How to brew on a Sage Barista Dual Boiler

The Sage Barista Dual Boiler is a powerhouse espresso machine designed for coffee enthusiasts who demand precision, control, and café-quality results. If you’re ready to elevate your coffee game, here’s a comprehensive guide to using the Sage Barista Dual Boiler and dialling it in for perfect espresso and milk-based drink

Why we recommend the Sage Barista Dual Boiler

The Sage Barista Dual Boiler is designed for serious coffee lovers who want total control over their espresso. Its dual boiler system allows for simultaneous brewing and steaming, while the PID temperature control ensures precision with every shot. Whether you’re pulling a perfectly balanced espresso or crafting silky microfoam, this machine gives you all the tools to achieve professional-grade coffee at home.

Getting to Know the Sage Barista Dual Boiler

The Dual Boiler setup ensures you can extract espresso and steam milk simultaneously without any drop in pressure or temperature—a feature prized by professionals. Here’s what makes this machine a standout:

• Dual Boilers: One boiler for brewing espresso, another for steaming milk, providing precise control over both processes.
• PID Temperature Control: Maintains stable water temperature for consistent extraction.
• Pressure Gauge: Allows you to monitor and adjust brew pressure for optimal results.
• Pre-Infusion: Gently soaks the coffee puck with low pressure before full extraction, ensuring even saturation.

Before jumping into dialling in, let’s ensure your setup is ready:

1. Preparation:
• Ensure the internal boiler is primed and your water reservoir is filled with fresh and ideally filtered water to avoid any impurities affecting the flavour of your espresso.
2. Choose Your Beans:
• Our Sage machines come with a free 5 month coffee subscription. Choose between our 6 coffees to find your favourite flavour and we’ll send this to you freshly roasted every month.
• Store your beans in the bag in our free coffee tin which comes in the bundle. This is best kept in a cool, dark place to maintain freshness.

3. Warm Up the Machine:

• Turn on the machine and allow it to preheat for 10-15 minutes. The group head and portafilter should also be warmed for consistent results

     4. Grind Beans Fresh:

• Use freshly roasted coffee beans for optimal flavour. Pair your machine with a high-quality burr grinder, check out our grinder selection.

Dialling In Your Espresso

Perfecting your espresso requires attention to grind size, dose, and extraction time. The Sage Barista Dual Boiler’s precision tools make this process straightforward.

1. Adjusting the Grind Size

• Espresso requires a fine grind. Start with a setting similar to table salt.
• Use the manual adjustment feature if you need to increase or decrease the dose slightly for your beans.

2. Setting the Dose

• Use 18-20 grams of coffee for a double shot. A digital scale ensures accurate dosing every time

3. Distribution and Tamping

• After grinding directly into the portafilter, use a distribution tool or your finger to level the coffee evenly.

4. Brew and Monitor

• Lock the portafilter into the group head and start the shot. Aim for 25-30 seconds of extraction time for a double shot.
• Use the pressure gauge: the needle should sit in the "espresso range" during extraction. If it’s too high or too low, adjust your grind size or dose.

Check out our video guide

Frothing Milk Like a Pro

The Sage Barista Dual Boiler’s powerful steam wand allows you to create silky microfoam for lattes, cappuccinos, and latte art. Here’s how to master it:

1. Purge the Wand:
• Before frothing, purge the steam wand by briefly turning it on to expel any residual water.
2. Position Your Jug:
• Fill your milk jug to the minimum or maximum line. Position the steam wand tip just below the milk’s surface and at a slight angle.
3. Froth and Heat:
• Turn the steam dial and allow air to incorporate into the milk by keeping the tip near the surface for the first few seconds. Once you hear a gentle hissing sound, lower the jug slightly to heat the milk evenly.
• Stop steaming when the jug becomes too hot to touch for more than a few seconds (around 60-65°C).
4. Clean the Wand:
• Wipe the wand with a damp cloth and purge it again to keep it clean and ready for the next use.

Read our full step-by-step How to steam Milk guide

Top Tips for the Sage Barista Dual Boiler

1. Preheat Everything:
• Always preheat your machine, portafilter, and cups to ensure temperature stability.
2. Practice Latte Art:
• The Dual Boiler’s steam wand produces high-quality microfoam, ideal for latte art. Start with simple designs like hearts and progress to more complex shapes.
• Always purge the steam wand before and after use to keep it clean and functioning optimally.
3. Clean Regularly:
• Clean the group head, portafilter, and steam wand after every use.
• Perform regular backflushing with a cleaning tablet, and descale the machine as recommended to keep it running smoothly (every 2-3 months)
4. Experiment with Recipes:
• Once you’ve mastered the basics, try experimenting with different ratios and coffee types to find what you like. For example, a 1:2 ratio (20g coffee to 40g espresso) is standard, but you might prefer a slightly shorter or longer shot.

Something not tasting right?

• Sour Taste: Try a finer grind or a longer extraction time.
• Bitter Taste: Coarsen the grind or shorten the extraction time.
• Weak Flavour: Increase the dose slightly or ensure you’re tamping evenly.
• Poor Milk Texture: Ensure the wand is just below the surface and avoid overheating the milk.