Structured UK machine comparison · reviewed 23 Jul 2026
Sage the Barista ProvsDe'Longhi La Specialista Touch
Both combine a grinder and portafilter in one body. Sage uses button-and-LCD guidance with manual steam; De’Longhi uses 3.5-inch touchscreen guidance, automatic or manual milk, and cold-brew recipes.
This is an editorial inference, not a direct manufacturer comparison. Touchscreen guidance, automatic milk and recipe count do not establish better cup quality; published De’Longhi dimensions conflict, and both remain hands-on portafilter workflows.
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Option 1
Sage · BES878 / SES878 UK variants
the Barista Pro
People who want a faster, more informative integrated-grinder workflow than the Barista Express but still want to learn manual espresso and milk texturing
Checked 22 Jul 2026 · direct retailer link · no commission enabled
The useful decision
What does the difference actually buy?
Both combine a grinder and portafilter in one body. Sage uses button-and-LCD guidance with manual steam; De’Longhi uses 3.5-inch touchscreen guidance, automatic or manual milk, and cold-brew recipes.
This is an editorial inference, not a direct manufacturer comparison. Touchscreen guidance, automatic milk and recipe count do not establish better cup quality; published De’Longhi dimensions conflict, and both remain hands-on portafilter workflows.
Interactive evidence table
Compare the whole ownership route.
Change the priority lens, detail level and ownership assumptions below. A highlighted fit is evidence for one selected priority—not an overall winner.
Select two or three complete machine routes2/3 selected
Lowest known starting basketDe'Longhi La Specialista Touch£499.99 including a connected grinder where required · delivery excludedNarrowest published widthDe'Longhi La Specialista Touch31.9cm conservative width · depth still mattersMost complete recordSage the Barista Pro94% complete · not a quality score
Decision lens
What matters most to you?
Choose one priority to surface the strongest evidenced fit. This changes the explanation, never the underlying data or table order.
Best evidenced fit for this priorityDe'Longhi La Specialista Touch
Lowest known starting basket at £499.99. A connected grinder is included where required.
This is a single-priority signal, not an overall winner or CoffeeScore.
Choose how much detail to show19 evidence rows
Compare
Sagethe Barista ProRecord 94% complete
De'LonghiLa Specialista TouchRecord 91% complete
Model identity
BES878 / SES878 UK variants
EC9455.M EX:2
Product lifecycle
Current model
Current model
Known starting basket
Machine: Sage the Barista Pro (£599.95)
Machine: De'Longhi La Specialista Touch (£499.99)
Current retailer context
£599.95 · Sage UK · verified delivered · exact model verified
£499.99 · De'Longhi UK · verified delivered · exact model verified
Known starting equipment
£599.95
£499.99
Machine type
Espresso machines
Espresso machines
Capsule ecosystem
Not applicable
Not applicable
Checked pod-cost example
Not applicable
Not applicable
Daily effort
High
Medium
Milk workflow
Manual 360° steam wand
Auto LatteArt or manual · 4 temperatures, 5 foam levels
Built-in grinder
Steel conical burrs · 30 settings · timed dose
Yes · 15 settings
Best for
People who want a faster, more informative integrated-grinder workflow than the Barista Express but still want to learn manual espresso and milk texturing
Buyers who want café-style espresso and milk drinks with on-screen guidance, but still want to handle a portafilter
Main trade-off
Grinding is timed rather than weighed, and the machine does not distribute, tamp, attach the portafilter or texture milk for you. The integrated grinder saves space but cannot be upgraded independently. Its 35.4cm width and roughly 40.6cm height need more room than compact separate-machine routes. Cleaning includes prompted tablet backflushing, a separate three-stage descale and after-every-use steam-wand care; Sage says all machine parts must be hand-washed. Currys’ dishwasher-safe and automatic-tamping descriptions conflict with the official manual and should not be relied on. Independent cup quality, steam speed, noise, energy and reliability tests are pending, so no CoffeeScore is published.
This is not one-touch bean-to-cup: you grind into a portafilter, tamp, move it to the group, brew, empty the puck and wipe the milk wand after every use. Published data also conflict: the manual says a 180g hopper and 46cm depth, while Currys says 250g and De’Longhi's sales specification says 36.7cm depth. Measure for the manual's larger footprint and treat nine-versus-ten recipe wording as marketing variation, not an extra drink. Independent taste, milk, noise and durability tests are pending.
Change the assumptions to match your household. Pod machines use the same editable capsule figure for a like-for-like scenario; the table above shows when an exact checked system example exists. Other machines use bean cost and dose. A connected grinder is included where the machine needs one.
2,190 coffees
Sage
the Barista Pro
Starting equipment
£600
Coffee beans
£841
Known maintenance
£182
Estimated total
£1,623
Known cost per cup
£0.74
De'Longhi
La Specialista Touch
Starting equipment
£500
Coffee beans
£841
Known maintenance
£0
Estimated total
£1,341
Known cost per cup
£0.61
Planning estimate only. It includes only maintenance with priced, model-specific cadence. It excludes milk, water, electricity, repairs, optional accessories and delivery. Recorded equipment prices can change; always check the retailer’s final price.