By: The Caffeinated Gear Team
The Sage Creatista Plus and Pro represent the pinnacle of Nespresso’s premium machine lineup.
As certified Nespresso machines, they stand alongside offerings from DeLonghi and Krups in the Original Line series.
While we’re focusing primarily on these Original Line models, we’ll also share our insights on the Vertuo Creatista later in this review.
For those new to the Nespresso world, it’s worth noting the key difference between Original and Vertuo lines.
Vertuo machines introduce Nespresso’s newer technology, capable of brewing larger coffee sizes including full mugs and carafes.
The Original line, meanwhile, specialises in espresso-style drinks.
After extensive testing, we’ve found the Original line particularly compelling for coffee enthusiasts seeking café-style drinks like espresso, cappuccino, and latte.
The main advantage?
A vast ecosystem of compatible pods from various manufacturers, offering incredible variety and choice.
Vertuo users, by contrast, are limited to Nespresso’s own pod selection.
Now, a question we’re often asked: should you choose a Nespresso Original machine over a traditional espresso maker?
In our professional opinion: it depends on your priorities.
Traditional espresso machines produce what we’d call “authentic” espresso.
Nespresso creates something different – it’s its own unique brewing method rather than true espresso.
For purists seeking genuine espresso, we’d recommend a traditional portafilter machine.
However, we’ve noticed that many coffee lovers actually prefer Nespresso’s smoother, less intense flavour profile.
This characteristic is something we’ve also observed in bean-to-cup machines.
We should address the elephant in the room: pod coffee’s environmental impact.
While pod technology has improved significantly, with many recyclable and compostable options now available, whole bean coffee remains more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Yet we understand the appeal of pod machines’ convenience.
If you’ve decided a Nespresso machine matches your lifestyle, let’s explore these impressive Sage models in detail.
Finding your perfect bean to cup coffee machine doesn’t need to be complicated. We’ve spent countless hours testing dozens of machines to bring you this comprehensive guide. Our team of certified baristas and coffee experts has analysed every aspect – from grind quality to milk frothing – to help you make an informed choice.
Let’s start with the essentials before diving into our detailed recommendations. Understanding the fundamentals will ensure you choose a machine that perfectly matches your coffee preferences and lifestyle.
For those familiar with the Sage Bambino Plus, here’s our straightforward assessment – imagine that excellent machine transformed into a Nespresso system.
The core technology remains consistent: the same efficient Thermojet heater, lightning-fast 3-second heat-up time, and automated steam wand with self-purging function.
The key difference?
A Nespresso brewing system replaces the traditional portafilter group.
Through our testing, we’ve found it maintains Sage’s reputation for user-friendly operation and intelligent features.
The Creatista Pro puts you firmly in the driver’s seat, offering far more control than your typical Nespresso machine.
Our testing revealed impressive customisation options for both coffee and milk preparation.
You’ll find 5 distinct coffee volume settings ranging from 25ml to 60ml, alongside precise temperature control for milk between 56-76C.
The 8 milk texture settings truly shine, letting you craft everything from silky-smooth microfoam to that gloriously thick, nostalgic 80s/90s cappuccino foam that some of our team still secretly love.
During our extensive testing, we found remarkably few drawbacks with this brilliant machine.
The elephant in the room is the price tag – it’s one of the priciest Nespresso machines available.
However, keep your eyes peeled for special offers, particularly through Sage Appliances directly.
Is it worth the investment? That depends on your priorities – but we can confirm it delivers notably superior results compared to budget alternatives, especially for milk-based drinks.
One minor gripe from our testing team was the absence of a dedicated hot water spout.
While this isn’t unusual for Nespresso machines, we noticed its sibling, the Creatista Plus (which we’ll discuss shortly), includes this feature.
The steam wand requires regular attention too.
Though the auto-purge function works brilliantly, you’ll need to maintain clean wand tips and watch for blockages.
Sage includes a handy wand tip cleaner, and it’s straightforward to use – but we’ve heard from customers whose steam issues were simply down to needed cleaning.
Now, let’s examine its more sophisticated (and correspondingly more expensive) sibling:
Through our testing, we’ve found the Creatista Pro builds significantly upon the Plus model’s foundation.
While the larger water tank and touch screen are nice touches, they’re not the game-changing features.
The real stars of the show are the dual thermojet system and dedicated hot water spout.
This machine effectively becomes the Oracle Touch of the Nespresso world.
The dual thermojet heaters and twin pumps mirror a dual boiler setup, enabling simultaneous milk steaming and coffee extraction.
While not essential, we’ve found this seriously speeds up your morning coffee routine.
The dedicated hot water spout proves surprisingly useful – no more awkward workarounds to get hot water through the group head.
It’s particularly brilliant for long black lovers who want to top up their drinks with fresh hot water.
This versatility has made it popular with several holiday rental hosts we’ve spoken to, as it eliminates the need for a separate kettle.
For milk drink enthusiasts, we believe this represents the pinnacle of Nespresso machines – though you’ll pay about £200 more than the Creatista Plus for these premium features.
Let’s round off with Sage’s newest addition to their Creatista family:
The Vertuo line represents Nespresso’s answer to larger coffee servings.
While the original line focuses on espresso and espresso-based drinks, Vertuo caters to those who fancy bigger coffees, with pods ranging from espresso shots right up to carafe sizes.
Currently, only genuine Nespresso pods work with Vertuo machines.
Though their range is substantial, it can’t match the sheer variety available for original line machines when you factor in third-party compatible pods.
Think of the Vertuo Creatista as a reimagined Creatista Plus for the Vertuo system – with some key differences.
It offers fewer milk customisation options (3 temperature and texture settings each, matching the Bambino Plus), and takes a more streamlined approach without one-touch milk selections.
Our testing suggests that Vertuo users might be less focused on milk-based drinks, often preferring their coffee black or with a splash of cold milk.
However, for those wanting both larger coffee options and café-quality milk drinks, the Vertuo Creatista stands alone.
While it’s undoubtedly the most premium and aesthetically pleasing Vertuo machine available, it commands a significant price premium over other Vertuo options.
Since all Vertuo machines produce identical coffee results, the steep price increase mainly pays for superior milk-steaming capabilities.
After extensive testing and comparison, we can confidently say the Sage Creatista machines represent the pinnacle of Nespresso technology, particularly for milk-drink enthusiasts.
For anyone serious about crafting café-quality cappuccinos, lattes and flat whites using a pod system, we’d recommend considering a Creatista – though we’d suggest watching for special offers to soften the impact on your wallet.
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