Sage Coffee Machine Review: Duo Temperature Pro

UK celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal is no stranger to innovation (triple-cooked chips, anyone?), and his namesake appliance line, Sage by Heston Blumenthal, definitely exemplifies this same penchant for inventiveness and creative design. The Duo Temperature Pro coffee machine offered by Sage is the brainchild of Blumenthal’s knowledge and detail-oriented input.

What sets this machine apart from many others in its class is its use of an electronic PID temperature controller, which is a nifty little device that adjusts and stabilises the temperature of your coffee during the process of extraction. This key feature produces a well-balanced blend of flavours in every cup.

I have put together this Sage coffee machine review to focus on the various features and strengths of the Sage Duo Temperature Pro, and to provide the home barista with plenty of information so that they can make an informed purchasing decision. Enjoy!

Sage Duo Temperature Pro coffee machine review

Sage Duo Temperature Pro

What are you buying?

True to Chef Blumenthal’s ultra-meticulous nature, the Sage Duo Temperature Pro has been cleverly designed to produce bold, rich and flavourful cups of espresso.

As previously mentioned, it utilises an electronic PID controller, which basically helps the machine to “supervise” the extraction process in real-time, constantly recalibrating its temperature settings as needed in order to maintain optimal temperature stability.

The end result of this somewhat scientific approach to brewing is a cup of coffee that contains a remarkable balance of acidity, sweetness and bitterness.

The Duo Temperature Pro also features a low-pressure pre-infusion system that gradually escalates the water pressure at the beginning of the extraction process before applying additional pressure in order to produce an even extraction.

With its high-performance 15-bar pump, the Duo Temperature Pro can achieve the precise amount of pressure to produce perfect cups of espresso every time.

The machine also features a stainless steel water core, which helps to maintain precise and consistent temperature settings throughout the brewing process.

The combination of these well-thought-out features produces one heck of a flavourful cup of coffee.

For the milk-infused coffee lovers: the 360-degree adjustable milk frothing wand

The Duo Temperature Pro also features a 360-degree adjustable milk frothing wand, which is an extremely handy tool for fans of various milk-infused coffee drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, etc. This easily adjustable commercial style steam wand makes texturing milk a no-fuss operation, enabling you to add a rich and creamy kick to your coffee.

Because frothing milk requires much hotter temperatures than what is required for brewing espresso, you can run the risk of producing an extremely bitter shot of espresso if the machine does not adequately cool itself down between frothing and your next espresso shot.

The Duo Temperature Pro has the ability to precisely adjust the temperature for each operation, enabling you to make versatile back-to-back coffee preparations in a snap.

How easy is it to use?

Fortunately, the designers at Breville Group (who owns Sage brand) have made operating the Duo Temp Pro a no-brainer for those of us who do not count ourselves as professional baristas.

Simply insert the portafilter into the group head, lock it into place, and then turn the control dial to the “Espresso” position. Within seconds, your coffee will begin to brew into the cup; it really is as simple as that.

If you happen to favour taller coffee mugs (as I do), you won’t have to fuss with trying to tilt or awkwardly force your mug under the spout, because the Duo Temperature Pro offers extra-tall cup height to accommodate larger mug sizes.

This machine also features a removable 1.8L water tank with integrated water filtration, which makes the preliminary preparations that much easier to deal with. In addition, there is a convenient storage tray located behind the drip tray, which enables you to keep all of your coffee-related accessories in one place.

Easy maintenance: a huge plus for the duo temperature pro

As far as maintenance goes, this is another strong point of the Duo Temperature Pro; it basically “helps” you to maintain the machine by way of including helpful features such as an “Empty Me” indicator light that illuminates when the removable drip tray gets full.

In addition, cleaning the machine is a breeze, as the Duo Temp Pro also comes with a handy set of cleaning accessories including cleaning tablets, a cleaning tool and a silicon cleaning disk.

What accessories are included?

The Sage Duo Temperature Pro comes with a handful of custom designed accessories including a razor precision dose trimming tool, advanced dual wall filter baskets (for pre-ground coffee), single wall filter baskets (for freshly ground coffee), a water filter, and a stainless steel milk jug.

When you purchase the Duo Temperature Pro, you will be adequately equipped to create flavourful cups of espresso right off the bat.

Key features of Sage Duo Temperature Pro

Pros

• PID-controlled temperature stabilisation
• 360-degree rotating steam wand makes positioning your milk frothing much easier
• Quick heat-up time (only 40 seconds to get the machine ready)
• Does not lose steam pressure no matter how long you run the machine
• Active steam purge (no more “temperature surfing”)
• Space-saving design

Cons

• Slightly smaller portafilter (54mm versus the more standard 58mm size)
• No triple solenoid valve, which means that your pucks will still be wet, but this is not a make-or-break issue

Anything else you should know?

I didn’t want to get all the way through this review without mentioning the stylish and sleek design of this machine. I’m a huge proponent of integrating attractive aesthetic elements into functional design, and the Duo Temp Pro as both in spades.

It performs well and looks great, plus it’s not noisy, which is a big plus for those of us early risers who don’t want to incur the wrath of our flatmates when making coffee in the morning. Also, 2 years of warranty are great for your peace of mind.

What customers say?

If you are interested, you can read reviews of some customers who have purchased the Due Temp Pro here. I’ve never seen so many positive reviews on a coffee machine.

Conclusion

All in all, the Sage Duo Temperature Pro makes it easy for you to make rich, balanced and highly flavourful cups of espresso. With only the touch of a few buttons, you can enjoy a fine shot of espresso or a creamy milk-based coffee concoction within only minutes. If you’re considering purchasing the Duo Temperature Pro, I can assure you that the consistent performance and ease of use of this machine will make it well worth your investment.

If you are still undecided, find out which espresso coffee machine has achieved the highest score in our test.

Where to buy?

• Amazon UK: Check today’s price

Frequently asked questions

1. What size cup can you place under the Sage coffee spout?

The Sage coffee machine has a higher than average clearance under the spout. This allows you to fit small espresso cups as well as tall mugs underneath.

2. Can you use the Sage coffee machine with ESE pods?

No, you cannot. The Sage coffee machine accepts only ground coffee. You can use any pre-ground coffee, but freshly ground coffee produces richer and more flavourful coffee. So you may want to get a coffee grinder in addition to the coffee machine.

3. Is the Sage coffee machine any good?

Sage is significantly more expensive than other coffee machines. But the coffee quality is worth the money.

We especially love the precise temperature and pressure control that ensures perfect infusion and extraction. It’s the closest you’ll come to barista-quality coffee.