By clicking a retailer link you consent to third party cookies that track your onward journey. If you make a purchase, Which? will receive an affiliate commission which supports our mission to be the UK's consumer champion.

SageThe Barista Pro SES878BSS

Bean-to-cup
Milk frother

£628.95View retailers

Test score

Lowest available prices

Sign up to unlock the full expert review

The Sage Barista Pro SES878BSS is a manual bean-to-cup coffee machine that offers a hands-on coffee-making experience. Sage claims its Thermojet heating system heats up in just three seconds so your morning cuppa should be ready in a flash. Find out whether you'll be able to use it to make speedy coffee like a pro in our full review.

pros

Content has been blurred out, please log in to view.

cons

What's included?

What is it?
What's it great at?
Is there anything I should watch out for?
Is there anything else I should know?
Should I buy it?

Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time

KEY TEST RESULTS
Speed of making an espresso
Ease of use

Jul 2023Last checked by Which?
Aug 2019First reviewed by Which?
Apr 2019Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test coffee machines

3 Apr 2024

Taste

Overall
Espresso (using beans)
Cappuccino

How we test taste

Our expert tasting panel rate the quality of espresso produced by the machine, taking into account the taste, aroma and appearance of the espresso. If a coffee machine comes with a milk-frothing system, our panel rate the quality of cappuccino, taking into account the taste, aroma and appearance of the cappuccino, as well as how thick the froth is and how well it blends with the coffee.

Quality of espresso

Overall
Speed of making an espresso
Temperature of espresso

How we test quality of espresso

Our expert tasting panel rate the quality of espresso produced by the machine, taking into account the taste, aroma and appearance of the espresso. We also measure the temperature of the espresso and how quickly it's produced.

Ease of use

Overall
Instructions
Preparing the machine
Cleaning
Descaling

How we test ease of use

Our ease-of-use rating takes into account how simple the instructions are to understand and follow and how easy it is to prepare the machine for use. We also assess how straightforward the cleaning and descaling processes are.

Energy efficiency

How we test energy efficiency

We measure the amount of energy the coffee machine uses to heat up and make coffee. We also check how much energy it uses in standby mode.

Machine performance

Overall
Making two espressos at once

How we test machine performance

We test how quickly the machine makes espresso, how hot the coffee is and how well it froths milk, if the coffee machine comes with a milk frothing system. For machines that can make two espressos at once, we also measure the volume and temperature of the coffee in each cup to see if you end up with two evenly matched espressos.

Quality of cappuccino

Overall
Milk frothing
Ease of using milk frother

How we test quality of cappuccino

If a coffee machine comes with a milk-frothing system, our panel rate the quality of cappuccino, taking into account the taste, aroma and appearance of the cappuccino, as well as how thick the froth is and how well it blends with the coffee. We also assess how easy it is to use and clean the milk frother.

Quietness

How we test quietness

Our expert lab testers subjectively rate how noisy each coffee machine is when preparing an espresso. This subjective assessment is paired with an objective measurement of the decibel level. A very quiet model will earn itself five stars, while a very noisy machine will only pick up one.

Features
Includes milk frother	Milk frother
Froth type	Manual (steam pipe)
Water filter	Yes
Cup warmer	Yes
Smart control	No

General
Type	Bean-to-cup
Pressure (bar)	15
Colour	Silver
Ground coffee	Yes
Coffee beans	Yes
ESE pods	No
Height	41cm
Width	35cm
Depth	35cm
Weight	10kg
Length of power cord (cm)	100cm
Number of espressos	2
Water tank capacity	2 litres
Bean hopper (g)	250
Manufacturer guarantee	1-5 years
Manufacturer guarantee terms	Sage coffee machines have between a one and five year guarantee, depending on the model.
Review details	We are continually making improvements to our tests. We last changed our test programme in April 2023 which means that, if you’re looking at results for coffee machines tested before and after this date, they will not be directly comparable.

Compare retailers

Prices updated daily

Prices are ordered from lowest to highest, irrespective of retailer rating or stock, and exclude any potential delivery costs. We are not able to show every possible retailer and cheaper prices may be available.

Suggested Alternatives

Siemens

EQ700 TP705GB1

Bean-to-cup
Milk frother

£719View retailers

Test score

DeLonghi

Piccolo XS EDG210.R

Dolce Gusto
Pods
No milk frother

£34.99View retailers

Test score

Bosch

Tassimo Finesse TAS16B4GB

Tassimo
Pods
No milk frother

£39View retailers

Test score

Best coffee machines for 2024
Not sure what type of coffee machine to buy? Our reviews and buying advice will help you find the best coffee machine for you
How we test coffee machines
Discover how far we go to find the Best Buys, so you can make the best coffee at home
Best bean-to-cup coffee machines for 2024
Choose your perfect bean-to-cup coffee machine from our Best Buy round-up, plus get advice on useful machine features to look for

All coffee machine advice

SageThe Barista Pro SES878BSS

Lowest available prices