De'Longhi vs Sage Filter Coffee Machines

De'Longhi and Sage both cover the middle and upper end of home coffee. De'Longhi's range runs from the Stilosa EC260.GR espresso at £127 to the Gran Latissima Nespresso EN640.B at £419 and the La Specialista Arte EC9155 at £529. Sage runs from the Bambino espresso at £279 and the Black Truffle edition at £278 to the Creatista Plus at £499 and the Barista Pro bean-to-cup at £649.

De'Longhi's Stilosa has a 15-bar pump, a cappuccino system and a stainless steel boiler, while the Gran Latissima uses a 19-bar pump, a rapid cappuccino system and a 1.3-litre water container. The EC9155 has eight grind settings, three infusion temperatures and a steam wand for microfoam. Sage's Bambino has a 9-bar pump and ThermoJet heating with a 1.9-litre tank, the Creatista Plus has 11 milk temperatures and programmable water hardness, and the Barista Pro has a 12-bar pump and a milk frother.

De'Longhi suits buyers who want a low-cost espresso machine to start with, or a hands-on barista set-up with a steam wand. The Gran Latissima suits anyone who prefers capsules. Sage suits people who want simple controls on the Bambino or fine milk control on the Creatista Plus, and the Barista Pro suits those who want bean-to-cup convenience with a built-in frother. The Bambino at £279 costs £152 more than the Stilosa at £127, and the Creatista Plus at £499 is £80 more than the Gran Latissima at £419. Anyone choosing between the two brands should budget for the Barista Pro at £649 if bean-to-cup convenience is the goal.

Bottom line: choose De'Longhi if you want the lowest entry price at £127 or a hands-on steam wand, with a range up to £529. Choose Sage if you want compact espresso or more milk control, with prices from £278 to £649.