Jura coffee makers are premium espresso machines known for their high-quality construction, innovative brewing technology, and stunning design. And to top it off, they deliver delicious espresso and milk foam at the push of a button.
If you are considering investing in one of these bad boys, there is a daunting variety to choose from. Jura has a huge line-up catering to different needs and budgets, so understanding the difference between the models is essential to making the right decision.
In this article, we will review the top 5 Jura machines, so you can find the right coffee maker to suit your needs.
What Is The Difference Between Jura Models?
If you are considering investing in a Jura coffee maker you will notice that the different models have a lot in common. They are all marked by a sense of luxury- each coffee maker has a stunning design, a high-quality build, and is packed full of features. One distinctive feature of Jura machines is that they all have fixed brew heads. This means that you can’t remove the brew head for a deep clean, instead, the machines rely on the in-built cleaning cycles for maintenance.
The other common quality of Jura machines is that they all, unfortunately, come with a high price tag. However, within the Jura range, there are machines that are more affordable. Each Jura coffee maker is given a letter and number in the name. In general, the further along the alphabet you get the more premium the machine. Likewise, the higher the number, the better the coffee maker. Some popular models like the Jura A1 have now been discontinued.
If you are looking for an entry-level coffee maker the ENA line offers more affordable models. These machines have fewer features and customization options and a more compact and paired-back design.
If you want the top-of-the-line, you will want to be looking at the GIGA line. These models come with an incredible amount of features and offer a huge number of drink options.
Pros and Cons of Jura Coffee Makers
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Best Jura Coffee Maker of 2023
Jura E8
Best Jura Coffee Maker
The Jura E8 has been one of the best-selling Jura machines for many years. While not the most premium machine in their lineup, we think the E8 offers the best balance between features and price to suit most households. The machine features the best of Jura’s brewing technology including the Aroma grinder with 6 grind settings, P.E.P, I.P.B.A.S, and their intelligent water system (if you haven’t got your head around Jura’s confusing acronyms check out our guide at the end).
The Jura E8 is a sleek automatic coffee machine that will be a statement piece in the kitchen. The front is dominated by a large 2.8” color display with buttons on either side to navigate. The machine can also be paired to a smartphone with the smart connect accessory.
The E8 has 17 drink options on the menu and the option of brewing 2 cups of espresso or coffee. It offers a considerable amount of customization during brewing with 10 strength settings, 3 temperature settings, and the ability to adjust the volume of espresso. The automatic milk frother delivers thick, creamy milk foam directly into the cup. The volume and texture of milk can also be adjusted.
The only downside of the Jura E8 is that it only has one boiler, so there can be a delay if you are making back-on-back coffees. Overall, the Jura E8 is a solid machine that has all the important features covered.
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Jura Z10
Best Jura For The Coffee Enthusiast
The Jura Z10 is a high-end automatic coffee machine that oozes luxury. It’s in the small details like the backlit water tank to the large 4.3” touchscreen display, this coffee maker is a masterpiece. The Z10 offers an impressive coffee menu with 32 drinks available, from pots of coffee through to lattes, cappuccinos, or cortados. Drinks can be selected and customized via the touchscreen, rotary switch, or the smartphone app J.O.E.
The Jura Z10 has two key features that elevate it above other Jura machines; a product-recognizing grinder and cold extraction process. The grinder automatically adjusts the grind size according to the drink being made. So for an espresso, it would grind finer, while for a cold brew cappuccino, slightly coarser. And speaking of cold brew… the Z10 has an innovative cold extraction process, creating a range of cold beverages by grinding the coffee coarser and pulsing cold water through the ground coffee slowly.
The Z10 allows you to customize and save beverages. There is a huge amount of flexibility with options to change the grind size, coffee strength (10 levels), brewing temperature (3 levels), milk temperature (10 levels), and amount of milk foam.
The Jura Z10 is a premium automatic coffee machine with an impressive coffee menu and the ability to produce exceptional espresso and milk. The only sticking point is the hefty price tag.
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Jura Ena 8
Best Jura Coffee Machine For Small Kitchens
The Jura Ena 8 is a small and stylish automatic coffee machine, and incidentally one of the more affordable models in the lineup. While it doesn’t offer all the features of the premium machines, the Jura Ena 8 is still capable of pulling well-extracted shots.
The two main attractions of the Ena 8 are its beautiful aesthetics and compact footprint. The machine has a stunning design with a glossy finish, color display, and an eye-catching patterned water tank resembling a crystal carafe. The Ena 8 also has a small footprint making it ideal for small kitchens. The only limitation with this is that it has a smaller water reservoir and bean hopper capacity, so is best suited to a small household of 1-2 people.
The paired back design flows through to the coffee menu, which is limited to 10 one-touch drinks, however, this still covers most of the basics. The machine offers an appropriate level of customization with options to adjust grind size (7 settings), temperature (3 levels), coffee strength (10 settings), and both the coffee and milk volume. Unfortunately, there is no option to adjust the temperature or texture of the milk. The other sacrifice that keeps the machine reasonably priced is that it can only brew one drink at a time.
Overall, the Ena 8 is an affordable Jura coffee maker that features a compact and stylish design. The smaller capacity and limited features may be a deal-breaker for busy households but for everyone else, it offers a great value option.
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Jura S8
Best Jura Machine For The Tech Lover
The Jura S8 merges the features of premium Jura machines with the design of compact models. At the heart of the machine is a huge 4.3” color touchscreen display, making selecting and customizing drinks effortless. While the S8 boasts a compact frame, it still packs a punch with a 1.9L water tank and 280g bean hopper.
The S8 is very similar to the Jura E8 in terms of features and cup quality. The coffee menu offers 15 specialty drinks. For each drink, you can adjust the grind size (7 settings), temperature (3 levels), coffee strength (10 settings), coffee volume, and both the milk volume and amount of foam.
However, the S8 outshines the E8 with a more modern operating system complete with a touch screen and extra programmability. These premium features do come with a higher price tag so whether they are worth the extra dollars is up to you.
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Jura Giga 10
Best Jura Coffee Maker For An Office
The Jura Giga 10 is a goliath of a coffee maker and probably a bit of an overkill for domestic use. Where this automatic coffee machine really shines is in a commercial or office environment. The Giga 10 basically takes all the features of the Jura Z10 and doubles them; two grinders, two pumps, two grinders, and two thermoblock heating systems.
The front of the machine is dominated by a full-color three-panel display making selecting and programming drinks a breeze. And as you would expect, the Giga 10 has wifi connection so you can control the machine remotely.
The Giga 10 offers an impressive 35 specialty drinks; and brews both hot and cold espresso. For each drink, there is an incredible level of programmability. The Giga 10 even offers the ability to mix beans from each hopper in 25% increments which can be helpful for creating half-calf drinks. The Jura Giga 10 is easily the best-performing machine on this list, with an incredible amount of features. However, it does come with a steep price tag, so is not for everyone.
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The Best Jura Coffee Maker- Final Thoughts
Jura coffee machines are designed to make crafting the perfect cup of coffee a breeze. Within the Jura lineup, there are models to suit different budgets and needs. However, we think that the best Jura coffee maker at present is the Jura E8. This automatic coffee machine offers a superb balance between features and price. It has an extensive coffee menu and a level of programmability to cater to most households.
Jura Coffee Maker Buying Guide
In this next section, we will cover some things to think through before making the dive and investing in a Jura automatic coffee machine. We will also decode some of the Jura jargon so you can understand what the different features are.
Price
Your budget is the first thing to consider before investing in a Jura. Jura coffee machines are some of the most expensive super automatic espresso machines on the market. And there are certainly other brands of espresso machines that would offer many of the same features at a more affordable price. If you want to see some of the other options check out our guide to the best super-automatic espresso machines.
Jura is, however, a well-reputable brand, known for building machines that perform well and have a long lifespan. Within the Jura lineup, there is a wide price range. The more basic machines offer smaller coffee menus and sacrifice some of the customizability. So the first step is to consider what features are must-haves and what you can do without, then go from there.
The other thing to bear in mind is that you often have to purchase additional accessories like a glass milk container or Jura smart connect device which can add up.
If you are on a tight budget but have your heart set on a Jura automatic coffee machine, the other option is to consider buying a refurbished Jura. These machines have been repaired and serviced and often come with a warranty. However, they are a lot more affordable than buying new. The downside is you may have to wait for a machine to come up. 1st in Coffee has a range of refurbished Jura coffee machines on offer.
Drink Options
Each Jura automatic coffee machine offers a range of drink options. The more basic models like the ENA 8 have a limited number, whereas the top-of-the-line Giga 10 has an impressive 35 specialty drinks. If you just want to brew simple drinks, you can save some money by opting for an ENA machine. If you want the option of brewing more than one drink at a time or both hot and cold beverages you will need to look at the more premium machines like the Jura Z or Giga lines.
Size and Capacity
The final thing to consider is how much bench space you have. Jura machines are rather large with some of them taking up a lot of space. If counter space is at a premium you will need to look at the more compact models like the Jura Ena 8 or Jura S8.
The other thing to weigh up is capacity. The downside of compact machines is that they often have lower capacities so a smaller water tank, bean hopper, and used grind container. This can be an issue if there are a lot of people using the machine, requiring constant maintenance. So you need to find the right balance between size and capacity to suit your household needs.
Jura Jargon
Jura is notorious for coming up with its own lingo to describe the different features on offer in their machines. If you are not familiar with the brand, this can be overwhelming, but don’t worry we have you covered.
P.E.P- Pulse Extraction Process
The Pulse Extraction Process or P.E.P. is the method Jura coffee machines use to produce espresso. Here the machine pulses hot water through the grinds to ensure optimum extraction.
I.P.B.A.S- Intelligent Pre-Brew Aroma System
The Intelligent Pre-Brew Aroma System or I.P.B.A.S is an absolute mouthful but don’t worry it’s not as complicated as it sounds! Basically, this feature just means that the Jura adds a small amount of water to wet the grinds before brewing. In other circles, this is known as a pre-infusion, which helps ensure an even extraction. With the Jura machines, the machine automatically adjusts the amount of water used in the pre-brewing process according to the drink being made.
Aroma Grinder
The Aroma grinder is the updated Jura grinder. The Aroma grinder grinds coffee beans at slower speeds to reduce the noise. The grind setting can be adjusted to alter the fineness of the grind, which in turn affects the extraction time and strength of the coffee produced. The built in coffee grinder allows you to use fresh coffee beans for the best tasting coffee.
Intelligent Water System (I.W.S) with CLARIS smart filter
The Jura coffee machines have an Intelligent Water System or I.W.S. which automatically detects when a filter needs to be changed or a cleaning cycle is due. This system runs in conjunction with the CLARIS water filter which filters out all the hard minerals and prevents scale buildup inside the machine. The nice thing with a Jura machine is that if you are using the filters you don’t need to worry about descaling.
JOE
JOE is the Jura coffee app. While some of the machines have wifi connectivity, if your chosen machine doesn’t, you can purchase the Jura smart connect accessory. With the app, you can operate the machine remotely via your smartphone. The app is helpful in programming drinks and adjusting settings.
Fine Foam Frother
The Jura machines are known to produce exceptional-quality milk, this is largely due to their fine foam technology. The Jura coffee machines use a tube milk system that sucks milk up from a container and then heats and froths it before delivering it directly to the cup. The milk is finely textured producing a creamy and delicate foam.
Bypass Doser
Most of the Jura coffee makers offer a bypass doser. This is a small chamber that allows you to use pre-ground coffee instead of the beans in the hopper. This is a helpful feature if you are wanting the option of making decaf coffee.
FAQs
What Is The Best Jura Automatic Coffee Machine?
Jura offers a wide range of machines. One of their best-selling machines, and in our opinion, their best machine is the Jura E8. This automatic coffee machine offers a large coffee menu, a high level of customization, and a mid-range price tag. If you are after the best Jura machine there are other top-tier models like the Jura z10 or Jura Giga 10 which offer more features and the ability to brew both hot and cold drinks.
Do Jura Machines Require A Lot Of Maintenance?
Jura machines, like all coffee machines, require regular cleaning and maintenance to keep them performing at their best. Jura machines all have automated cleaning programs that need to be run on a regular basis to keep the brew head and milk frother clean. In addition, removable parts like the drip tray, water reservoir, and used grounds container need to be emptied and washed.
If you choose to use the CLARIS water filters with your machine, you will not need to worry about descaling as these prevent the internal system from scale build-up. However, these filters require periodic replacement.
What Is The Lifespan Of A Jura Automatic Coffee Machine?
Jura coffee machines are known for their high-quality construction and durability. With the proper maintenance, they can have a long lifespan. On average a Jura coffee machine lasts anywhere from 5-10 years. It’s worth noting that if you do have a problem with your Jura machine, individual parts can be repaired or replaced rather than having to replace the whole machine.
Why Is Jura So Expensive?
Jura machines are considered the premium super-automatic espresso machine. Jura has established itself as a reputable and trustworthy brand in the coffee industry. Their swiss engineered machines are built with high-quality components and are known to be durable. In addition, the machines are equipped with advanced features and a large number of specialty coffee options. The coffee and milk quality is superb and justifies the higher price for coffee enthusiasts.
