After testing Sage Barista Pro and Sage Barista Express, we received a lot of questions. Since some of these are repetitive and we can't keep up with the emails, we're collecting questions, Sage Barista tips, and answers on this page. Please comment your questions below the article. We'd be happy to hear from experienced users to help answer them.
We are not a reseller of Sage espresso machines or affiliated with any other company. We've compiled this information because we receive many questions and want to help you brew delicious coffee with your equipment.
Espresso runs too fast on Sage Barista Express/Pro – what to do?
The Sage Barista Express and other Sage models with conical burrs have an external grind setting. Some users experience problems with the espresso brewing too quickly, even at the finest grind setting.
A finer grind creates greater resistance to the water and is necessary for making espresso . Sage Barista models have a second grind adjustment inside the machine. If the external grind adjustment is at its limit, the overall grind range can be finerened by readjusting the grinder.
To do this, first grind the grinder until it's empty and then unplug the machine. The bean hopper can now be removed. The conical grinder of the Sage Barista Expresso becomes visible. The upper cone can be unscrewed. To do this, flip up the metal bracket and turn the grinder counterclockwise from the "Lock" label to "Align." It may jam slightly when first loosened.
The upper conical burr looks like a small basket. Inside, you'll see labels (fine and coarse) and numbers. By removing the bracket, you can rotate the upper section to adjust the overall grinding setting to a finer or coarser grind.
After inserting the bracket, reinsert the basket with the arrow pointing to "align" and secure it by turning it clockwise to "lock." Then, replace the bean container.
The entire grinder is now finer. The previous grinding setting of 6 is no longer as fine or coarse as the previous setting of 6, but rather fine, for example, as the previous grinding setting of 1.
This type of calibration is also the reason why we never talk about exact grind settings for grinders in our videos and guides. Every grinder is different in its internal adjustment. Grinders are not calibrated. Therefore, our grind setting will never be yours.
By the way, it's not a malfunction that grinders need to be adjusted. Every coffee is different depending on its origin and roast, and behaves differently when ground.
Can I make café crème with the Sage Barista?
In principle, yes. The only problem is that there's only one grinder installed. There are two workarounds, one that makes sense, and one that doesn't.
- Making an Americano. An Americano is a long espresso. To make it, first add about 80 grams of water to the coffee cup. Then, pour a double shot of espresso over it. The Americano/long espresso is ready.
- Get a second grinder and adjust it accordingly. This is the best option. The grind can be perfectly adjusted with a separate grinder, and the results are excellent. We've published a detailed recipe and video here.
- Use slightly less coffee in a double draw, avoid tamping, and let the coffee brew for a long time. This automatically leads to over-extraction and tends to be bitter. Not our recommended technique—but it works.
For more information, watch our video on Café Crème and long coffee.
Further questions about the Sage Barista Pro.
Important information and liability
We are not responsible for any modifications you make to the grinder or your machine. We assume no liability. Please read and follow the operating instructions.
After testing Sage Barista Pro and Sage Barista Express, we received a lot of questions. Since some of these are repetitive and we can't keep up with the emails, we're collecting questions, Sage Barista tips, and answers on this page. Please comment your questions below the article. We'd be happy to hear from experienced users to help answer them.
We are not a reseller of Sage espresso machines or affiliated with any other company. We've compiled this information because we receive many questions and want to help you brew delicious coffee with your equipment.
Espresso runs too fast on Sage Barista Express/Pro – what to do?
The Sage Barista Express and other Sage models with conical burrs have an external grind setting. Some users experience problems with the espresso brewing too quickly, even at the finest grind setting.
A finer grind creates greater resistance to the water and is necessary for making espresso . Sage Barista models have a second grind adjustment inside the machine. If the external grind adjustment is at its limit, the overall grind range can be finerened by readjusting the grinder.
To do this, first grind the grinder until it's empty and then unplug the machine. The bean hopper can now be removed. The conical grinder of the Sage Barista Expresso becomes visible. The upper cone can be unscrewed. To do this, flip up the metal bracket and turn the grinder counterclockwise from the "Lock" label to "Align." It may jam slightly when first loosened.
The upper conical burr looks like a small basket. Inside, you'll see labels (fine and coarse) and numbers. By removing the bracket, you can rotate the upper section to adjust the overall grinding setting to a finer or coarser grind.
After inserting the bracket, reinsert the basket with the arrow pointing to "align" and secure it by turning it clockwise to "lock." Then, replace the bean container.
The entire grinder is now finer. The previous grinding setting of 6 is no longer as fine or coarse as the previous setting of 6, but rather fine, for example, as the previous grinding setting of 1.
This type of calibration is also the reason why we never talk about exact grind settings for grinders in our videos and guides. Every grinder is different in its internal adjustment. Grinders are not calibrated. Therefore, our grind setting will never be yours.
By the way, it's not a malfunction that grinders need to be adjusted. Every coffee is different depending on its origin and roast, and behaves differently when ground.
Can I make café crème with the Sage Barista?
In principle, yes. The only problem is that there's only one grinder installed. There are two workarounds, one that makes sense, and one that doesn't.
- Making an Americano. An Americano is a long espresso. To make it, first add about 80 grams of water to the coffee cup. Then, pour a double shot of espresso over it. The Americano/long espresso is ready.
- Get a second grinder and adjust it accordingly. This is the best option. The grind can be perfectly adjusted with a separate grinder, and the results are excellent. We've published a detailed recipe and video here.
- Use slightly less coffee in a double draw, avoid tamping, and let the coffee brew for a long time. This automatically leads to over-extraction and tends to be bitter. Not our recommended technique—but it works.
For more information, watch our video on Café Crème and long coffee.
Further questions about the Sage Barista Pro.
Important information and liability
We are not responsible for any modifications you make to the grinder or your machine. We assume no liability. Please read and follow the operating instructions.
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