Sage Barista Express or Sage Barista Pro?

Our verdict

Today the difference is €120: the Sage Barista Express costs €459, the Sage Barista Pro €579.

The Barista Express and the Barista Pro are both portafilter machines with a built-in grinder with conical steel burrs, a 54 mm portafilter, a 2 litre water tank and a steam wand you work yourself. The way of working is therefore the same: you grind, tamp, brew and froth yourself.

The difference is in two parts. The Pro has ThermoJet heating, which Sage builds to reach temperature in a few seconds; the Express uses Thermocoil, and the difference between the two is mostly heat-up time. And the Pro’s grinder has 30 settings against 16 on the Express. More settings give you more steps in between to match the grind to your beans.

Watch the width too: the Pro is 35.4 cm wide, the Express 31.8 cm. The Express has a 450 gram bean hopper; for the Pro we have no stated capacity. Both carry a 2 year warranty, and on both Sage asks you to replace the water filter every 3 months.

Our verdict: if you only switch the machine on when you want coffee, or like to fine-tune the grind, the Pro gives you the most. If price matters or worktop space is short, the Express serves you just as well: it brews the same way with the same portafilter, and the same separate tamper fits both.