Product Review: Oracle Touch by Sage/Breville

I've said for a long time that an espresso machine at home is like taking on a new hobby. Sage/Breville prove that doesn't necessarily have to be true - great coffee quality and impressive ease...

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[wesmac]

I need to sleep why I am I watching videos of expensive espresso machines I'll never buy

[MaysBreakdown]

"Do you want a new hobby?" oh man, if you only knew then what 2020 would bring.

[youarehere]

You are one of the best reviewers I've seen, ever. No frills. No BS. Well structured, well-paced, clear-spoken, thoughtful. You know the most pragmatic points a savvy viewer needs to know, explaining things exceptionally clearly. You explain things as a range of potentials, and offer the contrasts to give the audience a sense of proportion to help them known where things are in the field at large, to get a better idea if the item is a fit, or if not what someone might rather want to steer toward. It really helps put things in perspective. Great job!

[audreyhiller]

My grandmother, during comunism: Had to queue at the store for hours to be able to buy some low grade, pre ground coffee bulked out with chicory and almond shells and was super happy with it.
Me, today: Well, if the steam wand doesn't purge itself automatically, then I don't want it

[kevinmyers]

I would definitely like to see a ‘Barista Express’ review!

[noidle]

For anyone reading this, you can adjust the dose on any of the Oracle machines.
The machine judges when to begin the tamping process by using a sensor in the gearbox that will feel when the tamper fan is resisted by the ground coffee underneath it. By changing the height of the fan, this will tell the machine to stop grinding and begin tamping.

To do this, remove the tamper fan (it pulls down, just magnetic) then unscrew the metal fitting that the fan sticks to. It should not require tools to unscrew as it should just be finger tight.
Once removed, you will see a small grub screw in the side. Loosen that screw and now you can adjust the fitting by screwing the thread in or out. Usually, one full rotation in or out will equate to 1g dose change. The machine has a limit, usually only 3g or so each way. If you go too far, the machine may not engage the tamper or give an error.

[paolobramucci]

What I like about you and your reviews is that you are willing to reveal your biases and point of view, and understand that others may have valid differences with your experiences and perceptions. When I come to you, I never feel that you are trying to sell me something. Rather, I come away with a sense that you have helped me to understand what I am looking for and would want. Thank you James, for sharing your knowledge and passion with us.🙏🙂

[benjaminherzon]

I really appreciate your reviews. I've had this machine for several months and love it. I like being able to fix a few variables and optimize on others. One thing I would add is that you do not have to brew for the full time set on the machine. You can manually stop the brew at any time. What I do is set the brew time for 30 seconds and manually stop the brew when I've hit my target brew ratio. If that happens in less than 25 seconds, I adjust the grid until I hit my brew ratio in 25-30 seconds.

[daviddivelbiss]

Thank you for this. Years later, still a valuable review. Nicely done, and now, of course, i watch a lot of your videos.

[AJ-oxxy]

I completely agree with your analysis of home espresso machines. In my case it has definitely become a hobby, but the reason it started this way in the first place is because there are no real cafes in my town. We have a Starbucks, but I would sooner go to a local dinner for coffee then that place. So after some real time thinking I got myself the machine and honestly can't say I regret it.

[EmmaxHobbits]

This has strong "parent trying to convince their child that a dog is a ton of work and maybe they should consider getting a fish" vibes 😅

[jonathonready]

I was scared of the commitment of an espresso machine. But I bit the bullet and bought a breville bambino plus and a baratza sette 270 grinder. I don’t get every setting in the world available to me, but I am consistently pouring shots tastier than my local shop. Which is great considering I can’t go into my local shop during the pandemic.

[craigcoffman]

I have and love my old school Oracle w/buttons and dials. Use it every day for 4 or 5 years now. If it broke today I'd have a new one delivered before the weeks end. Awesomeness on demand pays for itself in short order!!!!

[andrewcampbell]

Hi there - this is an old video, but felt moved to add my experience here. I'm on my second Oracle machine and fourth Breville/Sage machine. These things are great initially, but in my experience, after a year or so, they develop problems internally. With my latest Oracle, the auto steaming only worked for a month or so (so I just use it manually and have since a month after I got it) and now, just like the last one, I can hear hissing internally and the machine's surface is getting hot. These things are just not designed to deliver even just a few drinks per day over a period of more than a year or so. I've taken them to the Breville-designated workshop for repair (always under warranty, 'cause here in Australia we have great consumer protection that ignores manufacturer warranty durations). Every time I do, the machine comes back and it's never the same. Lower pressure, other faults emerging. Just never the same. Once the internally-escaping steam caused the grinder to report that it was overheating and stop working. Once the machine just starting endlessly tripping the breaker in the kitchen. Once the repair guy told me that I should never wind the grind up tighter than about half way on the adjustment because "the pump just can't handle it". He then adjusted the grind in some way such that I could never get a satisfactory grind again fine enough to stop the flow enough, no matter what I did. So every year or so, I'm faced with this invidious choice - go through the pointless repair exercise again, give away the machine (last time to our cleaner), because I can't sell them in good conscience and buy another one, knowing that I'll get a year out of it, or spend much more and get a machine that will actually endure. I know that if I do, I'll pay a lot more for a machine and grinder, it will take up more space and I will have to do more work. So, I usually just bite the bullet and buy another one. The features are great, they are great for a year or so, but then the key pressurised components will fail, in my experience. If you take it for repair it will not help and will just result in more frustration. It seems that the internals are just not up to delivering pressurised water and steam for as long as you would think would be reasonable. Yes, of course I descaled, backflushed, changed the filters and cleaned religiously. Our water is very soft and high quality here in Sydney, anyway. So, perhaps a Linea Mini and a Ceado this time, or maybe I'll roll the dice again on an Oracle...

[antonybaker]

I have had one of these machines for over two years and I believe it is the best coffee machine (For my requirements) that I have owned.
Before continuing: I would like to mention that I thought your review very fair and exactly “on point”.
I don’t know if this was the case with your review machine, but my machine came with two baskets for the portafilter (22g and 17g); I personally found the 17g filter a “game changer”.
Whilst I am by no means a coffee expert I enjoy a latte or cappuccino and just wanted a machine that could, consistently, produce a decent example.
I have had numerous bean to cup machines including a Jura Z5, Jura Z8, two Delonghi machines and a Miele (Possibly built by Jura?).
My personal opinion is that all the Sage “semi automatic” bean to cup machines have an essential component that is missing from current fully automatic bean to cup machines: A proper metal portafilter.
The “brew units”, in every fully automatic machine I have come across so far, are made of plastic and have a long (Variable length for coffee strength) narrow profile cylinder with a small diameter filter at one end.
Metal is a heat conductor whereas plastic is heat insulator.
So: The hydraulic and thermal characteristics of a traditional portafilter and a fully automatic bean to cup “brew unit” are very different, which I believe is the reason I find the latte and cappuccino produced by my Sage “Touch” much better than from previous machines I have owned.
In conclusion: I have seen numerous bad reviews of the Sage “Touch” and I believe this is mainly due to a combination of the machine looking more manual than automatic and the price; this attracts a customer that is more interested in, as you would say, a coffee making “hobby” as opposed to the customer, that this machine is actually aimed at: somebody that just wants a decent coffee, with minimal fuss.
Many thanks for your informative and entertaining videos.

[eveydayvegancooking]

I have this machine. I was also frustrated with the portion of grounded coffee it puts by default. Found out you can twist the valve right above the portafilter, to lower it as much as you want. I started with 22g and reduced it to 18g.

[snap]

I think when it’s about coffee and quality there is no other YouTuber I search for then this one. Strait to the point, explains every thing that really matters and no compromises with sponsors

[JamesAHall]

I have the Sage Dual Boiler with a Sette and I really enjoy using it, I think Breville are doing great things for coffee in the home. I think they've placed themselves in the right space with their line up for enthusiastic amateur user and seasoned barista too.

[anthonysimpson]

I have the Oracle and still going strong 3 years on, touch wood. I did have trouble when I first brought, the grinder would not display the value but Breville (Australia) replaced on the spot with a new machine. I was worried at our wedding as it got quiet a big workout but survived. I think your review summaries why we brought, it is expensive and there are cheaper models, but the variables it handles are the things beginners get wrong. It stills makes the coffee the same way a manual espresso machine does. I didn’t want another hobby. Part of the fun is having guests over getting them to try being barista for the night and the machine helps them make a good one. If anything it helps them want try and make a better coffee themselves which is a good thing. It is also great for hot chocolate, or warm milk for porridge. If I get 5 years out of it I would be happy.

[Iceman-xejo]

Breville does an outstanding job of making products convenient for the customers. He is totally right about the whole expresso home experience. It’s initially fun but when you make one or two for you and maybe spouse, day after day and dialing in and tamping sometimes gets frustrating then you have to clean up the mess. It can get old quick.