The Barista Express™ allows you to grind the beans right before extraction, and its interchangeable filters and a choice of automatic or manual operation ensure authentic café style results in no time at all.

I don't mind pressure gauges, but I can take them or leave them, and I can't really do without a shot timer. Cleaning of the appliance should not be carried out by children unless they are 8 years or older and under adult supervision.The Thermacoil heating system includes an adjustable temperature control, so you can keep the temperature in line with the coffee you want and prevent loss of flavour from overheating. It has the faster ThermoJet heater so it heats up faster, and the steam ready time and overall steaming time is a bit quicker, It has a four hole steam tip vs one hole with the Barista Express, which aids in the slightly increased steam power of the pro. The Express Impress has the same level of automation over the espresso, with the “Puck Impress System” but it lacks the touch screen barista guidance, grind size guidance, and automated milk texturing. Whether you could get away with using the Barista Express for your business would depend on how many coffees you think you’ll be selling per day, and how busy you might be in one short period of time.

I was initially looking at the Sage Barista Pro, but after watching your comparisons with the various Sage models I realised that the right machine for me was actually the Barista Express Impress, so you’ve saved me a bit of money and potentially a lot of faffing.

Due to the massive popularity of the Sage machines, there is a huge array of 54mm accessories on the market. I just can't fathom why they'd give this machine, a traditional portafilter espresso machine, less grind settings than they give all of their bean to cup machines, very odd! If the budget won’t stretch, another idea would be to consider a good quality bean to cup coffee machine the potential shot quality won’t be as good, and it still won’t quite be as quick as using a dual boiler machine. Before storing, ensure the STEAM / HOT WATER dial is in the STANDBY position, press the POWER button to switch the machine off and remove the plug from the power outlet. I – This is where the portafilter is attached (once full of ground coffee and tamped) and where the water is dispensed from to brew your coffee.

Then within 8 seconds, insert the steam wand tip (1–2cm) below the surface of the milk, close to the right hand side of the jug at the 3 o’clock position and quickly turn the dial back to the STEAM position. Pausing the steam avoids the milk splashing out of the jug (this pause function lasts for 8 seconds only). in the bowl, dip a cloth in it and give the machine a good wipe with this puly caff solution (other espresso machine cleaners are available, you can get liquids too which are a bit easier as they don’t need dissolving, you just pour a bit in the bowl) leave it for minute or so, and then wipe it off with another cloth just with hot clean water, and then dry it off.If any of the holes in the tip of the steam wand become blocked, ensure the STEAM / HOT WATER dial is in the STANDBY position. To protect against electric shock, do not immerse the power cord, power plug or appliance in water or any other liquid. Checkout my friends at Coffee Hit, one of the UK's most established suppliers of pro and home barista gear. The Barista Express was the first commercially successful integrated grinder traditional, portafilter espresso machine.