SageThe Oracle BES980UK

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.