Should I switch my Sage Dual Boiler?

What’s your budget?

There’s an Elizabeth on sale with Bella barista. Would give great temp stability

It is, but it gives you good temp stability.

For £800 you won’t get much better than what you have with the sage, upgrade your grinder perhaps.

Used machines are strong money right now.

In what way?

You have a sage dual boiler?

Have £800 to spend?

£800 won’t get you better than you have right now.

nosiesta Or would you just stick with the SDB?

I’d stick with it.

Reading your post, it feels to me the SDB does everything you want it to do, apart from the fact you rarely drink milk.

The Elizabeth is certainly NOT an upgrade from the SDB. Maybe it will last longer and it’s easier to maintain if things break, it in terms of functionality it is not.

Reality is, for £800, you won’t have anything that convenient and precise in the single boiler territory.

You could venture out into the territories of the Flair 58+, or the ECM Puristika, or the La Pavoni. But I doubt you’ll be upgrading, if that makes sense.

nosiesta Unless you cannot switch the steam boiler off, then no, there’s probably no point upgrading..

The sage double boiler works well. If you want to improve your espresso a grinder will have the most impact. I wouldn’t replace the machine until it breaks based on your stated needs.

nosiesta ah ok, sorry I misunderstood

I’d stick with the Sage unless you have a hankering for trying something new in which case have a look at the ECM Puristika. But I wouldn’t switch for a better in the cup experience.

nosiesta Surprised the steam boiler can’t be left off unless it’s involved with preheating brew water somehow. I know little about how that machine is setup function-wise except I wouldn’t care to have one based on build quality/design alone. In all honesty, any dual boiler made should have the option of leaving the steam OFF if not needed to minimize heat buildup, less electricity being used, etc.

nosiesta Do you know that there is a ‘Barista’ menu that gives you access to a lot more controls? I have had a few Sage DB’s and found them to be very good machines. There is a way of pulling the shot at pre-infusion levels which made the biggest difference I have ever tasted. I have a set of instructions if you want a go matey.

Being a Sage DB and Niche owner I often sit back and think the same, in that would I be able to notice an appreciable difference if I changed it to one of the chrome clad beauties I see on here, owned by those who really know about coffee and can appreciate and detect the nuances in taste from one bean to another.

However, it has also never ocurred to me that having a seperate boiler which is designated for steaming and as far as I am aware is not connected to or how the other boiler produces hot pressured water to the grouphead could affect the taste of the espresso. I put that solely down to my shortcomings and not the machines. Therefore, for me having that extra boiler for milk frothing duties should I ever need it, is simply a bonus.

I will admit, if the other single boiler machines out there owned by many on here allow more ‘tinkering’ ‘profiling’ and all that jazz, allowing you to experiment more or even if that can help you achieve coffee Nirvana for your taste buds, then yes go for it.

What is surprising for me, is how many on here who are non-Sage owners that recommend you stick with it. Which to me, means whilst yes it is more of a consumer product that may or may not last as long or be as easy to repair should anything go wrong than its chrome cousins, performance wise it must be pretty good. That means I really don’t need to keep scratching that ‘what if’ itch and just enjoy the coffee.