Sage Coffee Grinders | Ultimate Guide
Having worked as a barista for many years I was always a little apprehensive about how accurate a home coffee grinder could actually be.
In fact I'd go as far to say that I was a bit of a coffee machine snob.
My views on any piece of coffee equipment was that commercial machines reigned far superior to the cheap, ‘plasticy’ domestic range.
… However, the range of Sage products proved me wrong.
What you pay for with professional machines is their power.
Unless you’re planning on pumping out hundreds of shots of espresso then this is an irrelevant attribute.
The accuracy of professional grade coffee grinders is undoubtedly precise, however home coffee grinders like the Sage Smart Grinder Pro or the Sage Dose Control are close behind.
If you are looking at purchasing your first coffee grinder or you have started to take coffee a little more seriously and you’re in the market for an upgrade then read on.
I take a look at the two Sage Grinders that are being produced at the moment and help you select which one is right for you.
Why Trust Me?
The Best Sage Coffee Grinders 2024
Find below our two favourite Sage Coffee Grinders.
If you have any options on either grinder please leave a comment below.
1. Sage - Smart Grinder Pro
Dimensions: 15.2 x 21.6 x 39.2 cm
Capacity: 450g Coffee Bean Capacity
Burrs: Stainless Steel Conical Burrs
Brew Fittings: Portafilter x 2, Grind Container
The Sage Smart Grinder Pro is classic Sage.
The exterior design is robust and manufactured with quality materials that can withstand a couple of knocks, exactly what you would expect from this kitchen appliance giant.
Although the Smart Grinder Pro is a domestic machine it really wouldn’t look out of place on a coffee shop bar and I suspect that some cafe’s do use these for their less frequently used coffee (single origin, decaf).
Measuring in at a total of 16 x 21cm the base is fairly small for a grinder of this quality so you may be able to convince the other half that it could be a permanent fixture in the kitchen.
The coffee grinder comes with fittings for two different portafilter sizes as well as a container to collect the grinds if you are brewing anything other than espresso.
The large hopper capacity of 450g is more than enough coffee storage for home coffee grinders. Considering each espresso shot weighs roughly 20g that’s around 20 shots of coffee (minus a little for dialing in your shot).
I would recommend only leaving enough coffee in the hopper for two or three days worth of espresso and keeping the rest in an airtight coffee container.
Although the hopper does have a silicone lined lid it isn’t quite airtight from underneath.
A big selling point of the Sage Smart Grinder Pro is the LCD screen and how intuitive and easy it is to operate and adjust.
If you are new to grinding your own coffee, you will soon realise that there is no perfect grind setting and different beans will require adjusting the grind size (even the same beans may require adjustment as they age).
That said, having an LCD screen displaying the exact grind size is a fantastic way to get a feel for grinding your own coffee and the visualisation of the grind size number makes it simple to make slight adjustments.
It also works really well if you are planning to use the grinder for multiple different brew methods and grind sizes. It means you can dial in your grinder a lot easier if you already know the grind size number from previously.
The screen also displays the grind time which you can alter by increments of 0.2 seconds. This is super precise and enables you to adjust the dose by around 0.1 gram.
Like with any appliance or product with a electrical parts you are at a higher risk of potential damage and faulty technology.
This particular grinder did have a few minor issues in its earlier designs that Sage have managed to iron out.
Aside from the functionality of the Sage Smart Grinder Pro what’s really important os what’s under the hood.
The conical stainless steel burrs rotate slower than flat burrs, which reduces the amount of heat transfer and creates greater particle surface area, this basically equates to a more balanced coffee.
The Sage Smart Grinder Pro is a great choice for any level of home barista it is also a great coffee grinder for the office.
If you’re just starting out and learning the ins and outs of espresso then the Intuitive nature of the Smart Grinder Pro will aid your learning.
For more experienced coffee makers it offers an unparalleled grind consistency at this price point and will help you brew better coffee.
Does the Sage Barista Pro tick all your boxes?
2. Sage - Dose Control Pro
Dimensions: 20 x 42 x 25 cm
Capacity: 340g Coffee Bean Capacity
Burrs: Stainless Steel Conical Burrs
Brew Fittings: Portafilter x 2
The Sage Dose Control Pro albeit a simpler looking version is actually the newest model of Sage coffee grinders.
Simplicity is key with the Dose Control Pro and for purists may be the perfect match.
The obvious difference between the Sage Barista Pro and the Dose Control is the LCD screen or lack thereof.
This guy is old school, the dose and the grind size are controlled manually with dials on the front and a collar beneath the hopper.
The collar grind adjustment is exactly how you will see many professional grinders in coffee shops being adjusted.
In many ways the Dose Control and the Barista Pro are very similar, although the motor is slightly smaller on this one they both grind the coffee beans with conical steel burrs, the footprints are both pretty small and the precise adjustments to grind and dose are extremely accurate.
The Sage dose control coffee grinder comes with two removable portafilter holders ranging which accommodates portafilters from 50mm-58mm (pretty much any espresso machine).
It doesn’t include a container as the Sage Barista Pro does, so if you are planning to grind coffee for pour over or any other than espresso for that matter then you will need to find a suitable container to fit under the grind chamber.
Watch out for a few rogue coffee grinds ending up on your work surface here if the container doesn’t fit snug.
A great aspect of the Sage Dual Control Coffee grinder is the precision grind size.
The collar allows you to manually adjust the size by turning anti clockwise and lowering the blades closer to one another, making the grind finer and vice versa.
You are also able to remove the top burr and adjust the depth by one tenth of a millimetre to calibrate the grinder with even more precision.
The razor tool that comes with the grinder is a testament to how Sage are trying to entice people who are at the very beginning of espresso making.
Set the depth of the razor and then twist over a tamped basket of coffee ensuring the volume is perfect.
The razor is something that can be used as you are learning how to dose and grind coffee for your espresso machine, hopefully once you get a feel for grinding you should be able to pull a shot of espresso without using it.
The Sage Dose Control Coffee grinder is a great fit for folks grinding specifically for espresso.
For the price point, the precision is unrivalled.
It’s a great match for coffee lovers at any stage of their coffee journey, the simplicity of just the two dials helps beginners appreciate what they are actually doing to the coffee beans and the grind adjustment below the hopper will make ex-baristas feel at home.
If the Sage Dose Control is up your street then
How to Use a Sage Grinder?
Both Sage coffee grinders are designed to grind directly into a portafilter.
Simply place your portafilter into the grinding bay, this then presses a button which activates the grinder.
The grinding time and the grind size can then be accordingly adjusted to extract delicious espresso.
The more grinding time the higher the dose (weight) of coffee and vice versa.
Once you have your desired dose of coffee you can then alter the grind size depending on how your espresso is pouring.
If you want to learn more about espresso, take a look at our guide on How to Make Espresso at Home.
What is the best sage coffee grinder?
There are two Sage grinders that are being manufactured at the moment;
The Sage Smart Grinder Pro
Sage Dose Control.
There are pros and cons of each of these coffee grinders and it all depends on the type of brew method you use, the precision of grind you desire and your budget.
Take a look at our evaluation above to see which one best fits your coffee grinding needs.
How Long Does a Sage Coffee Grinder Last?
Around 7 years is the average length of time for a burr coffee grinder to last.
This is all relative though and depends on the use of your coffee grinder.
If you are using yours everyday, with dark roasted, oily espresso beans and skip the cleaning, your coffee grinder may burn out quicker.
If you however are a weekend coffee grinder and clean your machine regularly your coffee grinder may outlive you.
How to Clean a Sage Coffee Grinder?
For the Sage Smart Grinder Pro and Dose Control:
Unlock the hopper so the beans are trapped inside, and remove from the grinder.
Empty beans into a container
Place the hopper back onto the grinder and grind out any extra beans already between the burrs.
Remove the hopper and unlock the upper conical burr.
Use a vacuum cleaner to suck out any small grinds by placing over the lower grinder.
Clean both the removable upper burr and the permanent lower burr with the brush provided as well as the grind outlet.
Reassemble the grinder.
Note: Try not to use water to clean your grinder. If you use anything wet make sure you give enough time to dry each part as any moisture may clog up the burrs.
Where are Sage Coffee Grinders Made?
Sage are the UK equivalent to Breville, the kitchen appliance giant that was founded in Sydney in 1932.
Sage coffee grinders are manufactured in various countries and sold throughout the world as either Sage in the UK and Europe or Breville in other parts of the world.
Is Sage and Breville The Same?
Sage is the UK and European version of Breville that you will otherwise find around the rest of the world.
Breville products in the UK and Europe are not owned by the Breville group and offer a completely different range of products in the UK and Europe to Breville in other parts of the world.
You may see the exact same Sage grinder marketed as a Breville conical burr grinder in other countries.
Is Sage Smart Grinder Pro Good For Espresso?
The Sage Smart Grinder Pro and the Sage Dose Control are actually engineered for espresso coffee.
The control that you have over the grind size and the dose (weight of the coffee) make it a great choice for anyone that is serious about dialing-in their espresso accurately.
The Portafilter Overfills and There is Too Much Coffee?
When grinding coffee into your portafilter it may appear that there is too much coffee grounds.
This is normal as un-tamped coffee has three times as much volume as tamped coffee.
If you weigh the coffee and it is heavier than your desired dose in your recipe then decrease the time of the grind.
You will also find that making the coffee grind finer will decrease the weight and volume of your coffee grounds.
Sage Coffee Grinder Problems?
There have been a few minor issues with certain models and versions of Sage grinders over the years that they have addressed and fixed.
One problem that always seems to reemerge is the longevity of their products.
Like with any electrical appliance the parts have a finite lifespan, however I do feel that because Sage have addressed and altered their design over the years they have significantly increased the lifespan of these machines.
Sage Dose Control Grind Size For Espresso?
The best grind size if you are extracting your coffee as an espresso for both the dose control and a smart grind is somewhere between 8-13.
You will have to have change the grind as you make the first espresso and alter it either finer or coarser to brew the perfect espresso.
Each coffee will have a slightly different grind size and the age of the coffee will also affect the end result.