I'll go into more detail on the touch a bit later on in this review, but for this really brief nutshell version, I'll just say that the touch is the touchscreen version of the oracle, a bit more flashy to look at, a bit easier to use initially, although in the long term once you find your feet with it, I think the standard Oracle is just as easy to use. Although those handy wheels on the bottom go some way towards providing a workaround – you could wheel it to somewhere along the worktop where there’s more space – it isn’t an ideal solution. The Oracle works best with plenty of space above.

Sage Oracle Touch Bean to Cup Coffee Machine in Black Sage Oracle Touch Bean to Cup Coffee Machine in Black

This dual-system approach give the Oracle the ability to handle making drinks in a very intuitive way. In other words, you don’t have to head to the milk frother to make an Americano. If you want the convenience of bean to cup machines but the cup quality of traditional espresso machines but without the usual skill requirement, the Sage Oracle is a solution unlike almost any other. The Sage by Heston Blumenthal the Oracle Touch is a perfect machine for domestic use. There’s no getting away from the high price, but if you love good coffee and know you’ll get a lot of use out of it, it’s hard to find a downside. Other than its size.

What kind of coffee machines are the Oracle and Oracle Touch?

I've never encountered a true bean to cup machine that delivers true flat white. Some coffee machines do some form of justice to the name “flat white” where intensity is concerned, but the microfoam texture required for a flat white is usually something that the auto milk frothers aren't capable of producing. The Oracle and Oracle touch, however, produces amazing milk texture, and gives you a great amount of control over it, allowing you to gradually tweak the texture until it's perfect for you. Need to move the Oracle around? Removing the drip tray reveals a big round dial which, when turned, results in wheels popping out of the base. This enables you to move the unit around the kitchen-top with no more than finger pressure. Very thoughtful design. If you're wondering why I'm only making coffee for myself, by the way, and not my wife, that's because she doesn't drink coffee! She does like the smell of it, though, and it's a very good job she does ;-). Kev's Sage Oracle What the FAQ

SAGE the Oracle Touch SES990 Bean to Cup Coffee - Currys SAGE the Oracle Touch SES990 Bean to Cup Coffee - Currys

So, that's the nutshell version of the review, now to get more in-depth for anyone who wants more of the nitty gritty, starting with: What kind of coffee machines are the Oracle and Oracle Touch? If you want more control over those elements, or to feel you are doing more of the work yourself, you might consider a cheaper model like the Barista Express. Day-to-day use What's the catch? The price and the potential maintenance cost outside of the warranty period (see below). The Sage by Heston Blumenthal the Oracle Touch is semi-automatic, grinding and tamping away by itself, while you decide the coffee strength or milk texture, with the comfort of hands-free milk foaming. All you have to do is slot the wand into the grounds dispenser, then move it to the port in the middle. Many bean-to-cup machines feel as though they’re made for those who value convenience over coffee quality, but the Oracle is different. Even calling it a bean-to-cup machine feels like a misrepresentation; in the main it’s a manual espresso machine with a separate grinder attached.

it's unlikely that anyone will have had both. I suspect little has been done to the grinder which was it's weak point. This is a good question, because they are not really bean to cup coffee machines, and they're not really traditional espresso machines either. In case you're not familiar with these terms, here's an explanation: Bean to cup coffee machines is there something similar but better than the Oracle at the similar price point, I really don't know and would love to hear opinions.