A Beginner's Guide to Using the SAGE 'Barista Express Impress' Coffee Machine
We recently bought a SAGE 'Barista Express Impress' coffee machine (read that blog post here), and we're loving it. But it does take some getting used to. Despite it being semi-automatic, it's still not as easy to use as a fully automatic coffee machine, like our old Delonghi one, especially if you're new to the coffee-making game. So I thought it would be useful to provide you with a beginner's guide to using the SAGE 'Barista Express Impress' coffee machine. Let's get started!
What you need to know before you start
There are a few things that you need to know before it begin to even think about making a coffee. You should have the following things ready:
- Fresh whole coffee beans (the fresher the better)
- Water in the tank
- Milk (preferably whole to make latte art easier)
- The milk jug (provided)
- The portafilter and filter basket (provided)
- A SAGE 'knock box' (available to buy separately)
- A cloth for wiping the steam wand and tray
Setting the machine up for the first time
When you first unbox it
- Take all removable parts and wash them thoroughly, including the water tank, the portafilter, the baskets, the milk jugs and the drip tray
- Insert the water filter into the tank
- Fill the tank with fresh water (from the tap is fine, thanks to its filter)
- Lock the bean hopper in place at the top of the machine
- Add the fresh beans to the hopper
- Turn the machine on (IMPORTANT: Follow the SAGE manual that comes with the machine to set the machine up properly)
Learning the main parts
Front controls:
- 1 cup button = single shot
- 2 cup button = double shot
- Steam button = activates the steam wand
- Grind/dose controls = controls coffee grinding
- Pressure gauge = shows extraction pressure
The 'Impress' puck system
This machine will help to make sure that you're grinding the right amount of coffee, tamping the grounds evenly and reducing any mess that might result of manual, external tamping. 'Tamping' is the act of squashing down ground coffee into a 'puck' type shape, whilst the ground coffee is still dry.
You don't have to worry about doing this manually as the SAGE coffee machine allows for assisted tamping, where it will apply consistent pressure with a finishing twist. This is where the lever on the side of the machine comes into play.
Making your first cup of coffee: Starting with a basic latte
Step 1: turn the machine on
Turn the machine on and wait until all of the lights stop flashing. I would run and empty shot first and them warm up the cup and the portafilter.
Step 2: insert the portafilter to grind
Put the portafilter into the grinder cradle and then press the 'dose' button. This will automatically grind the beans into a fine ground. You need to make sure that the coarseness is right. This can take some trial and error to get right, along with the basket size and fineness of the mesh. I'd recommend taking your time trying to find the right bean grind by using the dial on the side of the machine (on the same side as the tamper lever).
Step 3: tamp using the lever on the side of the machine
Once the machine has ground the coffee needed, and you've got it to how you like it, then it's time to tamp the coffee grounds down. Do this by pressing the lever down on the side of the machine. When you've done this, the machine will tell you whether you have too much or too little coffee grounds in the portafilter.
This is indicated with a light system at the front of the machine. If the light goes red, and above the line, then there's too much coffee grounds. If the light goes red, but below the line, then there's too little. It's an easy light system to get your head around - ideal if you're a beginner, like me.
If there's too much, use the scraper that comes with the machine to lift the excess off. If there's not enough, then simply press the 'dose' button again. This will give you the right amount of coffee grounds needed to move onto the next step in the process.
Step 4: lock in the portafilter
Once you've got the coffee ground balance right, it's time to put the portafilter into the other side of the machine, next to the steam wand. Press it up into the void and then twist for a tight fit. For a latte, I like to add two shots of espresso, so press the 2 cup button on the front of the machine. A few good signs that your espresso is running as it should, and that it will taste good, include:
- Starts dripping after several seconds
- There's a thick golden stream
- It finishes in roughly 25-25 seconds in total
- There's a rich crema on the top
- The pressure gauge goes to around the middle of the dial throughout the pouring of the espresso
Step 5: frothing the milk
As soon as the espresso has emptied into the cup, it's time to froth the milk. Add the milk to the jug, filling it to just below the spout. Press the steam button and wait for it to heat up. Be careful, because it can dribble water out first.
What I do here is I let it do that and then put the wand into the jug. Heat the milk up to a temperature where you can no longer touch the jug. Also, the milk needs to be swirling round in a circle if you want the right consistency for latte art.
Step 6: pouring the milk into the mug
Always pour the milk into the espresso. Tilt the cup to one side and pour the milk in. When you reach the foam, slow down slightly to allow for the foam to sit on the top. You don't have to do fancy latte art yet, just enjoy the cup of coffee you've made with your SAGE 'Barista Express Impress' coffee machine!
Troubleshooting
The coffee is too sour, weak or fast-flowing
Try making the grind size finer, user fresher beans and make sure you're tamping properly.
The coffee is too bitter, slow or barely drips
Try making the grind size coarser, use slightly less coffee and give the basket a clean as it could be clogged. Usually, grind adjustment will do the trick for both issues, but it's worth checking other things, just in case.
Cleaning the machine
Daily cleaning
Cleaning the machine daily is important. For me, personally, I will knock out the used puck, rinse the basket, wipe the steam wand clean, empty the drip tray and brush loose grounds away after every single use.
Weekly cleaning
Every week, I will backflush/ give the machine a cleaning cycle as and when it asks for it. I'll also clean the grinder area.
Common mistakes to avoid
With a coffee machine like this, it can be easy to make mistakes. A few things that you should try to avoid when it comes to using the SAGE coffee machine are as follows:
- Using old beans
- Ignoring the grind size
- Overheating the milk
- Chasing the pressure gauge too much
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post and that you found it useful? Have you got any tips for beginners when it comes to using the SAGE 'Barista Express Impress' coffee machine? Let me know in the comments below and I'll see you all again soon with some brand new content!
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