Start with a prepared buying decision or build your own. We compare the machine, required grinder, checked price evidence, ownership costs, lifecycle and UK repair support—and keep unknowns visible.
9 structured comparisons, each with dated evidence and an explicit limit on what the available information can prove.
The Bambino is the lower-cost manual-milk route; the Bambino Plus adds hands-free Auto MilQ temperature and texture control, a larger 1.9-litre tank and a stainless-steel portafilter.
Open the full comparison →These Magnifica Start variants share the basic bean-to-cup platform, but ECAM220.22.GB uses a manual steam frother while ECAM220.61.GB adds the automatic LatteCrema Hot carafe and one-touch latte macchiato.
Open the full comparison →Both use Philips' two-part LatteGo milk carafe and share the recorded 24.6 × 43.3 × 37.1cm footprint; the 5500 expands the menu to 20 hot and iced recipes and adds four user profiles, while the 3300 offers five coffee recipes plus hot water with no profiles.
Open the full comparison →Both use Vertuo capsules, barcode-led one-button brewing and connected updates. The Pop is the lower-cost, shorter route with a 560ml tank and drinks up to 355ml; the Next adds a 1.1-litre tank and the larger carafe format.
Open the full comparison →Rivelia EXAM440.35.B is the eight-drink manual-frother version; EXAM440.55 adds the automatic LatteCrema Hot carafe and expands the advertised menu to sixteen drinks.
Open the full comparison →Both are hands-on 54mm espresso machines with an integrated 250g grinder and manual milk wand; the Barista Pro adds ThermoJet heating, an LCD workflow display and 30 external grind settings versus the Express record’s 16.
Open the full comparison →Both combine a grinder with a portafilter workflow. The Sage keeps manual dosing decisions and manual milk with a fast LCD-led process; the Ninja adds a built-in scale, Barista Assist recommendations, longer coffee and cold-brew formats, and hands-free milk.
Open the full comparison →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.
Open the full comparison →Both are approachable automatic-milk bean-to-cup routes with 1.8-litre tanks and removable brew units. Philips lists five coffee recipes plus hot water, a 275g ceramic grinder and two-part LatteGo; De’Longhi lists three coffee drinks plus hot water, a 250g grinder and LatteCrema carafe.
Open the full comparison →Select up to three records, then change the priority lens and ownership assumptions.
Choose one priority to surface the strongest evidenced fit. This changes the explanation, never the underlying data or table order.
Lowest known starting basket at £599.95. A connected grinder is included where required.
This is a single-priority signal, not an overall winner or CoffeeScore.| Compare | GaggiaClassic E24Record 82% complete | Sagethe Barista ProRecord 94% complete |
|---|---|---|
| Model identity | RI9481/11E · INOX 240V | BES878 / SES878 UK variants |
| Product lifecycle | Current model | Current model |
| Known starting basket | Machine: Gaggia Classic E24 (£549) · Baseline compatible grinder: Eureka Mignon Specialità (£369) | Machine: Sage the Barista Pro (£599.95) |
| Current retailer context | £549 · Gaggia UK · verified delivered · exact model verified | £599.95 · Sage UK · verified delivered · exact model verified |
| Known starting equipment | £918.00 · includes Mignon Specialità | £599.95 |
| Machine type | Espresso machines | Espresso machines |
| Capsule ecosystem | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Checked pod-cost example | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Daily effort | High | High |
| Milk workflow | Manual professional stainless-steel steam wand | Manual 360° steam wand |
| Built-in grinder | No · separate espresso grinder required | Steel conical burrs · 30 settings · timed dose |
| Best for | Espresso enthusiasts who want a simple, traditional machine and are comfortable managing brew-to-steam transitions themselves | People who want a faster, more informative integrated-grinder workflow than the Barista Express but still want to learn manual espresso and milk texturing |
| Main trade-off | There is no grinder, automatic dosing, PID temperature display or hands-free milk. As a single-boiler machine it cannot brew and steam at the same time; after steaming, the manual requires dispensing water to cool the boiler before the next coffee. The steam wand should be wiped and purged after every use, filters washed daily and the manual specifies descaling every two months. The official store advertises a five-year parts warranty, but full labour, return and eligibility terms are not yet normalized. Warm-up, noise, energy, repairability and cup quality still need independent testing, so no CoffeeScore is published. | 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. |
| Width | 23 cm | 35.4 cm |
| Depth | 24 cm | 34.3 cm · Currys claims 40.6cm⚠ Depth disputed · compare claims |
| Water capacity | 2.1 L | 1.9 L · current product page; manual and Currys state 2L⚠ Water-tank capacity disputed · compare claims |
| Warranty field | Not yet verified | 2 years |
| UK support provider | Gaggia UK · Caffe Shop Ltd | Sage UK |
| Unresolved evidence gaps | 9 fields | 4 fields |
| CoffeeScore | Awaiting test | Awaiting test |
Check Gaggia UK · £549 →Direct retailer link · no commission enabled · checked 22/07/2026Open full evidence record → | Check Sage UK · £599.95 →Direct retailer link · no commission enabled · checked 23/07/2026Open full evidence record → |
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.
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.