Sage The Oracle Touch Espresso Machine - Review 🏆

The Sage Oracle Touch is an automatic espresso machine designed for home use. It's a high-end model made by Sage, a company known for its innovative kitchen appliances. The Oracle Touch stands out for its beautiful design, intuitive touch screen interface, and array of features intended to help you make cafe-quality espresso drinks at home.

This fully automatic espresso machine handles everything from grinding and tamping to milk texturing, allowing you to prepare espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, and more with minimal effort. But it still allows for customization and control via the interactive touch screen. With features like automatic cleaning, customizable espresso strength and volume, and integrated conical burr grinder, the Oracle Touch aims to deliver convenience without compromising quality.

The Oracle Touch is clearly made for espresso enthusiasts who want the best in-home equipment. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the design, features, ease of use, espresso quality, milk frothing capabilities, maintenance needs, pros and cons of this high-end espresso machine.

Design

The Sage Oracle Touch has an elegant and modern design that will look great on any kitchen counter. It has a brushed stainless steel exterior with black accents that give it a very sleek and contemporary style. Despite its high-tech features, the interface is surprisingly minimalist. It has a single power button and a full color touch screen display. The portafilter, steam wand, hot water spout and tray are neatly tucked away when not in use.

Overall, the Oracle Touch has a seamlessly integrated and sophisticated design. It manages to house a lot of complex inner workings while maintaining a clean, uncluttered aesthetic on the outside. The materials used are high-end and built to last. The design focuses on simplicity and ease of use, with intuitive controls and workflows. Everything is neatly contained and streamlined.

In contrast, the Salter EK3131 has a more retro look, with its rounded edges and chrome accents. It takes up more space on the counter with its taller profile. The controls are more tactile, with knobs and buttons rather than a digital touchscreen interface. The steaming wand and portafilter sit out prominently instead of tucking away. While the Sage aims for an ultra-modern look, the Salter has more of a classic espresso machine aesthetic.

Where the Sage Oracle Touch represents the cutting edge of espresso machine design, the Salter EK3131 embodies the traditional style. The Oracle Touch has a precision engineered, high-tech appearance, while the Salter channels an old-fashioned, manual espresso machine vibe. It comes down to a matter of taste - some will prefer the sleek simplicity of the Oracle Touch, while others may enjoy the more hands-on retro feel of the Salter.

Features

The Sage Oracle Touch is packed with features to help you make cafe-quality espresso drinks at home. It has a large color touchscreen that allows you to easily select your drink and customize settings like espresso volume and milk texture.

The integrated conical burr grinder with dose control grinding allows you to freshly grind beans right before extraction. There are 22 grind size settings to optimize flavor.

Steaming and frothing milk is easy with the stainless steel steam wand. It can produce microfoam for silky smooth cappuccinos.

Other highlights include:

• Dual stainless steel boilers for simultaneous espresso and steam
• Over pressure valve limits to prevent bitter flavors
• Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure for balanced extraction
• Volumetric control for consistent shot volumes
• Adjustable shot temperature
• Hands-free grinding directly into portafilter
• Instant hot water spout for americanos or tea
• Automatic cleaning and descaling programs

With this wide range of capabilities, the Oracle Touch aims to be an all-in-one espresso machine that can produce café-worthy drinks conveniently at home. The extensive features allow you to craft your perfect espresso-based drink just how you like it.

If you're looking for another high-end super automatic espresso machine option, check out the De'Longhi ECAM44.660.B. This model also has many capabilities to help you make specialty coffee drinks with ease. It has a manual frother for milk steaming, a burr grinder with 13 adjustable settings, and customizable drink options. The De'Longhi allows you to adjust the strength of coffee, quantity of water, milk temperature, and more. It has a rapid cappuccino system that quickly prepares creamy froth. The machine automatically grinds, doses, and tamps the coffee to streamline the process. With features like a double boiler and automatic cleaning, the De'Longhi ECAM44.660.B is comparable to the Sage Oracle Touch as a high-performing super automatic espresso maker.

Ease of Use

The Sage Oracle Touch is designed to be very easy and intuitive to use. The 7 inch color touchscreen walks you through the entire process with step-by-step instructions and graphics. You can choose from a variety of pre-programmed espresso and coffee drinks or create your own customized recipes that the machine will remember.

The touchscreen interface allows you to adjust settings like coffee strength, milk texture, and temperature with just a few taps. Once you've dialed in your preferences, the Oracle Touch can reproduce your desired drink every time with the press of a button. No need to re-adjust settings each time.

There are also helpful guides on the screen if you need a refresher on how to steam milk or dial in your grind size. The machine provides visual and audio cues during the brewing process to let you know what's happening. This makes it easy for beginners while also giving experienced baristas plenty of information and control.

Overall, the simplicity of the touchscreen plus the intelligent automation allows anyone to make high quality espresso drinks with ease, regardless of skill level. The Oracle Touch aims to make home espresso accessible for all.

Espresso Quality

The Oracle Touch produces espresso with an exceptionally rich, bold flavor and a thick, velvety crema. The dual stainless steel boilers and digital temperature control allow you to pull espresso shots at the optimal temperature. The over-pressure valve also regulates the pressure, ensuring consistent extraction and flavor from shot to shot.

The conical burr grinder grinds beans right before extraction, maximizing the coffee's aromatic oils and flavor compounds. You can adjust the grind size precisely through the touch screen, allowing you to fine-tune the texture of the crema and balance of flavors. The espresso has depth and complexity, with notes of chocolate and caramel coming through.

The pre-infusion cycle evenly saturates the coffee grounds before full pressure is applied, resulting in balanced extraction rather than just the surface compounds. The espresso shots have a rich, full body and long-lasting crema. Overall, the Oracle Touch makes cafe-quality espresso that rivals the best coffee shops.

Milk Frothing

The Sage Oracle Touch shines when it comes to milk frothing thanks to its automatic steam wand and integrated milk fridge. The machine can produce silky smooth microfoam at the perfect temperature for latte art.

The auto steam wand has multiple settings for the type and amount of froth you want, from a simple hot milk to a rich, creamy microfoam. It can even texture soy or alternative milks. The wand self-cleans after each use for convenience.

One standout feature is the built-in milk fridge which chills milk to optimum frothing temperature. Simply store your milk carton in the fridge, then the machine will automatically dispense chilled milk and texture it to your specifications. This takes the guesswork out of getting milk at the right temp.

Latte and cappuccino drinkers will appreciate the Oracle Touch's milk texturing capabilities. The auto wand creates cafe-quality microfoam to rival expensive commercial machines. Paired with the consistent espresso extraction, you can easily make Instagram-worthy latte art.

Overall, the advanced milk steaming system makes frothing simple and eliminates the learning curve of manual wands. This machine delivers exceptional milk beverages with rich, silky texture.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The Oracle Touch has an automatic cleaning and descaling cycle to keep the machine in top working order. Simply fill the water tank with descaling solution when prompted on the touch screen display. The machine will guide you through the descaling process step-by-step, informing you when fresh water needs to be added and when the cycle is complete.

The group head is self-cleaning, flushing water through after each use to rinse away residual coffee oils. The steam wand has an auto-purge function that blasts steam through after steaming milk to clear out any remaining milk residue. The drip tray can easily be removed and cleaned after each use.

The machine reminds you when key maintenance tasks are due, like changing the water filter or cleaning the brew group. The Oracle Touch makes it simple to keep up with routine cleaning and maintenance. Just follow the on-screen prompts and replace parts like the water filter as needed. This helps ensure your machine always delivers optimal coffee and milk beverages.

Pros

The Sage Oracle Touch has many key advantages that make it stand out as a high-end espresso machine.

• Intuitive Touch Screen Interface: The 7" full-color touch screen makes operating the machine incredibly easy. You can choose from a variety of pre-programmed espresso and milk recipes with a simple tap.

• Dual Boilers: Separate boilers for brewing espresso and steaming milk allow you to extract espresso and foam milk simultaneously. This saves time and delivers consistent results.

• Low Pressure Pre-Infusion: The pre-infusion cycle gradually increases pressure to gently expand grinds for optimal extraction. This enhances the flavor of the espresso.

• Over Pressure Valve: This valve limits maximum pressure throughout extraction for balanced flavor. It prevents bitterness by avoiding over-extraction.

• Integrated Grinder: With 18 grind settings, you can freshly grind beans right before extraction to maximize aroma and flavor. The grind is consistent every time.

• Adjustable Milk Texturing: A built-in heat exchanger allows you to tweak milk temperature and texture. Microfoam with the perfect velvety consistency is achievable.

• Auto Purge: The machine automatically cleans its steam wand after steaming to prevent milk buildup. This cuts down on manual cleaning needed.

• Removable Brew Group: The sealed brew group is easy to remove for rinsing under water. This simplifies the cleaning process.

Cons

While the Sage Oracle Touch is an excellent high-end espresso machine, there are some potential drawbacks to consider:

• Expensive - With a price tag over £2,000, this machine is out of reach for most home baristas. It's a serious investment best suited for coffee aficionados or commercial use.

• Large Footprint - Weighing in at over 40 pounds and measuring 16.5 x 14.6 x 22.4 inches, the Oracle Touch takes up a substantial amount of counter space. Make sure you have enough room before purchasing.

• Complex Programming - With so many adjustable settings and parameters, it can take time to dial in the perfect espresso recipe. Novices should be prepared for a learning curve.

• High Maintenance - To keep the machine in peak operating condition, it requires frequent cleaning and maintenance, especially when used commercially. The automated cleaning programs help but don't eliminate the need for manual care.

• Potential Reliability Issues - With many moving parts and electronics, reliability over many years of heavy use is a concern for some owners, though Sage offers a 2 year warranty. Proper maintenance is key.

Conclusion

The Sage Oracle Touch is one of the most advanced super-automatic espresso machines available today. It produces exceptional espresso and milk drinks with minimal effort thanks to its intuitive touch screen interface and extensive customization options.

The brewing process is automated but gives you precision control over variables like espresso volume, milk texture, and temperature. The integrated conical burr grinder grinds beans fresh for each shot. The Oracle Touch also automatically cleans itself, minimizing maintenance.

If you want barista-quality coffee drinks on demand, with the ability to customize everything to your taste, the Oracle Touch is a superb choice. It's a significant investment but justifies its price for espresso aficionados or those seeking maximum convenience without compromising quality. For most homes the price is difficult to justify compared to more affordable super-automatics. But if you want one of the best and most versatile bean-to-cup machines available, the Oracle Touch will satisfy.