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Sunbeam Origins Sense: Two-minute review
The Sunbeam Origins Sense espresso machine is the most premium of three recently released models from the Australian home appliance brand. Yet, despite its more premium nature over its siblings – the Origins Classic and Origins Slimline – it sits firmly in ‘affordable’ territory, especially when compared to similarly specced models from well-established brands like Breville and De’Longhi.
It certainly looks more expensive than it is, arriving in a gun-metal grey colour and finished with subtle chrome accents. Best of all, it’s easy to master thanks to guidance in the form of manuals and online videos, and consistently extracts a flavourful coffee.
Milk-based coffee drinkers should be especially interested in the Origins Sense, as it employs what Sunbeam calls TempSense technology. This sees a thermometer built into the steam wand that triggers it to automatically shut off when it reaches one of four preset temperatures. This, combined with the high pressure of the steam, returns lovely, textured milk – even plant-based varieties – with a good level of microfoam time after time.
The Origins Sense is supplied with a variety of essential tools to turn you into a barista, including single and double shot 58mm filter baskets in both single-wall and double-wall variants, a portafilter, a nicely weighted tamper, a stainless-steel milk jug and a few cleaning accessories.
As I found when doing my Sunbeam Origins Classic review, however, the accessories don’t feel particularly high quality. They get the job done and shouldn’t phase coffee novices, but when compared to more expensive machines such as the Breville Oracle Jet (we’ve tested the UK version in the Sage Oracle Jet), the difference in quality is noticeable.
The tamper supplied with the Origins Sense, though, is more premium than the one provided with the Classic and, being slightly heavier, makes tamping that little bit easier. Considering the low cost of the Origins Sense, and the fact it’s regularly discounted, the lower-quality tools aren’t a deal breaker.
During my testing, I encountered a similar issue as with the Classic, in that coffee grinds would occasionally spill onto my benchtop. This is despite Sunbeam claiming anti-static technology in the funnel below the grinder should prevent it from happening. In truth, it’s only a small amount that spills over. I feel it’s primarily because the preset dosages are too much for the grinder, but it could also be the particular coffee beans I used, yielding what’s known as fluffy grinds.
Fortunately, reducing the default amount of coffee that’s ground into the portafilter is a simple process. I already knew how to do it, having had to do the same with the other Sunbeam Origins Classic, but those unfamiliar should have no trouble at all thanks to the helpful manual supplied.
Milk frothing gets a marked improvement over the Origins Classic, due to the use of the TempSense technology. Where the cheaper machine wasn’t able to steam milk to a good temperature (the stainless-steel pitcher would absorb a lot of the heat), the Sense takes away all the guesswork and will automatically shut off the wand when the milk reaches a set temperature. I confirmed the results with a separate milk thermometer and found it to be accurate each time.
Overall, the Sunbeam Origins Sense is a fantastic coffee machine – much better than the Classic – and one I can see appealing not just to newcomers to the coffee machine world, but to those well-versed in coffee making who want to invest in an affordable, attractive and capable machine. While the Origins Classic wasn’t able to make the cut, I feel the Origins Sense deserves a spot on our list of the best coffee machines in Australia.
Sunbeam Origins Sense review: Price and availability
- Launched in May 2025
- Only available in Australia and New Zealand
- List price: AU$999 / NZ$999
Being an Australian brand, the Sunbeam Origins Sense is only available in the ANZ region.
It launched in early May 2025 with a list price of AU$999, but at the time of writing, it can be found with some major discounts – the majority of Australia’s major retailers have it listed for under AU$700.
In New Zealand, it had a launch price of NZ$999, although retailers appear to have instilled individual discounts. The cheapest place I can find it at the time of writing is NZ$848 at JB Hi-Fi.
The Origins Sense is slightly more expensive than the Origins Classic that I also recently reviewed, with the main difference being the automatic temperature sensing and shut off for the steam wand. In Australia, the Origins Sense is roughly AU$100 more at the time of writing, and considering the extra features it brings, I would say it’s worth the extra outlay.
Not only do you get a more hassle-free steam wand, but you can get the same built-in grinder and customisable shot extraction times.
However, as I said of the Origins Classic, the Sense isn’t without its fair share of competition from the likes of Breville and De’Longhi. While both heavy-hitters offer similarly specced machines, the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch is the only one of the two I feel can compare on price (AU$1,099). A Breville machine with its Auto MilQ technology starts at AU$1,999 for the Barista Touch Impress.
Sunbeam Origins Sense review: Specs
|
Name |
Sunbeam Origins Sense Espresso Machine (EMM6500GR) |
|
Type |
Manual |
|
Dimensions (W x H x D) |
10.9 x 15.7 x 11.9in / 27.8 x 39.9 x 30.1cm |
|
Weight |
17.9lbs / 8.1kg |
|
Water reservoir capacity |
1.9qt / 1.8 litres |
|
Milk frother |
Yes (automatic and manual) |
|
Bars of pressure |
15 |
Sunbeam Origins Sense review: Design
- Premium design and compact build
- Clear controls that are easy to master
- Grinder output can be messy unless adjusted
The Sunbeam Origins Sense espresso machine is a good option for small kitchens, or those who simply don’t want too much space taken up on their countertop. It’s compact, coming in at the same size as the Origins Classic, although it’s slightly heavier at 8.1kg to the Classic’s 7.9kg.
If you want to go smaller still with your coffee machine, the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch is our current favourite compact coffee machine.
The Origins Sense is easy to move around and lift up to clean underneath, although I did notice the extra 200g over the Classic when doing so. I view this as a good thing, though, as the extra weight ensures the machine doesn’t move around when you’re inserting the portafilter into the group head (something that often happened to the Classic during my testing).
Where the Origins Classic is predominantly black in colour, the Sense employs more of a gun-metal grey colour. The front panel behind the control buttons remains a shiny black. The grey, combined with the silver control knobs, exudes a premium-ness, in my opinion. I liked the look of the Origins Classic, but I love the Sense. It’s a subtle upgrade, one that I think has a great effect.
As already alluded to, the machine is operated using a selection of buttons along the front, with a dial to the right of the panel for dispensing hot water and steam. The buttons on the front are for power, cleaning, manual shot (your preferred amount of water up to 200ml) and either single- or double-shot pours. You can customise the default water volumes for the two shot-pour buttons if you wish, with all guidance supplied in the incredibly helpful user manual.
There’s also an additional dial not found on the Classic, which relates to milk steaming – you either turn it to the left to select a preset temperature or to the right to select high or low pressure for manual steaming.
The bean hopper on top of the machine twists to adjust the grind size, with 30 settings available. As with the Origins Classic, Sunbeam has clearly labelled the hopper to show you the effect turning either way – fine or coarse – will have on shot extraction (slower pour or faster pour), making this model another excellent option for anyone new to manual coffee machines.
Once again, however, the bean hopper has a dark, tinted appearance. I noted this when reviewing the Origins Classic and ultimately, I wasn’t surprised to see the same one used here with the Sense. It’s also quite small, I wouldn’t call it a deal breaker, but just note that you’ll want to remember to regularly check the level inside if you’re going through a few coffees each day.
The grinder dispenses preset amounts of coffee for single and double-shot filter baskets, and clearly, Sense has been programmed the same as the Classic. As with the other machine, I found the preset dosage for a double shot to be too much for the filter basket, causing some of the yield to spill onto the drip tray below. Fortunately, I was able to override the setting easily as I’d recently done so on the Origins Classic. For everyone else, the user manual clearly lays out the steps required.
To start the grinder, insert the portafilter and press down: once for a single shot, or twice for a double. I found the second press for a double shot required a decent amount of force to register. Fortunately, the machine clearly indicates your selection by illuminating either the single or double-shot button. There’s a brief buffering period of one to two seconds before grinding begins, allowing you to confirm your chosen shot.
The 1.8L water tank, located at the back of the machine, features an internal handle for easy removal. However, its narrow design and not being dishwasher-safe made thorough cleaning a bit challenging.
The steam wand of the Sense introduces the biggest design change over the other models in the Origins series, being noticeably thicker in size. The other change here is where hot water comes from. In the Origins Classic, it also came out of the steam wand but, here in the Sense, there’s a separate nozzle at the front right of the machine, just in front of the steam wand.
Sunbeam supplies the Origins Sense espresso machine with a commercial size 58mm portafilter and a good range of extra accessories. You get one and two-shot single-wall filter baskets along with one and two-shot double-wall filter baskets which can help to produce a well-extracted shot more consistently. I don’t think new users should automatically look to use these, as the user manual and video guides available on Sunbeam’s YouTube account make it simple to achieve good results with the single-wall option.
You also get the same generic stainless-steel milk pitcher as supplied with the Origins Classic. Again, I think it absorbs heat too quickly, but this is where the TempSense technology in the steam wand comes into its own, making it much easier to determine if the milk inside has reached the correct temperature before pouring.
A knock box would have been a great accessory to be included, but Sunbeam does sell a bundle kit of a knock box, tamping mat, milk thermometer and a more premium tamper.
Sunbeam Origins Sense review: Performance
- Well-extracted coffee with great flavour
- TempSense makes milk steaming a breeze
- Easy to maintain
The Sunbeam Origins Sense is a simple coffee machine to master. It arrives with a series of labelled stickers for guidance (you can remove them once you become a pro) and you’ll soon learn how easy it is to extract an excellent shot of espresso with a good crema.
I was pleased to discover the heat-up time was similar to the Origins Classic, taking around a minute before you can start pouring or steaming. You can grind your beans and tamp while you wait.
Speaking of grinding: to get things going, you’ll need to activate the press-to-grind feature. With the portafilter inserted into the cradle, press down once to grind a single shot (with the single-shot filter basket inserted) or twice for a double (with the double-shot basket inserted). There’s no automatic tamping here, but Sunbeam supplies a more premium tamper with the Origins Sense compared to a more ‘basic’ option with the Classic. I believe Sunbeam refers to it as a premium variant as it feels slightly heavier to hold, making it easier to apply the right amount of pressure to the ground coffee to level it.
I found tamping could get a little messy, as the preset amount of coffee that was dispensed into the filter basket was too much. I had a similar issue with the Origins Classic when I reviewed that model too. Fortunately it’s simple to override the default settings. All you need to do is push down and hold the portafilter while it’s in the cradle, while pressing the shot size you want to override for three seconds. You’ll hear a beep to confirm it’s now in customisation mode. Press the portafilter down once again, let coffee grind into the basket and when you’re happy with the amount, press down again. Your settings are now saved.
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The Sunbeam Origins Sense is relatively quiet in use. Grinding is the loudest part of the coffee-making process, as I measured approximately 80dB using the DecibelX app on my iPhone and standing next to the machine. Extraction is much quieter, dropping to around 60dB. If you want an even quieter machine, I can recommend the KitchenAid KF6, which our tester measured 60dB when grinding and an even calmer 44dB during extraction. I think the Sunbeam Origins Sense is a good option for most people, however, as I’ve tested machines that are much louder, such as the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next.
I was pleased to find the Origins Sense delivered a well-timed double shot throughout the testing period, typically taking between 20 to 30 seconds, indicating both the grind setting I used and tamping force applied was good. Sunbeam recommends setting the grinder to 15 (of 30) when you first set up the machine as a good middle ground, before you start experimenting. I used this setting when reviewing the Origins Classic and grinding for a double shot, and was happy with the results, so I also used it for the Sense for the majority of my testing.
As expected, when I switched to a single-shot filter basket, I found I needed to adjust the grinder to a lower number – a finer grind – to help maintain the correct pressure during extraction.
Since the Sunbeam Origins Sense is virtually the same as the Origins Classic I’ve previously reviewed, the coffee-making process performed as I expected. I was keen – and, being a milk-based coffee drinker, excited – to test the TempSense steam wand. I didn’t always achieve an optimum temperature using the standard steam wand of the Classic, so for the wand to do the work for me and shut off when it reaches the right temperature is a game changer in my book, and it should be for anyone who uses plant-based milk alternatives.
How do you know the right temperature for your milk of choice? It’s a great question, as most milks don’t mention the best temperature on the carton – even barista versions which are formulated to froth better through the addition of extra fats and proteins.
I drink oat milk in my coffee and having used the Breville Oracle Jet in the TechRadar office, which employs a similar technology called Auto MilQ, I learned from it that 60ºC is ideal. A quick search online confirms this to be true and, in general, 60ºC can be applied to most dairy milk alternatives. For dairy milk, 60ºC to 65ºC is considered the norm, up to a maximum of 70ºC.
Helpfully, the Origins Sense has preset temperature settings for 55º, 60º, 65º and 70ºC to cater to any milk you wish. I left it at 60ºC for my testing and, using a milk thermometer to confirm, the steam wand did indeed shut off when it hit 60ºC.
Also, helpfully, you can leave the steam wand in the supplied stainless-steel milk pitcher and stand it on the drip tray, as opposed to holding it and tilting it at an angle. Although, I tried both methods and that the latter returned a more consistent microfoam. Still, it’s good that the Origins Sense is in some ways a semi-automatic espresso machine.
As with any coffee machine, keeping it clean is imperative. The Origins Sense has a Clean light on the front left side of the control panel that will glow when it needs to be cleaned. Sunbeam supplies a couple of cleaning tablets to remove oil buildup from the group head and any milk residue from the steam wand, but no descaling solution. You’ll need to factor in the ongoing cost of both of these cleaning essentials. A pack of tablets costs around AU$30/NZ$30 at the time of writing, and it’s similar for a 4-pack of descaling sachets.
- Performance score: 4.5 / 5
Should I buy the Sunbeam Origins Sense espresso machine?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Value |
Much more affordable than similarly specced competitors and regularly discounted. |
5/5 |
|
Design |
An attractive machine that looks more premium than its price suggests, and it’s simple to use. |
4.5/5 |
|
Performance |
Override the preset dosage amounts and you’ll be rewarded with an excellent shot of coffee, complete with expertly frothed milk. |
4.5/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Sunbeam Origins Sense review: Alternatives
How I tested the Sunbeam Origins Sense
I tested the Sunbeam Origins Sense over the course of a couple of weeks, using freshly roasted coffee beans I sourced from a local roaster in Sydney, Australia. I’d previously tested the Sunbeam Origins Classic, a very similar machine with regard to the coffee-making process.
I used the same grinder settings for the majority of my testing, knowing them to be ideal for my palette, but I did experiment when changing the grind size to confirm it had the same resulting effects.
I used the TempSense steam wand to heat some oat milk to 60ºC and confirmed it was accurate with a milk thermometer that I purchased separately.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed July 2025
Read the full article here
