Sage the Barista Pro and Barista Touch Impress Cold Brew Reviewed: Which Level of Control Best Suits You? 

Choosing an espresso machine becomes easier when you consider how much of the brewing process you want to manage yourself. This comparison covers 2 very different Sage espresso machines, from mid-range to high-end: the Barista Pro and Barista Touch Impress Cold Brew offer a different balance of control and support.

Both machines grind fresh beans and brew coffee through a portafilter. The main difference is how much help they provide with preparing the coffee, texturing milk and correcting mistakes. This means you can choose between a more manual routine and a machine that gives extra support with coffee preparation, milk texturing and cold drinks. 

Sage Barista Pro and Touch Impress Cold Brew Features Compared

The machines combine an integrated grinder with hands-on espresso preparation, but each offers a different level of guidance. The table below shows how the Touch Impress Cold Brew adds touchscreen controls, automatic milk texturing and help with coffee preparation compared with the Barista Pro. 

What Do The Espresso Machines Share?

Although they offer different levels of help, both machines prepare espresso in the same basic way. 

• Built-in grinder with 30 settings: grinds fresh beans directly into the filter handle. You can adjust the setting if the espresso pours too quickly or slowly.
• Ready in around three seconds: the heating system starts quickly, so there is little waiting before you begin.
• Gentle start to brewing: the machine wets the coffee first, then uses stronger pressure. This helps the water flow through more evenly.
• Single- and dual-wall filter baskets: dual-wall baskets make espresso easier for beginners, while single-wall baskets give you more control once you understand grind size and coffee amount. 
• Hot-water function: provides hot water for Americanos, tea or warming cups.

Which Features Differ Between the Models?

Both machines can make good espresso. The main difference is how much help they give you during preparation. The Barista Pro keeps the process more manual, while the Touch Impress Cold Brew gives more guidance and completes more steps for you.

• Controls: the Barista Pro uses buttons, dials and a small screen. The Touch Impress Cold Brew uses a touchscreen with clear drink choices and step-by-step guidance.
• Saved drinks: the Touch Impress Cold Brew can save personalised drinks. The Barista Pro only remembers the amount of water used for espresso.
• Coffee preparation: the Barista Pro leaves you to measure and press the ground coffee yourself. The Touch Impress Cold Brew checks the amount and helps press it evenly.
• Milk preparation: the Barista Pro requires you to prepare milk by hand. The Touch Impress Cold Brew can texture milk automatically to your chosen temperature and foam level.
• Settings for different milks: only the Touch Impress Cold Brew has separate settings for dairy, oat, almond and soy milk.
• Fast cold coffee: only the Touch Impress Cold Brew makes cold brew in under three minutes and Cold Espresso in under two minutes.

Sage The Barista Pro: Where Home Barista Skills Begin 

Making espresso at home can become a rewarding skill. The Sage Barista Pro gives you useful information while leaving the main preparation steps in your hands. It suits people who want to learn, experiment and improve their drinks over time. However, consistent results require some practice.

Key features

• Simple screen: shows the grinder setting and brewing time.
• Physical controls: make it quick to change the coffee settings.
• Manual coffee pressing: lets you prepare the ground coffee yourself.
• Manual milk preparation: gives you control over the milk temperature and foam.

Sage Barista Pro Pros and Cons

Best for: Developing coffee enthusiasts who want an espresso machine that provides useful information while leaving coffee pressing and milk preparation in their hands.

Final Verdict: The Sage Barista Pro offers a good balance of support and hands-on control. Its screen helps you follow the grinder setting and brewing time, but you still make the important adjustments yourself. It is a strong choice if you want to build your skills instead of following automatic instructions.

Sage The Barista Touch Impress Cold Brew: A Faster and Easier Way to Enjoy Cold Brew

Using the right amount of coffee and pressing it evenly can be difficult for beginners. The Sage Barista Touch Impress Cold Brew provides extra help with both steps. It offers the easier routine of the two machines. It also prepares different types of milk and makes iced coffee.

Key Features

• Coffee amount check: shows whether you have used too little, enough or too much coffee.
• Assisted pressing: uses a lever to press the coffee evenly.
• Guided touchscreen: shows each step needed to prepare your chosen drink.
• Automatic milk: prepares dairy, oat, almond and soy milk at your chosen temperature and foam level.
• Fast cold brew: makes cold-brew-style coffee in under three minutes.
• Cold espresso: prepares a shorter cold coffee in under two minutes.

Sage Barista Touch Impress Cold Brew Pros and Cons

Best for: Beginners, shared households and iced coffee drinkers who want a high-end espresso machine with plenty of guidance.

Final Verdict: The Sage Barista Touch Impress makes hot and cold coffee preparation easier to manage and repeat. It is a strong choice if you want help with the coffee amount, pressing and milk while keeping some hands-on involvement.

If you want to learn more about espresso machines that make cold brew in under 5 minutes read my full guide. 

Note: The standard Sage Barista Touch Impress SES881 offers the same touchscreen guidance, coffee amount checks, assisted pressing and automatic milk preparation. However, it does not include the dedicated Cold Brew or Cold Espresso programmes found on the newer SES882 model that is covered in this guide.

How to Choose the Right Sage Coffee Machine

The best choice is not simply the machine with the largest screen or the most features. Think about which part of coffee preparation you find most difficult or would prefer the machine to handle.

• Choose the Barista Pro if you want a mid-range machine that helps you build manual coffee-making skills. It shows useful brewing information, while leaving coffee pressing and milk preparation in your hands.
• Choose the Barista Touch Impress Cold Brew  if you want a high-end machine with the most guidance. It checks the coffee amount, helps press it evenly and makes fast cold brew. It is also a good choice for people with different experience levels.

Both have an integrated grinder. This keeps the setup together, but the grinder cannot be upgraded separately. If you would prefer to choose your own grinder, our Sage Bambino vs Bambino Plus buying guide covers two espresso machine-only alternatives.

Sage Espresso Machine FAQ

What is the main difference between the Sage Barista Pro and Touch Impress Cold Brew?
The Barista Pro offers a more hands-on espresso routine with manual coffee pressing and manual milk preparation. The Touch Impress Cold Brew gives more guidance, checks the coffee amount, assists pressing, prepares milk automatically and makes fast cold coffee.

Which Sage espresso machine is best for beginners?
The Touch Impress Cold Brew is better for beginners because it gives more guidance. It helps measure and press the coffee, while the touchscreen explains each step.

Which espresso machine is best for learning barista skills?
The Barista Pro is better for learning manual skills because coffee pressing and milk preparation stay in your hands. This gives you more opportunities to practise and improve.

Which espresso machine makes the best espresso?
Both espresso machines can make good espresso. The final result still depends on fresh beans, the right grind setting and careful preparation.

Are these fully automatic espresso machines?
No. You must still move, insert, empty and rinse the filter handle yourself.

Which espresso machine prepares milk automatically?
The Touch Impress Cold Brew prepares milk automatically to your chosen temperature and foam level. The Barista Pro requires manual milk preparation.

Can both espresso machines make iced coffee?
Yes. Both espresso machines can brew hot espresso to pour over ice. Only the Touch Impress Cold Brew has dedicated Cold Brew and Cold Espresso programmes.

Which Sage espresso machine makes cold brew?
The Touch Impress Cold Brew BES882 makes cold-brew-style coffee in under three minutes. It also makes Cold Espresso in under two minutes.