--- product_id: 48386958 title: "The Oracle, Bean to Cup Coffee Machine with Manual and Automatic Milk Frother, Brushed Stainless Steel" brand: "sage" price: "£2240.32" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 9 category: "Sage" url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/48386958-the-oracle-bean-to-cup-coffee-machine-with-manual-automatic store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # 280g bean hopper capacity 2.5L water tank for multiple brews 2400W power for rapid heating The Oracle, Bean to Cup Coffee Machine with Manual and Automatic Milk Frother, Brushed Stainless Steel **Brand:** sage **Price:** £2240.32 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > ☕ Elevate your mornings with Oracle-level coffee mastery — because your brew deserves the spotlight. ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Oracle, Bean to Cup Coffee Machine with Manual and Automatic Milk Frother, Brushed Stainless Steel by sage - **How much does it cost?** £2240.32 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/48386958-the-oracle-bean-to-cup-coffee-machine-with-manual-automatic) ## Best For - sage enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted sage brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **All-Inclusive Pro Kit:** Comes with stainless steel portafilter, milk jug, cleaning kit & water filter for seamless maintenance. - • **Built to Impress & Last:** Brushed stainless steel finish with a 2-year repair or replace guarantee—invest in quality. - • **Smart Maintenance Alerts:** Machine notifies you when to descale or clean, protecting your coffee investment effortlessly. - • **Customizable Coffee Experience:** Adjust grind size, milk texture & temperature to match your unique taste profile. - • **Barista-Level Precision, Zero Fuss:** Automatic grind, tamp & froth with manual override for your perfect cup every time. ## Overview The Sage Oracle is a premium bean-to-cup espresso machine featuring a 280g bean hopper, 2.5L water tank, and 2400W power for fast heating. It combines automatic grinding, tamping, and milk frothing with customizable settings for grind size, milk texture, and temperature. Crafted in brushed stainless steel, it includes a full accessory kit and smart alerts for cleaning and descaling, backed by a 2-year warranty. Designed for coffee enthusiasts seeking professional-quality espresso with minimal hassle. ## Description Product Description Integrated Conical Burr Grinder With 45 grind settings, the precision grinder automatically grinds, doses & tamps 22g of coffee Dual Boiler Heating System Delivers simultaneous extraction & steam with a heated group head and PID temperature control Full Bodied Coffee With Rich & Complex Flavours Low pressure pre-infusion followed by a high pressure 9 bar extraction for an opulent espresso Hands-free Milk Texturing Silky microfoam with up to one million micro bubbles per ml, ready for latte art Dual Boiler Heating System Delivers simultaneous extraction & steam, controlled with PID temperature control to bring water to the precise temperature to extract maximum flavour potential, shot after shot Delivers simultaneous extraction & steam, controlled with PID temperature control to bring water to the precise temperature to extract maximum flavour potential, shot after shot Commercial Style 58mm Stainless Steel Portafilter Full bodied coffee with rich and complex flavours is created using the ideal dose of 22g of freshly ground beans delivered by a professional style 58mm stainless steel portafilter Commercial Style 58mm Stainless Steel Portafilter Full bodied coffee with rich and complex flavours is created using the ideal dose of 22g of freshly ground beans delivered by a professional style 58mm stainless steel portafilter Heated Group Head For even better temperature stability Heated Group Head For even better temperature stability Auto MilQ Hands-free Microfoam Our microfoam contains micro bubbles under 50 microns with at least one million bubbles per ml, for a silky texture that is essential for pouring latte art Auto MilQ Hands-free Microfoam Our microfoam contains micro bubbles under 50 microns with at least one million bubbles per ml, for a silky texture that is essential for pouring latte art Intuitive LCD Screen Interface With volumetric or timed shot control, it displays all the information you need to deliver the perfect espresso extraction. Choose between 1 & 2 shot, or manual control for your ideal shot every time Intuitive LCD Screen Interface With volumetric or timed shot control, it displays all the information you need to deliver the perfect espresso extraction. Choose between 1 & 2 shot, or manual control for your ideal shot every time Auto purge Auto purges after steaming to prevent clogging the steam wand Auto purge Auto purges after steaming to prevent clogging the steam wand Comparison Table Oracle Touchscreen Barista-Style Auto MilQ Built-In Grinder Tamping Auto Heating System Duel Boiler Cold Brew Learn More Oracle Touchscreen Barista-Style Auto MilQ Built-In Grinder Tamping Auto Heating System Duel Boiler Cold Brew Oracle Touch Touchscreen Barista-Style Auto MilQ Built-In Grinder Tamping Auto Heating System Duel Boiler Cold Brew Learn More Oracle Touch Barista Touch Touchscreen Barista-Style Auto MilQ Built-In Grinder Tamping Manual Heating System ThermoJet Cold Brew Learn More Barista Touch Manual ThermoJet Barista Express Touchscreen Barista-Style Auto MilQ Built-In Grinder Tamping Manual Heating System Thermocoil Cold Brew Learn More Barista Express Thermocoil Barista Pro Touchscreen Barista-Style Auto MilQ Built-In Grinder Tamping Manual Heating System ThermoJet Cold Brew Learn More Barista Pro Review: Consistent coffee, easier to use. Great design, I now believe it is well worth the price - I had read only good things about the Breville Oracle (it's called Sage in the UK) and as I was getting good results with my Stand-alone Sage Grinder and De Longhi Espresso machine,I really expected this to be incredible. It cost x 4 times the cost of that grinder and espresso machine, so is the coffee x4 better? No, it isn't, so don't expect too much and you will be fine. I've used this for two years now - how time flies- and there is much I like about it: 1. It looks really nice, is well constructed and I don't find the plate flimsy like many others here have mentioned ( see photos of the machine and plate, after ten months of use, below) There are some scuff marks, but , that is only to be expected 2. The Auto tamp is great, however,I was getting really consistent tamps with a calibrated tamper from Espro, so its no big deal. 3. The Auto grind and dosing is very convenient, but uses too much coffee 4. The Water level indicator and the LCD information display that tells you when the tank is empty is just fantastic 5. The hidden wheels and supply box : design is A+ 6. Dual Boiler with PID for consistent temperature and simultaneous espresso and steam for lattes 7. Integrated grinder saves space, and the coffee storage is enough for one 250g pack. This will last 4-5 days at the most, with two uses per day,as this just eats beans, so you don't have to worry about heat and losing bean freshness Update; May 2017: The single basket provided by Sage (free) , solved the bean consumption problem and that's why I award the Oracle 5 stars now) But, tell me, how is the &&**%^ coffee?! Well, that depends on the beans, with fresh roast beans, the espresso is excellent. Much better than Starbucks and Costas, and good espresso translates to great cappuccinos and lattes. It's a lot like a computer: Garbage in Garbage out The crema is only 1-2mm, I tried really fresh beans too, but the crema thickness isn't as good as you get in nespresso machines, Update2019: Nix that, I now get excellent crema, see below, the secret is fresh brand and a tight ramp, with the coffee flow starting at 8 seconds and lasting for 25 ml See below however the taste of the coffee is really good, if you use fresh beans 2019 Update, I got a really thick crema with fresh beans and a double tamp And the espresso is better than any I have had from anywhere It is an amazing machine! Even if you use old packaged beans, I find the espresso substandard, but the cappuccinos and lattes still taste great- better than the large coffee chains, as the milk and sugar mask the inferior coffee You only have to make adjustments on the grind size, as the tamp and the temperature are all adjusted just right. I find myself using 28-32 grind size these days with really good milk-based coffees The dual boilers are great to have, but I never minded waiting a bit with single boilers Now, to the downsides: 1. The coffee dosing is too much: 22 g of coffee each time means you finish a 250g bag in 11-12 extractions, thats 3-4 days for us! Maybe 5-6 days ,without guests. 2. You always have to use 22g, even if you select a single cup, it still grinds 22 g, so if you don't use it as two shots, you are wasting even more coffee, (Update: with the single basket from Sage (sent free) this is largely ameliorated and I have no complaints) 3. The auto steam wand and auto purge are really convenient, but you can't make decent latte art with it. I tried. Manual doesn't work also My cheap 120 quid Delonghi, with its underpowered thermoblock (not even a single boiler here) gave me better "art", so if you want to make latte art, steer clear. I guess its because of the high tech design, thick stubby want with an inbuilt thermometer and all, but it is great for plain cappuccinos, not for art. granted, I know the knob can switch from latte to cappuccino, but it doesn't create the right velvet microfoam I need for art 4. It costs a lot, but then it does a lot: Now in the coffee world,cost is a very relative term. You can spend a 1000$ on a grinder very easily. So when you look at what you are getting, great design, dual boilers, PID, Auto tamp, Auto purge, built in grinder, it isn't all that overpriced. What I mean is , you can get similar results for a lot less, if you are willing to learn a little.Here you are paying for the integration, the technology , the convenience and the quality of the finish. Bottom-line: If you want to make latte art and save money on the machine and also on beans: go for a Barista express or another grinder -machine combo instead. If you want convenience and great coffee, if money is no object, and you don't mind using 22 g of beans per session (one button press), then by all means, this is great! Update: 6 months of use; I love the machine, the coffee is really good and the convenience is fantastic. The plate is holding up with mild scuff marks( see photos below) and Sage sent me a single basket , gratis, that has reduced the excessive dosing per cup. I have upgraded my rating to five stars. Update 2021 The espresso is really good, the milk frother is not so good as it once was, but the machine has given us 5 years of better-than-cafe quality drinks… it was worth every penny… and still is Review: The best coffee maker I'll ever have - Where to start? The Oracle is a beautiful looking machine. It's really well designed and flatters my coffee making. In fact, it makes some of the best coffee this side of a professional barista. But I'll admit that, for the purists amongst you, there's plenty to make your hackles rise. It doesn't need a huge amount of skill to get great tasting coffee, and that may drive away those of you who like to perfect the art. Me? I just enjoy coffee. Prior to the Oracle I had a small manual machine which allowed me to pull an espresso and steam the milk at the same time. I'd also bought a massive, used grinder and spent many a happy hour trying to dial in the perfect grind, tamp and pull. I think it's fair to say that I failed pretty miserably. After a year I started to turn out milk that was close to what I'd expect from a latte, but it probably took another year before I got it right more than I got it wrong. I'm not sure my espressos were ever much good. So you'll understand I was a perfect candidate for the Oracle. This isn't a fully automatic machine - you'll pay another few hundred for the Sage/Breville version of that - but it does take control of the things I'd been having trouble with - the grind, tamp and frothing - while still allowing me to set up the results the way I prefer them. At first the Oracle is a little intimidating, so I found it best to accept the default settings and work from there. If you're contemplating spending this much you probably won't need me to tell you that using decent coffee beans is really important. If the pack has a sell-by date on it, forget it. Only use beans if you know their roasting date, and make sure it's less than 30 days ago. The grinder is controlled by a knob on the left side. Lower numbers give a finer grind, and I've consistently found that a setting between 18 and 22 works best for the beans I get. Two filter baskets are provided, for single or double shots, though I pretty much exclusively use the double. There are some excellent videos on YouTube from Sage which show how to set up for the perfect espresso. The coffee should start appearing around the 8 - 12 second mark and produce about 25 ml in each shot glass at the end of the 30 second pour. Out of the box the machine is set to brew at 93 degrees Celsius, but like many of the settings this can be changed. On the milk side of things there's another knob which adjusts the density between cappuccino and latte. I use skimmed milk, although Sage say you'll get best results from full fat, but I'm pleased with the lattes I make. The same knob controls the temperature of the milk. A smiley face on the display indicates when the temperature is in the sweet spot, which maxes out at 65 degrees. Above that the milk begins to use its natural sweetness, they say. But 65 degrees is far too cold for me. I have it set at the maximum of 75 degrees and my palate can't taste anything wrong. You can flip the steaming lever up to steam manually, or flip it down to let the Sage do the work. The steaming head introduces air into the milk according to the setting you've chosen and the result is very good. The colder the milk is before you start, the better the result, I've found. Cleaning the machine is best done after each coffee making session. I also use cleaning tablets to flush out the system every two or three weeks, though the machine will tell you when you should do it if you forget. It'll also tell you more irregularly to descale. It takes a while, though the Sage does the heavy lifting, and it's really important to do it and protect your investment. I can only scratch the surface in this review in covering the amount of refining you can make to your coffee. I should say that you can also make Americano if you prefer that drink, and you can set the volume of liquid according to the size of the mug you use. This machine is expensive. There's no doubt about that. But if you're serious about your coffee, and maybe struggle to get good results from a manual machine, give the Oracle serious consideration. I couldn't imagine being without it now. ## Features - INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: Mini Grinds Bin, 58mm Full Stainless Steel Portafilter, 1 and 2 cup Single Wall Filter Baskets, 480ml Stainless Steel Milk Jug, Steam Wand Spare Parts, Cleaning Kit, Water Hardness Test Strip, Water Filter Holder and Water Filter - CAPACITY & SETTINGS: 280 gram Bean Hopper; 2.5L Water Tank; Adjustable Grind Control; Programmable Milk Temperature and Texture; One/Two Shots; Long Black; Hot Water - WARRANTY: 2 Year Repair, Replace or Refund Guarantee; Power: 2400 Watts; Voltage: 220-240 Volts ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B00KNXNS7G | | Best Sellers Rank | 475,355 in Home & Kitchen ( See Top 100 in Home & Kitchen ) 85 in Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machines | | Brand | Sage | | Brand Name | Sage | | Capacity | 2.5 litres | | Coffee Input Type | Bean to Cup | | Coffee Maker Type | Espresso Machine | | Coffee maker type | Espresso Machine | | Colour | Brushed Stainless Steel | | Country of Origin | China | | Customer Reviews | 4.0 out of 5 stars 193 Reviews | | Exterior Finish | Stainless Steel | | Filter Type | Reusable | | Global Trade Identification Number | 09312432021845 | | Human Interface Input | Buttons | | Included Components | Milk Frother | | Is the item dishwasher safe? | No | | Item Dimensions D x W x H | 14.5D x 14.7W x 17.6H centimetres | | Item Type Name | Fully automatic espresso maker | | Item Weight | 22 Grams | | Manufacture Year | 2021 | | Manufacturer | BRG Appliances | | Material | Stainless Steel | | Model Name | BES980UK | | Model Number | BES980UK | | Number of Items | 1 | | Operation Mode | Fully Automatic | | Other Special Features of the Product | Cup, Cup Warmer, Integrated Coffee Grinder, Programmable | | Part Number | BES980BSS | | Power Source | AC adapter | | Product dimensions | 14.5D x 14.7W x 17.6H centimetres | | Recommended Uses For Product | Home | | Special feature | Cup, Cup Warmer, Integrated Coffee Grinder, Programmable | | Specific Uses For Product | Coffee maker | | Style | Silver | | UPC | 798256088476 | | Unit Count | 1.0 count | | Voltage | 240 | | Wattage | 2400 watts | ## Product Details - **Brand:** Sage - **Capacity:** 2.5 litres - **Colour:** Brushed Stainless Steel - **Product dimensions:** 14.5D x 14.7W x 17.6H centimetres - **Special feature:** Cup, Cup Warmer, Integrated Coffee Grinder, Programmable ## Images ![The Oracle, Bean to Cup Coffee Machine with Manual and Automatic Milk Frother, Brushed Stainless Steel - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61JrXcbjXOL.jpg) ![The Oracle, Bean to Cup Coffee Machine with Manual and Automatic Milk Frother, Brushed Stainless Steel - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Oso2Me-eL.jpg) ![The Oracle, Bean to Cup Coffee Machine with Manual and Automatic Milk Frother, Brushed Stainless Steel - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71pd5O5bcHL.jpg) ![The Oracle, Bean to Cup Coffee Machine with Manual and Automatic Milk Frother, Brushed Stainless Steel - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61jqPGcWg4L.jpg) ![The Oracle, Bean to Cup Coffee Machine with Manual and Automatic Milk Frother, Brushed Stainless Steel - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61dMCHCiI5L.jpg) ## Questions & Answers **Q: Apart from speed what's the advantage of the oracle over its cheaper siblings?** A: Not sure if speed is the main advantage of this machine. The main benefit in my view is the full size Portafilter, it's same size as a commercial machine, the portafilters on the cheaper siblings are much smaller and less substantially built. The amont of control you get over brew temperature, tamp pressure, and milk frothing is also a significant factor. Auto tamping into the Portafilter is less messy than manual tamping. This machine is not for people who just want to push a button to get coffee. More for the enthusiast who wants to explore different setting to the perfect espresso shot from their beans. Hope this helps. **Q: Hi, ok so I am so close to buying this but can you tell me how loud it is please ? Videos I've watched make it sound like an aircraft taking off :-(** A: Yes the grinder is rather noisy. It takes about 20 seconds to grind beans for one cup. If you start it up in the morning, everyone in the house can hear it. Therefore you can grind the first cup in the evening and then start the coffee making in the morning. The coffee is wonderful. **Q: How does the single shot basket exactly make the oracle use less beans? i don't understand the logic. it grinds before choosing single or double shot.** A: It senses how full the basket is before tamping the grind. The sensor will detect a single grind faster than a double shot and stop grinding **Q: Does this machine automatically grind or do you have to use the barista element of it? Or can you choose either** A: You need to insert the filter holder with filter into the grinder dispenser and the machine then automatically grinds the coffee and presses it into the filter. You then move the filter holder to the coffee water dispenser and press the button for single, double, etc to fill the cup. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Consistent coffee, easier to use. Great design, I now believe it is well worth the price *by C***E on 17 December 2016* I had read only good things about the Breville Oracle (it's called Sage in the UK) and as I was getting good results with my Stand-alone Sage Grinder and De Longhi Espresso machine,I really expected this to be incredible. It cost x 4 times the cost of that grinder and espresso machine, so is the coffee x4 better? No, it isn't, so don't expect too much and you will be fine. I've used this for two years now - how time flies- and there is much I like about it: 1. It looks really nice, is well constructed and I don't find the plate flimsy like many others here have mentioned ( see photos of the machine and plate, after ten months of use, below) There are some scuff marks, but , that is only to be expected 2. The Auto tamp is great, however,I was getting really consistent tamps with a calibrated tamper from Espro, so its no big deal. 3. The Auto grind and dosing is very convenient, but uses too much coffee 4. The Water level indicator and the LCD information display that tells you when the tank is empty is just fantastic 5. The hidden wheels and supply box : design is A+ 6. Dual Boiler with PID for consistent temperature and simultaneous espresso and steam for lattes 7. Integrated grinder saves space, and the coffee storage is enough for one 250g pack. This will last 4-5 days at the most, with two uses per day,as this just eats beans, so you don't have to worry about heat and losing bean freshness Update; May 2017: The single basket provided by Sage (free) , solved the bean consumption problem and that's why I award the Oracle 5 stars now) But, tell me, how is the &&**%^ coffee?! Well, that depends on the beans, with fresh roast beans, the espresso is excellent. Much better than Starbucks and Costas, and good espresso translates to great cappuccinos and lattes. It's a lot like a computer: Garbage in Garbage out The crema is only 1-2mm, I tried really fresh beans too, but the crema thickness isn't as good as you get in nespresso machines, Update2019: Nix that, I now get excellent crema, see below, the secret is fresh brand and a tight ramp, with the coffee flow starting at 8 seconds and lasting for 25 ml See below however the taste of the coffee is really good, if you use fresh beans 2019 Update, I got a really thick crema with fresh beans and a double tamp And the espresso is better than any I have had from anywhere It is an amazing machine! Even if you use old packaged beans, I find the espresso substandard, but the cappuccinos and lattes still taste great- better than the large coffee chains, as the milk and sugar mask the inferior coffee You only have to make adjustments on the grind size, as the tamp and the temperature are all adjusted just right. I find myself using 28-32 grind size these days with really good milk-based coffees The dual boilers are great to have, but I never minded waiting a bit with single boilers Now, to the downsides: 1. The coffee dosing is too much: 22 g of coffee each time means you finish a 250g bag in 11-12 extractions, thats 3-4 days for us! Maybe 5-6 days ,without guests. 2. You always have to use 22g, even if you select a single cup, it still grinds 22 g, so if you don't use it as two shots, you are wasting even more coffee, (Update: with the single basket from Sage (sent free) this is largely ameliorated and I have no complaints) 3. The auto steam wand and auto purge are really convenient, but you can't make decent latte art with it. I tried. Manual doesn't work also My cheap 120 quid Delonghi, with its underpowered thermoblock (not even a single boiler here) gave me better "art", so if you want to make latte art, steer clear. I guess its because of the high tech design, thick stubby want with an inbuilt thermometer and all, but it is great for plain cappuccinos, not for art. granted, I know the knob can switch from latte to cappuccino, but it doesn't create the right velvet microfoam I need for art 4. It costs a lot, but then it does a lot: Now in the coffee world,cost is a very relative term. You can spend a 1000$ on a grinder very easily. So when you look at what you are getting, great design, dual boilers, PID, Auto tamp, Auto purge, built in grinder, it isn't all that overpriced. What I mean is , you can get similar results for a lot less, if you are willing to learn a little.Here you are paying for the integration, the technology , the convenience and the quality of the finish. Bottom-line: If you want to make latte art and save money on the machine and also on beans: go for a Barista express or another grinder -machine combo instead. If you want convenience and great coffee, if money is no object, and you don't mind using 22 g of beans per session (one button press), then by all means, this is great! Update: 6 months of use; I love the machine, the coffee is really good and the convenience is fantastic. The plate is holding up with mild scuff marks( see photos below) and Sage sent me a single basket , gratis, that has reduced the excessive dosing per cup. I have upgraded my rating to five stars. Update 2021 The espresso is really good, the milk frother is not so good as it once was, but the machine has given us 5 years of better-than-cafe quality drinks… it was worth every penny… and still is ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The best coffee maker I'll ever have *by M***S on 26 November 2018* Where to start? The Oracle is a beautiful looking machine. It's really well designed and flatters my coffee making. In fact, it makes some of the best coffee this side of a professional barista. But I'll admit that, for the purists amongst you, there's plenty to make your hackles rise. It doesn't need a huge amount of skill to get great tasting coffee, and that may drive away those of you who like to perfect the art. Me? I just enjoy coffee. Prior to the Oracle I had a small manual machine which allowed me to pull an espresso and steam the milk at the same time. I'd also bought a massive, used grinder and spent many a happy hour trying to dial in the perfect grind, tamp and pull. I think it's fair to say that I failed pretty miserably. After a year I started to turn out milk that was close to what I'd expect from a latte, but it probably took another year before I got it right more than I got it wrong. I'm not sure my espressos were ever much good. So you'll understand I was a perfect candidate for the Oracle. This isn't a fully automatic machine - you'll pay another few hundred for the Sage/Breville version of that - but it does take control of the things I'd been having trouble with - the grind, tamp and frothing - while still allowing me to set up the results the way I prefer them. At first the Oracle is a little intimidating, so I found it best to accept the default settings and work from there. If you're contemplating spending this much you probably won't need me to tell you that using decent coffee beans is really important. If the pack has a sell-by date on it, forget it. Only use beans if you know their roasting date, and make sure it's less than 30 days ago. The grinder is controlled by a knob on the left side. Lower numbers give a finer grind, and I've consistently found that a setting between 18 and 22 works best for the beans I get. Two filter baskets are provided, for single or double shots, though I pretty much exclusively use the double. There are some excellent videos on YouTube from Sage which show how to set up for the perfect espresso. The coffee should start appearing around the 8 - 12 second mark and produce about 25 ml in each shot glass at the end of the 30 second pour. Out of the box the machine is set to brew at 93 degrees Celsius, but like many of the settings this can be changed. On the milk side of things there's another knob which adjusts the density between cappuccino and latte. I use skimmed milk, although Sage say you'll get best results from full fat, but I'm pleased with the lattes I make. The same knob controls the temperature of the milk. A smiley face on the display indicates when the temperature is in the sweet spot, which maxes out at 65 degrees. Above that the milk begins to use its natural sweetness, they say. But 65 degrees is far too cold for me. I have it set at the maximum of 75 degrees and my palate can't taste anything wrong. You can flip the steaming lever up to steam manually, or flip it down to let the Sage do the work. The steaming head introduces air into the milk according to the setting you've chosen and the result is very good. The colder the milk is before you start, the better the result, I've found. Cleaning the machine is best done after each coffee making session. I also use cleaning tablets to flush out the system every two or three weeks, though the machine will tell you when you should do it if you forget. It'll also tell you more irregularly to descale. It takes a while, though the Sage does the heavy lifting, and it's really important to do it and protect your investment. I can only scratch the surface in this review in covering the amount of refining you can make to your coffee. I should say that you can also make Americano if you prefer that drink, and you can set the volume of liquid according to the size of the mug you use. This machine is expensive. There's no doubt about that. But if you're serious about your coffee, and maybe struggle to get good results from a manual machine, give the Oracle serious consideration. I couldn't imagine being without it now. ### ⭐ Broke down after 7 months *by M***Z on 10 November 2021* I got this machine since, although I'm an espresso enthusiast, with our first baby arriving I wanted something easy that delivered good coffee and that my partner could use without assistance. I was coming from a Delonghi Dedica paired with a Sage Smart Grinder Plus. The oracle is an extremely convenient machine with a ludicrous price tag. It is almost a superautomatic machine but delivers real espresso (all superautos use pressurised baskets). Also the Oracle is probably easier to clean. You need almost no espresso knowledge to use it, well you do need to learn to dial in and dose your output, but if you do that then people in your family can get decent espresso with no knowledge. Outside of my review title, there are some serious issues with this machine. - First is the price, you can get an outstanding espresso setup for about the same money (I moved to a Lelit Elizabeth + Niche Zero and this is a million times better FYI). - Second, the grinder only works if the hopper is at least half full. The Sage Smart Grinder Pro has the exact same problem which prevents you from single dosing if you so wanted, but more importantly it makes the hopper kind of useless because you constantly need it full. My guess is that the design of these grinders requires the weight of the beans on top in order to keep a good bean feed rate into the burrs, without which any consistency in the grind goes. Needless to say, this will give you unpredictable espresso, normally 1/10 shots will be good and the rest crap, making you dial in back and forth in grind non-stop. - Third, the retention of the grinder is just crazy. Again same with the Sage Smart Grinder Pro which I've owned and used for 4 years so I know inside out. Changing beans is either painful or wasteful, your choice, because of all the leftover beans in the burrs etc. - Fourth, even with the hopper full I've found the espresso to be inconsistent occasionally. Sometimes it decided to flow super fast and I had to bring the grind down from like 30 to 20 so not a minor change. This was not due to beans aging. Something was going wrong and it's hard to say what, it could have been the automatic puck prep, the grinder, (although I regularly cleaned and maintained these) or the machine simply not respecting the temperature or pressure (although I always fully preheated the machine and PF and basket to scalding point and it's unlikely it would work improperly like this). The Sage Smart Grinder Pro required a high amount of WDT to produce decent espresso without channelling due to the excessive amount of clumps - I would definitely put my money in the puck prep being suboptimal but also this most likely varies with beans (I always used freshly roasted specialty beans) which might explain why some people don't mention it. I did not have a bottomless PF then though, so I cannot confirm this. So, actually the grinder is the biggest issue with this machine, but the point of the Oracle is the automatic puck prep (tamping) and well also the automatic milk frothing. I do admit that the milk frothing is simply excellent. Even if you use a small amount of milk it is mind blowing that you can do latte art with the auto frothing. I never used it in manual mode since there was literally no point. In conclusion and for the price, I would not recommend this machine for what it tries to achieve based on its own internal competition. I do not think the grinder is up to the task which entirely limits the performance of this machine. If this machine costed considerably less then it would be acceptable for it to perform this way. But the primary reason for the 1 star is that the machine failed after the first descale. It would not go over 70° or so meaning it was entirely unusable (literally the machine was stuck in preheating mode). Please do your research online and you will find this is an extremely common issue with the Sage machines. It is frightening because of the extremely high cost, and needless to say you're out of espresso until you find a replacement. Luckily I had purchased from Amazon directly and they took it back as faulty and I got my money back, but it was a total hassle because I had to find my own courier to send it to the Scotland warehouse - the problem is most couriers won't deliver something of this size or a kitchen appliance or coffee machine specifically. And fortunately I had kept the original shipping boxes! So, frankly, do not bother. With a real espresso machine and grinder (not kitchen appliances like Sage) you can get excellent espresso with only a small learning curve, and they will last you for years and years as they can be serviced and repaired. The one real step the oracle solves for you is the puck prep which it fails at due to its poor grinder, again with a grinder that gives you fluffy grinds (not the Sage) it's as easy as distribute and tamp which anyone can do. Just get a Lelit or another real machine and a good grinder (minimum Eureka Mignon) and you're good to go for years to come. ## Frequently Bought Together - Sage - The Oracle, Bean to Cup Coffee Machine with Manual and Automatic Milk Frother, Brushed Stainless Steel - 4Pcs Water Filter for Sage Coffee Machine 990/980/500/878/875/880/920/810, Barista Express Water Filters - Sage - Espresso Cleaning Tablets - Removes Coffee Oils & Residues from all Sage Espresso Machines, 8 Count (Pack of 1) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/48386958-the-oracle-bean-to-cup-coffee-machine-with-manual-automatic](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/48386958-the-oracle-bean-to-cup-coffee-machine-with-manual-automatic) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-05-24*