee is ready faster without compromising on taste or quality.

Perfect grind and dosage

A perfect cup of espresso starts with the grind, and the Sage Barista Touch Impress excels in this area. It comes equipped with a built-in grinder that features 30 different grind settings, allowing you to fine-tune the grind size to match your preferred brewing method. Whether you enjoy a coarse grind for a lighter brew or a finer grind for a rich, intense shot, the options are virtually endless. The 250g bean hopper is spacious enough for frequent use, and the conical burrs in the grinder ensure a precise and consistent grind each time. As the ground coffee is dispensed directly into the 54mm portafilter, you can ensure minimal mess and maximum freshness.

To further ensure optimal results, the Impress Puck System works in tandem with the grinder. This system automatically tamps and doses the coffee, taking the guesswork out of preparing the perfect espresso shot. Accurate dosing is crucial to getting a balanced extraction, and this system ensures that the correct amount of coffee is dispensed and pressed with the perfect amount of pressure. This combination of adjustable grinding settings and automated tamping ensures that every cup of coffee you make is as close to barista-level quality as possible.

Precise espresso extraction

Another highlight of the Barista Touch Impress is its ability to ensure precise espresso extraction. At the core of this feature is the pre-brew function, which involves saturating the coffee grounds with water before the main brewing cycle begins. This step allows the coffee to bloom, unlocking the full range of flavors and aromas that are otherwise missed with a standard brewing process. By using this technique, you get a more flavorful and well-rounded espresso that highlights the nuanced characteristics of your chosen coffee beans.

PID temperature control

The machine's PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) temperature control system is another critical feature. Maintaining the water at a consistent temperature of around 93ºC, the PID system ensures that your coffee is brewed at the ideal temperature for optimal flavor extraction. Consistency is key when making espresso, and even slight variations in water temperature can dramatically affect the taste. The precise temperature control provided by the PID ensures that each shot has the same level of quality and flavor intensity, helping you achieve café-level results from the comfort of your home.

Auto MilQ System

For those who love milk-based beverages like lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites, the Auto MilQ system in the Sage Barista Touch Impress is a game-changer. The automatic steam wand allows you to create barista-style milk foam with minimal effort. The system is highly versatile, working seamlessly with a wide range of milk types, including oat, almond, soy, and regular dairy milk. This is particularly useful for households with varied milk preferences or for anyone who enjoys experimenting with different milk types to create unique coffee experiences.

Using the Auto MilQ system is as simple as it gets. All you need to do is pour your chosen milk into the jug, place it under the steam wand, and select the type of milk from the intuitive touchscreen display. The steam wand takes over, heating and frothing the milk to perfection. The system is designed to create silky-smooth microfoam, which not only enhances the texture and taste of your milk-based coffee but also makes it ideal for latte art. Whether you're new to frothing milk or an experienced barista, the Auto MilQ system ensures consistently great results every time.

Pros and cons

Pros of the Sage Barista Touch Impress:

• The user-friendly touchscreen interface makes it easy to navigate through the brewing process, offering real-time feedback and guidance, ensuring consistent results even for beginners.
• The ability to save up to 8 customized coffee recipes allows multiple users to enjoy their favorite drinks with just a touch, making it convenient for households with varying preferences.

• Auto MilQ system with the automatic steam wand effectively foams various types of milk, including oat, almond, soy, and dairy, ensuring perfect microfoam for lattes, cappuccinos, and other milk-based beverages.

• The advanced ThermoJet system heats the machine to the optimal extraction temperature within 3 seconds, allowing you to make coffee quickly without sacrificing quality.

• Impress Puck system ensures the correct dosing and tamping of coffee grounds, which is crucial for achieving a perfect espresso shot every time.

• Precision grinding and dosing, with 30 adjustable grind settings and a built-in conical burr grinder, you can achieve the exact grind size needed for your preferred brewing method, enhancing the flavor and consistency of your coffee.

• Pre-Brew function and PID temperature control work together to ensure optimal flavor extraction, resulting in a rich and balanced espresso with every brew.

Cons of the Sage Barista Touch Impress:  

 

 

• Noisy grinding process, the built-in grinder, while effective, can be quite noisy, which might be a concern for those who prefer a quieter morning routine or live in small spaces.
• Premium price point, the advanced features and technology come with a higher price tag, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious consumers.

The difference between Sage Barista Touch Impress and Sage Barista Express Impress

Touchscreen interface and user experience

One of the most significant differences between the Sage Barista Touch Impress and the Sage Barista Express Impress is the user interface. The Sage Barista Touch Impress is equipped with an advanced touchscreen interface that allows users to navigate through various options with ease. This touchscreen is not just for aesthetics; it’s a functional tool that guides users through each step of the coffee-making process. With 'Barista Guidance,' the machine offers real-time feedback, making it easier for both beginners and experienced users to brew the perfect cup of coffee. The touchscreen also allows you to save up to 8 personalized drinks, each with customizable settings for grind, milk texture, and temperature.

In contrast, the Sage Barista Express Impress lacks the sophisticated touchscreen interface. Instead, it relies on traditional buttons and dials to adjust settings. While this approach may appeal to users who prefer a more hands-on experience, it doesn't offer the same level of customization or user guidance as the Barista Touch Impress. The Express Impress is more straightforward and might be better suited for those who enjoy a simpler, more tactile brewing process without the need for extensive personalization.

ThermoJet heating system and speed

The Sage Barista Touch Impress features the ThermoJet heating system, which allows the machine to reach the optimal extraction temperature in just 3 seconds. This rapid heating capability is a standout feature for users who want their coffee quickly without compromising on quality. The ThermoJet technology ensures that the machine is always ready to brew, making it convenient for busy mornings or when you're in a rush.

On the other hand, the Sage Barista Express Impress, while still offering excellent temperature control, does not heat up as quickly as the Barista Touch Impress. The Express Impress uses a different heating mechanism, which takes a bit longer to reach the ideal brewing temperature. This difference in speed might be a consideration for users who value efficiency and speed in their coffee-making process.

Customization and automation

Customization is another area where the Sage Barista Touch Impress excels. With its intuitive touchscreen and advanced settings, you can easily adjust the intensity, temperature, and milk texture to create a coffee that suits your exact preferences. The ability to store up to 8 personalized drinks is a feature that adds to its versatility, allowing multiple users in a household to save their favorite settings.

In contrast, the Sage Barista Express Impress, while still offering a good level of customization, does not provide the same depth of options as the Touch Impress. The Express Impress allows you to control the grind size, dose, and milk frothing manually, which can be appealing to those who enjoy the artistry of coffee making. However, it lacks the automated convenience and extensive personalization options that the Barista Touch Impress offers, making it less ideal for users who prefer a more hands-off approach.

Maintenance and longevity

Daily maintenance

• Clean the portafilter and group head: After each use, remove the portafilter and rinse it under hot water. Wipe the group head with a clean, damp cloth to remove any coffee residue.
• Empty the drip tray: The drip tray collects water and coffee drips during the brewing process. Make sure to empty and rinse it daily to prevent any buildup.
• Wipe down the exterior: Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the machine's exterior. Avoid abrasive cleaners that could scratch the surface.

Weekly maintenance

• Clean the steam wand: After each use, purge the steam wand by turning on the steam for a few seconds to clear any milk residue. Once a week, detach the steam tip and soak it in warm water to remove any stubborn milk deposits. Use a pin or the provided cleaning tool to clear any blockages in the steam holes.
• Flush the group head: Run water through the group head without the portafilter attached to flush out any coffee grounds that may have accumulated. This process helps to keep the brewing path clear.

Monthly maintenance

• Backflush the machine: Backflushing is essential for removing oils and coffee residues that accumulate in the group head. Use a blind filter basket (which has no holes) and a cleaning tablet or powder designed for espresso machines. Run the cleaning cycle as instructed in the user manual. This process should be done once a month or more frequently if you use the machine heavily.
• Descale the machine: Depending on the hardness of your water, descaling should be done every 1-3 months. The Sage Barista Touch Impress will notify you when it's time to descale. Use a descaling solution compatible with espresso machines and follow the instructions carefully. Descaling removes mineral buildup in the water lines and boiler, ensuring the machine heats water efficiently.

Additional tips for longevity

• Use fresh, quality water: Always use filtered or bottled water to minimize mineral buildup inside the machine. Hard water can lead to scale formation, which affects performance and the taste of your coffee.
• Empty the bean hopper when not in use: If you're not planning to use the machine for a few days, empty the bean hopper to prevent the beans from going stale or the oils from turning rancid, which can affect the taste of your coffee.
• Store the machine properly: If you're not using the machine for an extended period, clean it thoroughly, including descaling and wiping down all parts. Store it in a dry, dust-free environment.
• Check the seals and gaskets: Periodically check the seals, especially around the group head and portafilter, for wear and tear. Replacing them when necessary ensures that the machine maintains proper pressure during brewing.

By following these maintenance steps, you can significantly extend the lifespan of your Sage Barista Touch Impress and continue to enjoy high-quality coffee for years to come. Regular cleaning and proper care not only maintain the machine’s performance but also protect your investment, ensuring that each cup of coffee is brewed to perfection.

What we at OR coffee Roasters think about the Sage Barista Touch Impress

At OR Coffee Roasters, we’re impressed with the Sage Barista Touch Impress. Its user-friendly interface and advanced features make it a strong contender for anyone serious about home espresso. The quality of the brews and convenience of the automatic milk frother are standout aspects that align well with our standards.

Final thoughts on the Sage Barista Touch Impress

The Sage Barista Touch Impress is a top-tier espresso machine that delivers on its promises. Its intuitive touchscreen, precise temperature control, and integrated grinder make it a valuable addition to any coffee lover’s kitchen. While its higher price point and size may be considerations for some, the quality and convenience it offers justify the investment for those seeking a premium coffee experience.