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16K views 41 replies 17 participants last post by  xiuxiuejar  
#1 ·
Well, who is going to be the first to state they have placed an order then? The machine does not interest me so much as I cannot see circumstances ever making me go away from levers, discounting old age of course and the inability to control the lever! The grinder id=s different though at that price point. Hopefully next week will come and Cc will let us know. I suspect it will come out as quite capable against its peers, and by peers I mean up to and including everything to the Vario, but obviously will fall well short of anything bigger, although some of the gadgetry looks interesting. Also, just how well made is it since one or my Vario pet hates was the use of plastic so much!
 
#2 ·
For newcomers , It would be great to have another kitchen friendly grinder In that price range that could be recommend for espresso . Like you I await the Coffee chap once over. It certainly has a lot of features that grinders costing more currently have ,but in the end it needs to deliver in the cup and be durable !
 
#3 ·
I've got one of the dual boiler machines coming after the launch event for me to have a play with and to review from an upgraders and less well educated in coffee matters than Glenn point of view, will be interesting to see how it fits into my space challenged kitchen space, just ask C-squared if you don't belive me how little space I have lol.
 
#4 ·
Well, the Sage boys are certainly pushing the boat out! Be interesting to see the testers thoughts both on Espresso and grinder options. I might buy one of the grinders for a bit of fun. I have a Mignon here amongst others so can compare it directly to one of its competitors. Glenn can do the same with his Vario. I know it is nearly half the price of a Vario but i still think of them as being in the same part of the market in terms of being non-commercal, small and aimed firmly at the home user!
 
#6 ·
dwalsh1 said:
Call me a snob or worse, but I wouldn't give a coffee machine by Heston Blu (whatever his name is) house room and I certainly wouldn't let him baby sit.
If it wasn't for the fact that I know the Breville branded version has a pretty decent reputation then I wouldn't be interested in it, as far as I can tell it's a use his name for a fee kind of job as he uses capsule machines in his restaurants, which are places you would never find me wishing to dine at .
 
#8 ·
Not as badly pushed as I was when I was talking to you about it BB, that plus seeing the machines there gave me an idea which resulted in http://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?12297-My-new-old-set-up-or-Coffee-Corner-Reworked. Its just that the overall size of the kitchen is tiny, before I found that bench/table the only space I had was the top of the freezer. The bench is about 1200mm wide and 500 mm deep so with some repositioning I could get in quite a range of machines now, the only one I would really struggle with would be an L1 because of it's depth.
 
#9 ·
The machine will easily take up the space covering the blue mat, and then some, at the same height of the Gaggia as a square

Please post a photo when you receive the machine

It is significantly larger than a classic
 
#10 ·
Will do, the classic and the instant hot water dispenser are both sat on a large chopping board which can easily be moved, if I hadn't recently reorganised everything there is no way I could have fitted one in the kitchen anywhere.
 
#11 ·
I have a serious question. I have been mulling this around in my head overnight, which is what i always do when I am considering something. In Australia, then Twin Boiler is around 1200 Oz dollars or £710. In the states, around $1200 or £710, yet here it is £1200.

The grinder to match, in Oz is around 300 dollars or £177, in America around $200 or £125, yet here £199.

Why?

What are we getting that they are not, apart from Hestons endorsement? That is not to say that these machines may not be capable in their own way. The espresso machine does not interest me at all, but the grinder does. to that extent, I have placed an order and paid for one, yesterday. It will be here next week I hope, then I can put it on the bench alongside the Mignon, which I where I see its competition. I will be looking at good points and bad points, but my ultimate comparisons will be in the cup, as in my humble opinion, it is that what counts the most. If it comes without shims, then they will be put in, so no concerns there. Aspects such as durability concern me a little but with a 2 year warranty that puts that to bed as well.

Let you know what happens next week
 
#13 ·
You are paying for hestons endorsement . Branding Items can add a lot , the royalty payment for using someone's name , is surprisingly high ( in my experience of branded designer names in my business ) . Heston will be top dollar In his field .

Other than that , uk retailers , have more taxes ( buisnes tax and vat , other stuff the local authorities make us pay for ), higher rents per sq metre than the USA and a deeper internet penetration that a lot of European countries . More people taking more of a slice of their pie ,higher prices .
 
#16 ·
£450 is a big hike to explain away. The white Gloves bit must cost a bundle as well. This shows that the machine is aimed at the 'idiot' end of the market as anyone who has owned any espresso machine would rather save the cost of the White Gloves experience, open the box themselves and read the manual......like Glenn had to.....
:rolleyes:
 
#18 ·
dfk41 said:
£450 is a big hike to explain away. The white Gloves bit must cost a bundle as well. This shows that the machine is aimed at the 'idiot' end of the market as anyone who has owned any espresso machine would rather save the cost of the White Gloves experience, open the box themselves and read the manual......like Glenn had to.....
:rolleyes:
1) maybe tax differences

2) Hestons Fee

3) Licensing fee (breville to Sage)

4) White Gloves installation

Not wanting to be the "devil's advocate" I think it is a bit over the top calling this a machine for the "idiot" end of the market.

lets put in perspective that it fares pretty well against the brewtus as per Glenn review, with this machine having a lot more gadgetry to play. The "only" really bad thing is the plastic feel.

the forum members have the possibility of a deal with expobar making it cheaper, but for the common joe it is in the same price bracket of £1100-1200.

I do like the E61 look so the design of this machine sets me back, but I have to say that it has a lot of nice features.

Not knowing what the white gloves actually give you I can not comment, but Glenn can probably get that information and compare it with how much a tailor training in your home costs.

Off course these services are for people that shop on John Lewis rather than in BB.
 
#22 ·
Ok hands up, exactly what is this white glove service we speak of ? Although not a new barista and therefore an idiot , I still qualify as a twit outside the coffee world
:)


When I first typed that it came out as 'white love service ' imagine the outcry and questions that would have raised
 
#23 ·
Mrboots2u said:
Ok hands up, exactly what is this white glove service we speak of ? Although not a new barista and therefore an idiot , I still qualify as a twit outside the coffee world
:)


When I first typed that it came out as 'white love service ' imagine the outcry and questions that would have raised
from the website http://www.sageappliances.co.uk/whitegloveservice

they even teach you to make a few cappas
:)


mind you that one of the advices of the people in this forum is that you should get someone to train or teach you how to get the best of your set up. maybe they just took this idea on board and are offering it to people. specially because you want to pay 1200 and make sure you are producing better coffee than a nespresso+aeroccino...
 
#25 ·
Mrboots2u said:
Thanks ! Let's hope it's not dfk turning up." So you ordered this machine you idiot ...
:)
"
And why not exactly! Let me qualify, anyone coming on here saying they wanted to buy their first machine and were going to jump straight in on £1200, would be an idiot. idiots are people who have too much money and no desire or experience to learn their craft. The machine is clearly aimed at these sort of people who buy from Amazon, John Lewis, Waitrose etc. What exactly is a Home Barista? Do you mean an idiot with no experience buying his first machine by chance? To call yourself a Barista, be it home, office or anything else suggests that you have a modicum of experience and knowledge, so would it not be easier to change the Home Barista title to learner? If it is a learner, then obviously he will benefit from White Gloves, otherwise no doubt he will be sticking tea bags in the pf as well!

The machine I am sure, is quite capable. I am not knocking it. I am suggesting that when you bring anything to the market you identify the group you wish to target, and when I see the combination of White Gloves, a lot of dosh, Heston, amazon etc etc, I think of the new entrant as opposed to the seasoned (idiot)!.

All said tongue in cheek, with no offence meant to idiots...well...maybe the odd one but thats another story