How to use the Sage Barista Express

First set-up

Before your first coffee, wash the portafilter, baskets, jug and drip tray in warm soapy water and rinse them. Prepare the water filter as the manual describes and fit it in the tank; our water filter guide covers this. Fill the tank with fresh cold water and the hopper with beans, then lock the hopper into place.

Switch on. The buttons flash while the machine heats and stay lit when it is ready. Many owners run a first flush: lock in the empty portafilter and press the two cup button to run water through, then open the steam dial briefly to purge the wand. This rinses the system and warms the parts.

1. 1

   Wash removable parts and fit the prepared water filter.

2. 2

   Fill the tank with cold water and the hopper with fresh beans.

3. 3

   Switch on and wait for the buttons to stop flashing.

4. 4

   Run water through the group and steam wand once to rinse and warm up.

Grinding and dosing

The grind size dial on the side sets fineness: lower numbers are finer. The grind amount dial on the front sets how much coffee goes into the basket. Choose the single or double wall basket that suits your coffee: single wall baskets are for freshly ground beans, dual wall (pressurised) baskets forgive pre-ground coffee.

Push the portafilter into the grinding cradle to start grinding. It stops automatically, or you can push again to stop. A dose of around 18 g in the double basket is common for this machine; Sage supplies a Razor trimming tool to level the dose to the right height after tamping. A small set of scales makes dosing much more repeatable. See our grind settings guide for starting points.

Tamping

Tap the portafilter gently to settle the grounds, then press down firmly with the supplied tamper, keeping it level. Consistency matters more than force: press until the coffee stops compressing, then twist lightly to polish the surface. Use the Razor tool to check the height and trim any excess, then wipe stray grounds from the rim so the portafilter seals.

Pulling the shot and reading the gauge

Lock the portafilter into the group head, place a cup on the scales or tray, and press the two cup button. The machine starts with low pressure pre-infusion and then rises to full pressure. Watch the gauge: the needle should settle in the marked espresso range.

If the needle stays low and the shot pours fast and pale, grind finer or dose a little more. If the needle goes past the range and the shot drips slowly, grind coarser or dose a little less. A double shot of around 36 to 40 g in 25 to 30 seconds is a sensible starting target. Our espresso dose and ratio guide explains why.

Steaming milk

Fill the jug to just below the spout with cold milk. Turn the dial to the steam position and wait for the light to show steam is ready. Purge the wand briefly into the drip tray, then place the tip just below the milk surface and open the steam. You will hear a gentle hiss as air is drawn in. When the jug feels warm, lower the tip slightly and angle the jug to create a whirlpool. Stop when the jug is hot to touch, around 55 to 65 °C.

Close the steam, wipe the wand with a damp cloth straight away and purge it again. Our guide on how to steam milk with a steam wand covers technique in more detail.

Note:The steam wand, group head and hot water outlet get very hot and can scald. Keep the wand tip in the milk while steaming, purge into the drip tray, and never point it at anyone. Unplug the machine before cleaning.

Daily routine and care

After each session, knock out the puck, rinse the basket and run a little water through the group. Empty the drip tray when the indicator rises. Run the cleaning cycle with a tablet when the clean me light shows, and descale when needed in hard water. Our guides to cleaning and descaling cover each step. If something goes wrong, see our Barista Express problems guide. Comparing it with other Sage models? See our Sage range guide.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does the Barista Express take to heat up? It heats in a short time from cold. Running a flush through the empty portafilter helps warm the group and portafilter fully.

Which basket should I use? Single wall baskets with freshly ground beans give the best results. Dual wall baskets suit pre-ground coffee.

Where can I find the Sage Barista Express manual? Sage publishes manuals on its UK website. Use the one matching your model number, found on the base of the machine.

Why is my shot sour? Sour shots usually mean under extraction. Grind finer or increase the dose slightly, and check the beans are fresh.