Sage Coffee machines (again) - Impress model
Discussion
I've had a Barista Express for 9 years now and despite heavy use it's been absolutely bullet proof (except for a replacement burr grinder in the first 3 months done under guarantee).
I'm thinking its time for an upgrade and I'm focussing on the Impress - I don't need anything more fancy than the Express but this seems to deal with some of it's shortcomings such as acheiving a consistent doseage.
Question is - does anyone have one and has it been reliable?
The tamping function looks wizzo but it also looks like something that could give trouble down the line.
Any comments appreciated.
I'm thinking its time for an upgrade and I'm focussing on the Impress - I don't need anything more fancy than the Express but this seems to deal with some of it's shortcomings such as acheiving a consistent doseage.
Question is - does anyone have one and has it been reliable?
The tamping function looks wizzo but it also looks like something that could give trouble down the line.
Any comments appreciated.
We spent weeks researching what bean to cup to buy and finally decided to go 'all in' with a Jura Z10 bloody expensive but Wifey had a nice bonus from work so that was nice 
Had it well over a month and absolutely love the ease of use and variety of coffees already programmed in.
Even does a Latte Macchiato with one touch of a button.....
Had it well over a month and absolutely love the ease of use and variety of coffees already programmed in.Even does a Latte Macchiato with one touch of a button.....
Had ours about three months now. Love it, although it only gets very light use. The tamping mechanism seems pretty simple (you can see it in action with the shroud removed) so can’t imagine there’d be much to go wrong.
The only thing I’m not sure about is whether I should be replacing the water filter every three months like it says to (I only use it twice a week) or is this just marketing money-making boll**ks to make you buy their filters more often than is really needed…
Image and video below
The only thing I’m not sure about is whether I should be replacing the water filter every three months like it says to (I only use it twice a week) or is this just marketing money-making boll**ks to make you buy their filters more often than is really needed…
Image and video below
jonott said:
Had ours about three months now. Love it, although it only gets very light use. The tamping mechanism seems pretty simple (you can see it in action with the shroud removed) so can’t imagine there’d be much to go wrong.
The only thing I’m not sure about is whether I should be replacing the water filter every three months like it says to (I only use it twice a week) or is this just marketing money-making boll**ks to make you buy their filters more often than is really needed…
Image and video below
Thanks for this!The only thing I’m not sure about is whether I should be replacing the water filter every three months like it says to (I only use it twice a week) or is this just marketing money-making boll**ks to make you buy their filters more often than is really needed…
Image and video below
In relation to the water filter I have never changed mine in the 9 years I've had the machine - we are in a very soft water area though so it will depend on where you are I guess
Lotobear said:
jonott said:
Had ours about three months now. Love it, although it only gets very light use. The tamping mechanism seems pretty simple (you can see it in action with the shroud removed) so can’t imagine there’d be much to go wrong.
The only thing I’m not sure about is whether I should be replacing the water filter every three months like it says to (I only use it twice a week) or is this just marketing money-making boll**ks to make you buy their filters more often than is really needed…
Image and video below
Thanks for this!The only thing I’m not sure about is whether I should be replacing the water filter every three months like it says to (I only use it twice a week) or is this just marketing money-making boll**ks to make you buy their filters more often than is really needed…
Image and video below
In relation to the water filter I have never changed mine in the 9 years I've had the machine - we are in a very soft water area though so it will depend on where you are I guess
Lotobear said:
Thanks for this!
In relation to the water filter I have never changed mine in the 9 years I've had the machine - we are in a very soft water area though so it will depend on where you are I guess
The filters are advised at 3 months, or 40 litres of water passed through. If you make one coffee a day, will take you around 500 days to use 40l. In relation to the water filter I have never changed mine in the 9 years I've had the machine - we are in a very soft water area though so it will depend on where you are I guess
I’m in a hard water area, I change about every 6 months, but descale regularly.
Haven’t used the impress but half the enjoyment for me is the process. The impress seems to remove some of that process, but you still have to do all the other manual stages.
I’d say either go for a full bean to cup like the Jura if you don’t want to faff.
Or go for the double boiler and tamp yourself if you want more control.
Like you I have had the Express for some time now, about 10 years, and it has not missed a beat in that time.
A friend of mine has not long had the Impress and I had the opportunity to use it at the weekend for the first time. It worked well, but I'm not sure it would tempt me into an 'upgrade' from the Express. After 10 years with the machine I am fully used to the little adjustments required in both dose and tamp, I almost always get the extraction bang in the middle of the espresso range with the exception of if the beans have been sat for too long or it's a new bean I've not used before.
The tamp feature on the Impress therefore seems to be fixing an issue I don't have, and therefore not worth the upgrade to me, though if I were buying for the first time I would probably be interested. I did wonder about whether it is also just another moving part to go wrong with it at some point, even if it is a fairly simple mechanism as mentioned above, it is not as simple as a solid handheld tamper. I also prefer the slightly more 'industrial' look of the Express but that's a minor point. I suppose only you know if it's worth it to chop in a perfectly good machine for something that I would say is barely an upgrade.
On the filter, I live in a hard water area but for the vast majority of the machine's life we have had a water softener and separate filter tap. I change the in built filter maybe once a year too and have never needed to descale. I've bought one new pack of filters in 10 years.
A friend of mine has not long had the Impress and I had the opportunity to use it at the weekend for the first time. It worked well, but I'm not sure it would tempt me into an 'upgrade' from the Express. After 10 years with the machine I am fully used to the little adjustments required in both dose and tamp, I almost always get the extraction bang in the middle of the espresso range with the exception of if the beans have been sat for too long or it's a new bean I've not used before.
The tamp feature on the Impress therefore seems to be fixing an issue I don't have, and therefore not worth the upgrade to me, though if I were buying for the first time I would probably be interested. I did wonder about whether it is also just another moving part to go wrong with it at some point, even if it is a fairly simple mechanism as mentioned above, it is not as simple as a solid handheld tamper. I also prefer the slightly more 'industrial' look of the Express but that's a minor point. I suppose only you know if it's worth it to chop in a perfectly good machine for something that I would say is barely an upgrade.
On the filter, I live in a hard water area but for the vast majority of the machine's life we have had a water softener and separate filter tap. I change the in built filter maybe once a year too and have never needed to descale. I've bought one new pack of filters in 10 years.
JagYouAre said:
Like you I have had the Express for some time now, about 10 years, and it has not missed a beat in that time.
A friend of mine has not long had the Impress and I had the opportunity to use it at the weekend for the first time. It worked well, but I'm not sure it would tempt me into an 'upgrade' from the Express. After 10 years with the machine I am fully used to the little adjustments required in both dose and tamp, I almost always get the extraction bang in the middle of the espresso range with the exception of if the beans have been sat for too long or it's a new bean I've not used before.
The tamp feature on the Impress therefore seems to be fixing an issue I don't have, and therefore not worth the upgrade to me, though if I were buying for the first time I would probably be interested. I did wonder about whether it is also just another moving part to go wrong with it at some point, even if it is a fairly simple mechanism as mentioned above, it is not as simple as a solid handheld tamper. I also prefer the slightly more 'industrial' look of the Express but that's a minor point. I suppose only you know if it's worth it to chop in a perfectly good machine for something that I would say is barely an upgrade.
On the filter, I live in a hard water area but for the vast majority of the machine's life we have had a water softener and separate filter tap. I change the in built filter maybe once a year too and have never needed to descale. I've bought one new pack of filters in 10 years.
Thanks, that does makes sense - like you I've become used to performing my own micro adjustments to the dose and you know when it's right by the resistance of the portafilter when locking it in.A friend of mine has not long had the Impress and I had the opportunity to use it at the weekend for the first time. It worked well, but I'm not sure it would tempt me into an 'upgrade' from the Express. After 10 years with the machine I am fully used to the little adjustments required in both dose and tamp, I almost always get the extraction bang in the middle of the espresso range with the exception of if the beans have been sat for too long or it's a new bean I've not used before.
The tamp feature on the Impress therefore seems to be fixing an issue I don't have, and therefore not worth the upgrade to me, though if I were buying for the first time I would probably be interested. I did wonder about whether it is also just another moving part to go wrong with it at some point, even if it is a fairly simple mechanism as mentioned above, it is not as simple as a solid handheld tamper. I also prefer the slightly more 'industrial' look of the Express but that's a minor point. I suppose only you know if it's worth it to chop in a perfectly good machine for something that I would say is barely an upgrade.
On the filter, I live in a hard water area but for the vast majority of the machine's life we have had a water softener and separate filter tap. I change the in built filter maybe once a year too and have never needed to descale. I've bought one new pack of filters in 10 years.
That, and having just spaffed a wedge of money on a new bike since I posted this thread, means I'm probably out!
Finally bitten the bullet and just ordered the Impress to replace my 10 year old dead Barista Express (RIP loyal machine).
I ordered direct from Sage and after my daugher (an NHS nurse) provided a discount code it was £568 delivered so I'm quite happy with that.
Looking foward to seeing whether it solves the dosage issue which though manageable has always been something of a hit and miss affair with the Express machine
I ordered direct from Sage and after my daugher (an NHS nurse) provided a discount code it was £568 delivered so I'm quite happy with that.
Looking foward to seeing whether it solves the dosage issue which though manageable has always been something of a hit and miss affair with the Express machine
I have had the impress for nearly 2 weeks moving from a Nespresso machine and the difference is night and day. It is simple enough to use for me as a beginner to the bean to cup espresso machine. I like the tamp function and it was one of the draws for me as everything is more self contained. Overall I am pleased and would recommend.
Lotobear said:
Finally bitten the bullet and just ordered the Impress to replace my 10 year old dead Barista Express (RIP loyal machine).
I ordered direct from Sage and after my daugher (an NHS nurse) provided a discount code it was £568 delivered so I'm quite happy with that.
Looking foward to seeing whether it solves the dosage issue which though manageable has always been something of a hit and miss affair with the Express machine
What happened to your Express in the end? I'm fully expecting mine to go pop at some point, but for now it keeps on going!I ordered direct from Sage and after my daugher (an NHS nurse) provided a discount code it was £568 delivered so I'm quite happy with that.
Looking foward to seeing whether it solves the dosage issue which though manageable has always been something of a hit and miss affair with the Express machine
JagYouAre said:
Lotobear said:
Finally bitten the bullet and just ordered the Impress to replace my 10 year old dead Barista Express (RIP loyal machine).
I ordered direct from Sage and after my daugher (an NHS nurse) provided a discount code it was £568 delivered so I'm quite happy with that.
Looking foward to seeing whether it solves the dosage issue which though manageable has always been something of a hit and miss affair with the Express machine
What happened to your Express in the end? I'm fully expecting mine to go pop at some point, but for now it keeps on going!I ordered direct from Sage and after my daugher (an NHS nurse) provided a discount code it was £568 delivered so I'm quite happy with that.
Looking foward to seeing whether it solves the dosage issue which though manageable has always been something of a hit and miss affair with the Express machine
One added bonus I'm finding with the Impress is it's much less wasteful on grounds as the 'cone' is contained before it gets compressed - I must have lost 15% on each cup with old machine as well as the horrid mess all over the drip tray.
I really like the new machine - was going to say I'm 'impressed' but that would have been a bit naff!
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