De'Longhi PrimaDonna Soul Bean-to-Cup vs Sage Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Soul Bean-to-Cup

9.2/10 Excellent

4.5★ (3,800 owners)

LatteCrema Hot, 21 recipes, My Drinks app, cold brew, auto-clean. De'Longhi's premium flagship.

Full Review

Sage Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine

9.3/10 Excellent

4.5★ (8,400 owners)

Integrated grinder, dose-and-tamp, 15 bar, steam wand. Café espresso at home without the barista learning curve.

Full Review

At a Glance

	De'Longhi PrimaDonna Soul Bean-to-Cup	Sage Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine
247Verdict Score	9.2/10	9.3/10
Owner Rating	4.5★ (3,800)	4.5★ (8,400)
Verdict	Excellent	Excellent

Quick Verdict

This is a genuine draw — both score within 0.15 points of each other. De'Longhi PrimaDonna Soul Bean-to-Cup: LatteCrema Hot, 21 recipes, My Drinks app, cold brew, auto-clean. De'Longhi's premium flagship. Sage Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine: Integrated grinder, dose-and-tamp, 15 bar, steam wand. Café espresso at home without the barista learning curve. Choose based on your specific needs. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Soul Bean-to-Cup

LatteCrema Hot system produces the densest, smoothest automatic milk foam available
21 built-in recipes cover every major coffee and milk drink type including cold brew
My De'Longhi app customises each recipe to individual preference and saves profiles
Auto-cleaning for milk system runs without user intervention after each use
De'Longhi's premium flagship — the best automatic machine in their range

£1,200+ for an automatic coffee machine requires serious daily use to justify
App dependency for recipe customisation — less intuitive without smartphone pairing
Size is substantial at 38cm width — requires dedicated counter space

Sage Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine

Integrated precision grinder eliminates separate grinder purchase
Assisted tamping system ensures consistent 9kg tamp pressure every shot
PID temperature control maintains 93°C extraction temperature precisely
Dual boiler means espresso and steaming happen simultaneously
Touchscreen with guided first use sets grind size automatically

Substantial counter footprint at 40cm wide
Learning curve still exists despite automation assistance
Replacement parts (portafilter baskets) are proprietary Sage components

FAQ

Which is better, De'Longhi PrimaDonna Soul or Sage Barista Express?

Is the De'Longhi PrimaDonna Soul worth the extra cost?

The Sage Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine matches or exceeds it at a potentially lower price point.

Who is the De'Longhi PrimaDonna Soul best suited to?

LatteCrema Hot, 21 recipes, My Drinks app, cold brew, auto-clean. De'Longhi's premium flagship.

Who is the Sage Barista Express best suited to?

Integrated grinder, dose-and-tamp, 15 bar, steam wand. Café espresso at home without the barista learning curve.

What are the main downsides of each?

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Soul Bean-to-Cup: £1,200+ for an automatic coffee machine requires serious daily use to justify; App dependency for recipe customisation — less intuitive without smartphone pairing. Sage Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine: Substantial counter footprint at 40cm wide; Learning curve still exists despite automation assistance.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — De'Longhi PrimaDonna Soul Bean-to-Cup sits at 4.5★ from 3,800 verified Amazon owners, and Sage Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine at 4.5★ from 8,400.

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