Sage Barista Pro SES878 - Home Espresso Machine with Grinder

Most of what separates a good espresso from a disappointing one comes down to two things: how evenly the coffee is ground, and how steady the water temperature is when it reaches the puck. The Sage Barista Pro SES878 handles both in one machine. A built-in conical burr grinder doses straight into the 54mm portafilter, and the ThermoJet heating system reaches brewing temperature in 3 seconds, then switches to steam almost instantly. There's no waiting between pulling a shot and texturing milk.

PID digital temperature control keeps the brew water steady, and you can adjust it to suit the coffee. Low-pressure pre-infusion wets the coffee evenly before full 9-bar extraction begins, which makes shots more forgiving of small differences in distribution and tamping. The LCD shows grind and shot progress as you go, so it's easy to see what changed from one shot to the next.

It's a natural step up for anyone moving on from an entry-level machine or pressurised baskets who wants real control without buying a separate grinder. All 30 grind settings sit within the espresso range, in finer steps than older Sage grinders, which makes dialling in quicker. The manual steam wand produces proper microfoam for flat whites, cappuccinos and latte art.

How it compares

Compared with the original Barista Express, the Barista Pro heats up faster thanks to ThermoJet rather than a thermocoil, has nearly twice as many grind steps, and replaces the pressure gauge with an LCD display. The Sage Barista Express Impress adds assisted tamping and automatic dose correction, which suits anyone who'd rather the machine took care of puck prep. If you'd like to learn the craft hands-on and want the quickest switch from shot to steam, the Barista Pro is the one to choose.

Dialling in

Our espresso brew guide uses a 1:2 ratio, 17g in and 34g out, in 25 to 30 seconds. Sage recommends a 19g to 22g dose for the Barista Pro's double basket, so keep the same ratio and scale up, for example 19g in and 38g out. If the shot runs fast and tastes sour, grind finer. If it runs slow and tastes bitter, grind coarser. Change one thing at a time and weigh both dose and yield, so you know exactly what made the difference.

Coffee to pair with it

The Barista Pro handles everything from lighter, fruit-forward espresso to darker, chocolatey roasts. For milk drinks, Our House is our everyday blend, with milk chocolate, caramel and roasted nuts, and Hodson brings red fruit and brown sugar to a flat white. If you prefer something brighter as a straight espresso, try the Seasonal Blend or browse our coffees for espresso. Not sure where to start? The Espresso Tasting Pack lets you compare a few side by side, and a coffee subscription keeps fresh beans arriving, so you're never dialling in on stale coffee.

Good to know

• The portafilter is 54mm, so 58mm tampers and filter baskets won't fit. Any upgrades need to be 54mm.
• The built-in grinder is designed for espresso only. For filter or cafetière, you'll need a separate grinder.
• With some coffees, the ideal grind can fall between two settings, so expect to fine-tune dose and yield as well as grind.

Complete your setup

A fast, accurate scale makes dialling in far easier. The Acaia Lunar sits on the drip tray and tracks flow rate as your shot runs. For latte art, upgrade the included jug to a Barista Hustle Pitcher 2.0 or Fellow Eddy Steaming Pitcher. Explore the full Sage range at Ozone Coffee.

Best for: Home espresso with integrated grinding, milk-based drinks, everyday use.

What's in the box

• 54mm stainless steel portafilter
• 1 and 2 cup single wall filter baskets
• 1 and 2 cup dual wall filter baskets
• Magnetic tamper
• Razor precision dose trimming tool
• 480ml stainless steel milk jug
• Cleaning kit
• Water filter

• Model: SES878BSS4GEU1
• Finish: Brushed stainless steel
• Heating system: ThermoJet (3-second heat-up, instant espresso-to-steam transition)
• Temperature control: PID digital, ±2°C, adjustable
• Grinder: Integrated stainless steel conical burr grinder, 30 grind settings
• Bean hopper capacity: 250g
• Portafilter: 54mm
• Recommended dose: 19g to 22g
• Pre-infusion: Low pressure
• Pressure: 15 bar pump, 9 bar extraction
• Shot control: Volumetric (1 and 2 cup)
• Milk frothing: Manual steam wand
• Display: LCD with grind and extraction animations
• Hot water function: Yes
• Cup warmer: Yes
• Cleaning: Cleaning and descaling programmes
• Water tank: 2L
• Power: 1680W, 220V to 240V
• Dimensions: 35.4cm (W) x 34.3cm (D) x 40.6cm (H)
• Weight: Approx. 9.1kg

The Barista Pro comes with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty for private household use. For full details, visit sageappliances.com/uk/en/support/sage-guarantee.html.