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Sage Barista Express

keith_d99

After 6 years with a Delonghi Magnifica B2C - am thinking of going upgrading to a semi-automatic machine .... and specifically the Barista Express.
Always buy fresh beans .. so might as well think about using a better machine?

Have read reviews, watch vids etc. ... and the only negative is that the grinder adjustments could be a bit finer.

What I do like ...

- reviews are very positive otherwise
- the gauge ... which genuinely should help produce a good shot
- the price @ 575
- separate grinder and something like the Gaggia Classic would be more expensive
- Looks great (which makes it an easier sell to the missus)
- frother gets good kudos too

Any owners out there that could give feedback?

Also ... any B2C machine owners make a similar upgrade? Can I expect much higher quality shots than the Delonghi?

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raytaxi

Java republic have the express down here's link, others down as well
https://www.javarepublic.com/shop/barista-express/

ExMachina1000

5500 wrote: »

Will try that, i only ever use premier dairys full fat but will try another brand and see how it goes

At least it will rule out the milk.

alec76

5500 wrote: »

Will try that, i only ever use premier dairys full fat but will try another brand and see how it goes

Try Avonmore milk
make sure it is FRESH and very cold.

Damo 2k9

5500 wrote: »

Anyone got any tips for me, Im using the express and usually turn it on for bout 10 minutes before using to allow heat up.
All is well untill it comes to steaming the milk. Originally I was placing the wand tip at the top of the milk for about 20/25 seconds and was happy with the microfoam ect, but the past week something seems up with it.

I could leave the wand at the tip for 40/50 seconds before dropping to heat up (which also seems to be taking an age all of a sudden) and I'm still getiing a watery texture on the milk. If you try to make a second latte after the first then it tends to be even worse.

The machine in only a few weeks old, always clean and purge the wand ect and no issue with the actual steam coming out, Im wondering if its something boiler related or if its actually the norm for everyone else?

My head was wrecked about 2-3 weeks ago, I was experiencing the exact same as yourself. But as the lads have said above, it is milk related. I think it was just bad milk we were getting.

JustJoe7240

Damo 2k9 wrote: »

My head was wrecked about 2-3 weeks ago, I was experiencing the exact same as yourself. But as the lads have said above, it is milk related. I think it was just bad milk we were getting.

It's not that you got "bad milk", It's more than likely to do with the cows diet, Cows go from a fresh grass based diet to a preserved grass diet from the first week of November to around the middle of February

dubstepper

I use low fat super milk for the last year with a consistent taste and texture.

DaveyDave

This is driving me nuts. Recently posted about changing the internal burr back to 5, to restart the dialing in process. Now I'm back at 1 internal, 4 on the dial, 19g coffee (that's just what came out on the second lowest grind amount) and it pulled for 10 seconds including perfusion. If I drop it to 1, the absolute lowest setting and I'm not getting 25 second pulls what can I do?

Coffee is 3 weeks old stored air tight. New subscription will be sent this week.

FileNotFound

DaveyDave wrote: »

This is driving me nuts. Recently posted about changing the internal burr back to 5, to restart the dialing in process. Now I'm back at 1 internal, 4 on the dial, 19g coffee (that's just what came out on the second lowest grind amount) and it pulled for 10 seconds including perfusion. If I drop it to 1, the absolute lowest setting and I'm not getting 25 second pulls what can I do?

Coffee is 3 weeks old stored air tight. New subscription will be sent this week.

If you have tried adjusting the inner Burr to all its options and still not grinding fine enough it may be broken. Maybe the plastic parts have worn down - assuming you've used it a lot.

Have any other beans you know have worked to check?

ExMachina1000

DaveyDave wrote: »

This is driving me nuts. Recently posted about changing the internal burr back to 5, to restart the dialing in process. Now I'm back at 1 internal, 4 on the dial, 19g coffee (that's just what came out on the second lowest grind amount) and it pulled for 10 seconds including perfusion. If I drop it to 1, the absolute lowest setting and I'm not getting 25 second pulls what can I do?

Coffee is 3 weeks old stored air tight. New subscription will be sent this week.

Buy a bag of pre ground for espresso coffee and try pouring a shot. If it is still no good then it's the machine. If its better than it was then it's the grinder

alec76

DaveyDave wrote: »

This is driving me nuts. Recently posted about changing the internal burr back to 5, to restart the dialing in process. Now I'm back at 1 internal, 4 on the dial, 19g coffee (that's just what came out on the second lowest grind amount) and it pulled for 10 seconds including perfusion. If I drop it to 1, the absolute lowest setting and I'm not getting 25 second pulls what can I do?

Coffee is 3 weeks old stored air tight. New subscription will be sent this week.

Contact them
https://www.sageappliances.com/uk/en/support/sage-support.html
it might be easily fixed .
They might sent you a shim kit( set of washers) to fix this

https://coffeeforums.co.uk/topic/35781-shim-kit-advice/

CWF

https://www.sageappliances.com/uk/en/products/espresso/bes875.html

Picked up the Stainless Steel version for €510 including delivery to Parcel Wizard. Use code GlobalCoffeeFestival-KWNRtm5u for discount.

Came across the deal on https://www.hotukdeals.com/tag/sage

FileNotFound

CWF wrote: »

https://www.sageappliances.com/uk/en/products/espresso/bes875.html

Picked up the Stainless Steel version l for €510 including delivery to Parcel Wizard. Use code GlobalCoffeeFestival-KWNRtm5u for discount.

Came across the deal on https://www.hotukdeals.com/tag/sage

Good price, now the fun begins. The presets and guage zones are good for milk based but you'll want to leave them behind for espresso. Had mine a while and only now getting espresso right.

Ash_

Black Sesame is down to £399 on Amazon UK.

CWF

FileNotFound wrote: »

Good price, now the fun begins. The presets and guage zones are good for milk based but you'll want to leave them behind for espresso. Had mine a while and only now getting espresso right.

What would your advice be for espresso?

CWF

Ash_ wrote: »

Black Sesame is down to £399 on Amazon UK.

Gonzo.

Fall_Guy

DaveyDave wrote: »

This is driving me nuts. Recently posted about changing the internal burr back to 5, to restart the dialing in process. Now I'm back at 1 internal, 4 on the dial, 19g coffee (that's just what came out on the second lowest grind amount) and it pulled for 10 seconds including perfusion. If I drop it to 1, the absolute lowest setting and I'm not getting 25 second pulls what can I do?

Coffee is 3 weeks old stored air tight. New subscription will be sent this week.

Definitely something wrong there, one of the slightly annoying aspects of the express is the pre-infusion time can't be changed easily, and it's set at 10 seconds, so no way a shot should be out in 10.

For comparison, the current brew I've settled on for the beans I have at the minute (Ponaire columbian) is 17.5g dose for a 30g yield in 27-28 seconds. Grind is set to 3 on the dial and I've never had to go near the internal burr.

rowanh

I Just got one of these earlier today, 540 for the stainless one, ships on Dec 8th so have to wait in anticipation for a while! It is an upgrade from a Nespresso so I am expecting good things

Any suggestions on beans to get to use in it? I would love to be able to make espresso like you get in Rome, really thick and strong.

SneakyDoyle

rowanh wrote: »

I Just got one of these earlier today, 540 for the stainless one, ships on Dec 8th so have to wait in anticipation for a while! It is an upgrade from a Nespresso so I am expecting good things

Any suggestions on beans to get to use in it? I would love to be able to make espresso like you get in Rome, really thick and strong.

Enjoy!

My advice is be prepared to waste a couple of bags of beans getting the hang of it. If you like the bold, old school Italian style espresso go for dark roasts.

Also ignore the pressure gauge to a degree and focus on extraction time. Pressure was perfect me but shots were sour and under extracted. Getting the extraction time close to 30 seconds yielded much better espresso!

flash84962

SneakyDoyle wrote:

Also ignore the pressure gauge to a degree and focus on extraction time. Pressure was perfect me but shots were sour and under extracted. Getting the extraction time close to 30 seconds yielded much better espresso!

Do you include the pre-extraction time in the 30sec? As in start timing when you press the button?

CWF

When buying beans am I looking whole bean or Espresso (fine) for this machine?

SneakyDoyle

CWF wrote: »

When buying beans am I looking whole bean or Espresso (fine) for this machine?

Whole bean goes into the grinder!

dubstepper

CWF wrote: »

When buying beans am I looking whole bean or Espresso (fine) for this machine?

Whole beans as said. Also maybe get a bag of cheap beans to do some experiments. If you buy the good stuff you will waste a bunch at the start getting your head around it.

ShadowSA

flash84962 wrote: »

Do you include the pre-extraction time in the 30sec? As in start timing when you press the button?

From when you press the button. Should be between 20 - 30 seconds.

Samuel T. Cogley

I just press the button and make coffee - clearly I've been missing out! Subscribed for a full read.

Very happy with my (obviously under utilised) machine!

DaveyDave

DaveyDave wrote: »

This is driving me nuts. Recently posted about changing the internal burr back to 5, to restart the dialing in process. Now I'm back at 1 internal, 4 on the dial, 19g coffee (that's just what came out on the second lowest grind amount) and it pulled for 10 seconds including perfusion. If I drop it to 1, the absolute lowest setting and I'm not getting 25 second pulls what can I do?

Coffee is 3 weeks old stored air tight. New subscription will be sent this week.

Fresh bag of coffee, slight increase in extraction time and more crema but still not getting 25-30 seconds at the absolute lowest setting. Waiting for Sage customer support to get back to me. Hopefully won't be too long!

ExMachina1000

DaveyDave wrote: »

Fresh bag of coffee, slight increase in extraction time and more crema but still not getting 25-30 seconds at the absolute lowest setting. Waiting for Sage customer support to get back to me. Hopefully won't be too long!

Post a picture of the grounds pre brew.

DaveyDave

ExMachina1000 wrote: »

Post a picture of the grounds pre brew.

I give it a bit of a jiggle when it's grinding to prevent spill. A good force tamp without pushing my body weight into it. This one was 19g in, 67g out. More bitter than a coffee I had earlier though.

alec76

Definitely too coarse for the finest settings.

alec76

I don't have Sage Barista ( thankfully ) , but I was silly enough to buy Sage Grinder , i presume they shared similar design.
It was easy job to remove lower burr , 10mm nut , reverse thread , you should turn it clockwise to remove it. I would try to see what going on there first . Maybe it is not sits correctly or something similar. Don't overtighten it after.
ps. I am DIY person, always sticking my nose in places I probably shouldn't,so may be you shouldn't do it too until it on warranty.

mighty magpie

would you buy a pre owned model? and for how much?

2 years old but only used a handful of times and has all the accesories, not a mark on it.