Coffee controlVery strong
Extraction format, adjustment and the amount of manual control available.
Leading fit desk-researched verdict
Original Home Coffee Index photograph · manufacturer specifications ↗
Original Home Coffee Index photograph · manufacturer specifications ↗39.2 cm wideWarm-up not timed ready
Premium assisted dual-boiler espresso · SES990
SageOracle Touch
A discontinued but still formidable dual-boiler all-rounder: original Home Coffee Index owner use found outstanding consistency, automatic milk and touchscreen ease, provided the price, footprint and warm-up suit the kitchen.
Best forBuyers considering a well-documented used or old-stock machine for repeatable espresso and milk drinks with minimal puck-preparation effort
Think twice ifSmall counters, fast cold starts or anyone who needs a current model with straightforward new-stock support
Model statusDiscontinuedSage lists this model as discontinued
View model status and source ↓Official model status checked 12 August 2026 · Sage lists this model as discontinued
Hands-on owner review · original evidenceEase and control Coffee consistency Milk performance Multiple drinks Main compromises Current status
The complete Sage experience—powerful, repeatable and genuinely easy to live with.
After extended home use, Ben rates the Oracle Touch 10/10 for its balance of consistency, control and ease. The newer Oracle Jet has since arrived, but this dual-boiler SES990 remains his favourite all-round Sage home machine.
In my opinion, the Sage Oracle Touch is the high point of Sage’s original home espresso range. Sage has since released the Oracle Jet—more on that in a separate review—but the Oracle Touch still delivers an exceptional balance of ease, consistency and genuine control.
The touchscreen is responsive, the menus are intuitive and there are enough settings to make a drink your own without turning every coffee into a project. Once dialled in, I can save a favourite morning recipe and reproduce it with very little fuss.
As with any espresso machine, the output can only be as good as the input. For this review I used Nensebo, a single-origin coffee roasted by Lomond Coffee Roasters in London. Fresh, well-suited beans made the machine’s consistency much easier to appreciate.
The dual boilers are a major advantage when making several drinks because espresso extraction and milk steaming can happen at the same time. The automatic steam wand is among the best I have used. I set the milk to 64°C: hot enough for the drink to stay enjoyable, but below the point where the milk starts to taste overheated. Texture and temperature are reliably repeatable, which is exactly what a busy morning machine should deliver.
The compromises are its price, substantial worktop footprint and slower initial morning warm-up compared with newer ThermoJet machines.
“Overall verdict: buy it—provided the cost and footprint suit your home. It is a brilliant, handsome machine that repeatedly produces coffee able to compete with a good café. Regular coffee-shop buyers may save substantially, although the real payback depends on bean, milk, cleaning and energy costs.”
Responsive touchscreen guidance and eight saved custom drinks provide useful control without making the morning routine feel technical.
Very repeatable once the grind is dialled in, but fresh, suitable beans remain essential; this review used Lomond Coffee Roasters’ Nensebo single origin.
Automatic milk texture is among the best Ben has used. His preferred 64°C setting balances warmth with sweetness and avoids an overheated taste.
The dual boilers allow espresso extraction and milk steaming at the same time, making back-to-back drinks far easier.
High purchase cost, a 39.2 × 37.3 cm published footprint, substantial height and a noticeable first warm-up.
Sage lists the SES990 Oracle Touch as discontinued. Buyers should verify the condition, service history and exact model code of used or old-stock examples.
Quick pros & cons
What it gets right—and what it asks of you.
Pros
✓Original owner use found exceptional consistency once dialled in
✓Dual boilers allow espresso extraction and milk steaming together
✓Responsive touchscreen with eight saved custom drinks
✓Automatic milk temperature and texture are highly repeatable
Cons
–Sage now lists the model as discontinued
–High historical purchase price and substantial counter footprint
–Initial morning warm-up is slower than newer ThermoJet models
–Bean freshness and grind adjustment still materially affect the result
Model status and price context
Discontinued—treat every listing as used or old stock.
Model statusDiscontinued
Model status and affiliate disclosure: Sage now lists this model as discontinued. Confirm the exact model code, condition, service history, warranty and final price with any seller. The Amazon search link is an affiliate link.
Source 01
G
Good Food review archivePrice tracker
Opens a source for the exact SES990; confirm the model, seller and condition.
Open historical source ↗More choice
A
Amazon UKExact product affiliate link
Open the verified SES990 product destination and confirm the seller, variant and delivery terms.
View exact SES990 on Amazon UK ↗Structured specifications
The numbers that affect daily use.
- Width
- 39.2 cm
- Depth
- 37.3 cm
- Height
- 45.4 cm
- Heat system
- Stainless-steel dual boilers with PID-controlled heated group
- Water tank
- 2.5 L
- Grinder
- Integrated conical burr, 45 settings; automatic 22 g dose and tamp
- Pressure
- Low-pressure pre-infusion and 9-bar extraction
- Milk
- Automatic steam, 40–75°C and 9 textures
- Warranty
- 2 years when sold new; used coverage varies
Evidence and provenance
What this page is based on.
Sage product information
Used for the model identity, dimensions, systems and warranty details shown above.
Open manufacturer source ↗Ben Murrell, editor
The Index score remains a desk-researched verdict. Ben’s separately labelled 5/5 owner rating above covers the first-hand observations stated in the review and does not turn unmeasured specifications into test results.
Read the scoring and sourcing policy →Checked 12 August 2026
Specifications and model details were checked on this date. We don’t quote prices; the retailer shows today’s price, stock, delivery and returns.
Check today’s price ↑Independent review trail
What hands-on reviewers add.
These external publications tested Sage Oracle Touch. Their conclusions remain theirs; Home Coffee Index does not copy their scores or turn them into a fabricated consensus.
Good Food · 5 May 2021
Links checked 7 August 2026 · some publishers use subscriptions, advertising or affiliate linksSage Oracle Touch espresso machine review
One-month independent test covering setup, coffee, milk, cleaning and warm-up
Read the independent review ↗Expert Reviews · 24 February 2020Sage Oracle Touch review: stunning espresso with less faff
Hands-on assessment of dual-boiler workflow, automatic dosing, milk and coffee quality
Read the independent review ↗TechRadar · 14 March 2018Sage the Oracle Touch coffee machine review
Month-long review of usability, coffee consistency, size and value
Read the independent review ↗Which?Sage Oracle Touch review
Independent laboratory review; full results may require membership
Read the independent review ↗Daily workflow
From sleepy to first cup.
Spec sheets miss the routine. This is what owning the machine actually feels like.
- 01
Allow the dual boilers and group to warm fully
- 02
Choose a preset or one of up to eight saved drinks on the touchscreen
- 03
Let the grinder dose and tamp into the 58 mm portafilter
- 04
Lock in and extract while the automatic wand textures milk to the chosen temperature
- 05
Knock out the puck, wipe and return the wand, then follow the rinse prompt
Own this machine?
Open Oracle Touch maintenance guide →Use the exact-model care plan.
Separate the after-use milk and coffee routine from weekly cleaning, filter changes and prompt-led descaling.
Something not working?
Troubleshoot Oracle Touch →Diagnose the symptom safely.
Work through flow, grinder, milk, warning, cleaning and leak checks written for the exact SES990 model.
Water filter and parts · sources checked 17 October 2026
Confirmed by the maker
The water filter that fits the Sage Oracle Touch
Fits the SES990: Sage ClaroSwiss Water Filter, part SES008WHT0NEU1.
Replace: Every 90 days (Sage)
Sage UK lists Oracle Touch (SES990)
Source: Sage UK ↗
Care and fit parts
- Sage the Machine Descaler x6 (x12 = SCC102NEU0ZEU1)
SCC101NEU0ZEU1Not confirmed for the SES990. Check with Sage first. Sage UK visible 'Works With' list is truncated (shows BES876, BES920, BES985, BES882); this model is not shown on Sage before listing
Use it only as the machine’s own care programme describes. We do not sell or link to buy descalers or liquid cleaners here.
Source: Sage UK ↗
- Sage Espresso Cleaning Tablets (8)
BEC250UKNot confirmed for the SES990. Check with Sage first. Sage UK visible 'Works With' list is truncated (shows BES500, BES875, BES880, BES920); this model is not shown
Source: Sage UK ↗
- Sage the Group Head Cleaner tablets (6)
SCC201NEU0ZEU1Not confirmed for the SES990. Check with Sage first. Sage UK’s “Works With” list for this pack does not name the Oracle Touch.
Source: Sage UK ↗ (checked 1 November 2026)
Amazon links are affiliate links (tag website103c-21); De’Longhi UK links go through Awin. Where we have verified the maker’s exact Amazon listing, the link opens that product directly. Otherwise it is clearly labelled as an Amazon search, whose results can include third-party compatible parts. Match both the maker and exact part number before ordering. Only parts the maker confirms for this exact model or model family get a buy link.
Complete the coffee station
Accessories for Oracle Touch →Choose accessories that fit this exact model.
Compare scales, grounds handling, preparation tools, milk accessories and care products selected for the SES990 workflow.
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