Best Semi-Automatic for Beginners
Sage
Sage Barista Touch Impress
8.9/ 10
Amazon: 4.5★ from 720 ratings
£1,099.00
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Key features
- Impress Puck System (assisted dosing & tamping)
- Colour touchscreen with guided workflow
- ThermoJet 3-second heat-up
- Auto MilQ milk texturing
- Integrated conical burr grinder, 30 settings
- Cold extraction capability
- 54mm portafilter
Our verdict
The Barista Touch Impress bridges the gap between fully automatic convenience and hands-on espresso craft. Its signature Impress Puck System guides you through dosing and applies a precise 10kg tamping pressure with a satisfying barista twist, making repeatable espresso accessible to total beginners. The colour touchscreen walks you through each step, and Auto MilQ handles milk texturing for dairy, oat, almond or soy. If you want to learn the art of espresso without the steep learning curve, this is the machine to start with.
Pros
- ✓Makes espresso accessible to beginners
- ✓Impress system ensures consistent pucks
- ✓Excellent Auto MilQ for all milk types
- ✓Beautiful stainless steel build
- ✓Touchscreen guides every step
Cons
- ✗Expensive for a semi-automatic
- ✗54mm portafilter (not standard 58mm)
- ✗Still requires more effort than fully automatic
- ✗Large and heavy
