Six Best Jura Coffee Machines [and One to Avoid]

If you’ve been searching around for the best Jura coffee machine for more than a few minutes, you’ve probably noticed two things:

1. Jura coffee machines are expensive, and there is a huge price difference (I’m talking thousands of dollars) between different models.

2. Jura has several dozen fancy phrases and acronyms to describe every tiny feature of their machines.

This can lead you to overpay for a Jura espresso machine because you’ve been lured in by some sexy-sounding feature (who can resist “Fine Foam Technology” for example) which in reality makes little difference to your coffee maker’s daily performance and usability. 

As well as giving you my verdict on the best Jura coffee machines, I’m also going to assess all of Jura’s features and technologies so you know exactly what you’re paying for, and exactly what you shouldn’t be overpaying for.

Let’s get started.

Top Picks

What Are The Differences Between Jura Coffee Makers?

Jura coffee makers differ in six key ways:

• How much they cost.

• Whether they have a milk frother or not.

• Their number of menu items.

• The variety of milk textures that they can make.

• Their user interface.

• Whether they can make cold coffee and cold milk foam or not.

There are other small differences between each model, and certain models have one-off exclusive features, but the six factors above are by far the most important things you should consider when choosing the best Jura coffee machine for your needs.

Jura coffee machines all have the following in common:

• They all make a similar (very high) standard of espresso.

• They all make a similar (good, but not exceptional) standard of milk foam (apart from the ones that don’t have a milk frother).

• They all let you adjust your coffee’s strength, size, and proportions of coffee to milk in your drink.

• They all have the same grinder (Jura tries to claim otherwise, but the differences between different models’ grinders are minimal). 

• They all have milk frothing systems where the coffee machine attaches to an external milk container via a silicone tube. Jura coffee machines do NOT come with an external milk container.

• They all require the same cleaning and maintenance procedures.

• They are all made with the same basic internal and external parts so offer a similar (very high) level of durability.

• They all have non-removable brew groups (I’ll explain the implications of this later on). 

Since all Juras make a similar quality of espresso and milk foam, I’m not going to mention these when reviewing each machine. I’m instead going to focus my reviews on:

• The varieties of drinks that each Jura coffee maker offers (especially the varieties of milk texture as these vary a lot between machines).

• How easy each coffee machine is to use.

• How much value for money does each machine offer?

Best Jura Coffee Machine: In Detail

Here are reviews of each of the Jura coffee machines listed above.

Best Overall: Jura E8

Functionalities

The Jura E8 can make espresso, lungo, filter coffee, and all the common specialty milk-based coffee drinks with the notable exception of latte.

I think that latte is a strange omission from the Jura E8’s menu, however, you can achieve a drink very similar to a latte by having the machine make a latte macchiato and then stirring it before you drink it (a latte macchiato is just a layered latte).

The Jura E8 uses an HP3 milk-steaming system – an upgrade from the HP1 system used by other Jura coffee machines like the Jura E6.

This means that it can produce both thin and thick textured milk so there will be noticeable textural differences between each of the milk drinks it produces. The milk-based drinks on more affordable Jura machines (like the Jura E6) all have the same texture.

I love how the Jura E8 has “extra shot” options for all its milk-based drinks. 

These drinks are much better when you use two espresso shots rather than one (you can actually taste the coffee in them) so it’s great how the Jura E8 lets you do this with one button press.

The machine does not let you make cold brew coffee or cold foam, so you can’t make iced coffees with it. This does help keep its cost down, however.

Functionalities Rating: 8/10

User Interface

The Jura E8 is operated by an LCD screen which is controlled by buttons on either side of it.

As you can see from the image above, these buttons are thin, plastic tabs that have no real give when you press them.

They are therefore not the nicest to press and give the machine a bit of a cheap feel.

However, navigating the machine’s menu and all its functionalities is really easy. 

Once you select a drink it will give you options for strength, size of coffee, and amount of milk you want in it. It’s nice how you can make these changes “on the fly” as your drink is being brewed rather than having to hard code them before you make your drink.

One small criticism I have with the Jura E8’s UI is that its menu only contains images of each drink, rather than images and names. 

This means that you have to learn what coffee each image corresponds to. As a lot of the images are similar, this isn’t that easy.

Still, this is a small nitpick, and overall I find the Jura E8 really easy to use.

User Interface: 7/10

Value for Money

The Jura E8 is one of the best Jura coffee machines as far as value for money is concerned.

With the E8, Jura has achieved the best balance of including the right functionalities to make the machine produce excellent drinks and be easy to use. 

They have omitted some cool features, such as the ability to make cold milk foam, however, this keeps the price down and most people won’t use these functions that often.

Value for Money Rating: 9/10 

Jura E8 Pros

It has an HP3 milk system which lets you make a variety of milk textures.

The coffee machine is relatively affordable considering its huge number of functionalities.

Its LCD screen user interface makes it easier to use than similarly priced non-Jura espresso machines.

Jura E8 Cons

Its menu does not display the name of each menu item – only images.

See also: Jura E8 review

Best Affordable: Jura E6

Functionalities

The Jura E6 lets you make a full range of black coffee drinks (espresso, lungo, Americano, and filter coffee) as well as a cappuccino and macchiato.

Since the machine uses an HP1 milk system (rather than an HP3 system) it can only make one milk foam texture – thick and foamy.

The machine will not be able to make silky lattes.

Still, if you are going to mainly be drinking black coffee (or black coffee with a dash of cold milk) and have the odd-frothed milk drink as the occasional treat, then the Jura E6 will be more than enough for your needs.

Functionalities Rating: 6/10

User Interface

The Jura E6 is operated by a button-controlled LCD screen, just like the Jura E8.

The Jura E6’s UI is actually slightly better than the Jura E8’s for two reasons:

• The buttons have been improved so they have a bit more give when you press them.

• Menu items have their names as well as images of each drink.

The Jura E6’s basic workflow for making a drink and running cleaning and rinsing cycles is identical to the Jura E8. Both machines are very easy to use.

User Interface Rating: 8/10

Value for Money

The Jura E6 is, by some distance, the best value for money Jura coffee maker. 

It’s around $1,000 cheaper than the Jura E8, and its only weakness compared to the Jura E8 is that it offers you less variety in the milk drinks that you can make.

If you mainly drink black coffee drinks, with the odd frothed milk specialty drink thrown in, then the Jura E6 is an absolute steal.

Value for Money Rating: 10/10

Jura E6 Pros

Excellent value for money. One of the best value-for-money super-automatic espresso machines on the market (Jura or otherwise).

Has a really nice user interface where menu options are labeled with words as well as images.

Can make a cappuccino with a double shot of espresso at the touch of a button.

Jura E6 Cons

It can only make one texture of steamed milk so there is a lack of variety in the milk-based drinks that it can make.

See also: Jura E6 vs E8

Best for Lattes and Cappuccinos: Jura S8

Functionalities

Although the Jura S8 has fewer menu options than the Jura E8, it can actually make a wider range of milk-based drinks due to the fact that you can toggle between thick milk foam and finer steamed milk as your milk is being dispensed.

While other machines with HP3 milk systems (Jura E8, Jura GIGA 6, and Jura Z10) can make varying milk textures, the milk textures they dispense are based purely on the menu option you select (a cappuccino will have thicker foam than a latte, for example).

The Jura S8 is the only Jura coffee maker that lets you combine milk textures in whatever way you wish. 

This is the feature that makes it the best Jura espresso machine if you want to experiment with milk-based drinks.

The Jura S8 also lets you build custom coffees from scratch (by selecting a strength, volume of coffee, and volume of milk) and then save it as a permanent option on its menu. 

This means if you create the perfect coffee you can have it available at the touch of a button.

Functionalities Rating: 8/10 (9/10 for milk-based drinks)

User Interface

The Jura S8 is operated by a 4.3” touch screen.

Although this is meant to be an upgrade to the Jura E8/E6’s button-operated screen, I actually think it makes the Jura S8 harder to use than these models.

The Jura S8’s touchscreen can be a bit jumpy and oversensitive.

This is particularly problematic when trying to customize your coffee’s strength and size.

To do this you have to swipe your finger along sliders on its touch screen. The touch screen can sometimes struggle to register this, as it thinks you are tapping it rather than sliding your finger on it.

You can see someone struggling with this in the video below (watch from 9:31 – 9:36). Notice how the guy in the video tries to adjust his coffee’s strength and then it just changes to another part of the menu:

This oversensitivity aside, the Jura S8’s workflow is well-designed, and I think the machine does become easy to use once you have gotten used to the touch screen’s level of sensitivity.

User Interface Rating: 7/10

Value for Money

The Jura S8 does not offer the greatest value for money.

You are paying a premium compared to the Jura E8 for the S8’s touch screen and the ability to adjust milk texture on the fly.

While I don’t think that the touch screen is worth paying extra for, I do think that it’s worth paying more for being able to adjust milk texture mid-flow if (and only if) you are primarily buying the machine to make milk-based coffee drinks.

The Jura S8 therefore only offers value for money if it’s going to replace a daily latte in a coffee shop. If not then you are better off with the Jura E8 or Jura E6.

Value for Money Rating: 6/10

Jura S8 Pros

It allows you to adjust milk texture as your milk is being dispensed (no other Jura does this).

It allows you to add your own coffee creations to its menu.

Its touch screen is quicker to navigate than the E6 and E8’s button-operated system (once you get used to how sensitive it is).

Jura S8 Cons

It’s overpriced, especially if you do not take advantage of its adjustable milk frother.

It takes a while to get used to its touch screen’s sensitivity.

See also: Jura S8 review

Best for Iced Coffees: Jura Z10

Functionalities

The Jura Z10 is the most functionality-rich of all Jura coffee machines.

In addition to doing everything the Jura E8 can do, the Jura Z10 can also dispense cold coffee and control the temperature that your milk is dispensed.

The main benefit of this is that you can easily make iced coffee with the Jura Z10. 

Combining its cold brew coffee with milk foam on its lowest temperature setting will give you a drink that is slightly above room temperature. 

You can then add ice to this without it melting. The Z10 is the only Jura coffee maker that allows you to do this.

It can, of course, also make all your favorite hot coffee drinks, including latte which the Jura E8 lacks.

Functionalities Rating: 10/10

User Interface

The Jura Z10 is controlled by a touch screen and also has a click wheel on top of the machine which can allow you to use the screen’s sliders more easily.

This overcomes the “jumpy slider” problem that plagues the Jura S8’s touch screen.

The Jura Z10’s click wheel registers slide movements far better than its touchscreen. Using the touch screen for “tapping” options and then using the click wheel to control sliders gives you a best-of-both-worlds user interface.

My one gripe with the Jura Z10’s UI, however, is that (like the Jura E8) its menu just displays images of each drink with no accompanying text description.

User Interface Rating: 9/10

Value for Money

The Jura Z10 is expensive, there is no getting around this fact.

Its price tag is too much to pay if you are only going to use it to make basic drinks like espresso and hot milk-based drinks.

You are spending a premium on the ability to make iced coffees. 

The Jura Z10 is only worth the money if you are going to use it to make these drinks as it’s the only super-automatic espresso machine (Jura or otherwise) that allows you to do this.

Value for Money Rating: 6/10

Jura Z10 Pros

It can make excellent iced coffee drinks, including iced drinks with cold milk foam

It has an incredible user interface thanks to its combination of a touch screen and a click wheel.

You don’t have to buy an additional smart plug to operate the machine with your phone.

Jura Z10 Cons

It is very expensive, around 3x the price of the Jura E6 (which is a very good machine in itself).

Best if You Won’t Steam Milk: Jura ENA 4

Functionalities

The Jura ENA 4 can only make espresso, double espresso, filter coffee, and a double serving of filter coffee.

I don’t rate Jura’s filter coffee (regardless of model). Super-automatic espresso machines just don’t make this type of coffee well. You can get much better in a French press.

So the Jura ENA 4 is basically only good for espresso. 

It does, however, make excellent espresso. It uses the same espresso brewing system as all other Juras (even the top-end ones), so makes just as good espresso as these machines.

Its espresso is also better than that made by other super automatic brands, thanks to Jura’s patented Pulse Extraction Process.

So, in short, the Jura ENA 4 does one thing but does it really well. It’s the best super automatic espresso machine you can get for just espresso.

Functionalities Rating: 5/10

User Interface

The Jura ENA 4’s user interface is the machine’s weakest point.

It is operated with four buttons and has backlit symbols on its display. 

It’s not obvious at all what each of these buttons means, so you are definitely going to have to look at your machine’s instruction manual or watch a YouTube video before you can do things like to adjust your coffee’s volume or run a cleaning cycle.

Still, once you understand the symbols, the Jura ENA 4’s operating system is adequate considering the fact that the machine only has a small number of functionalities.

User Interface Rating: 4/10

Value for Money

The Jura ENA 4 offers excellent value for money if you just want a super-automatic espresso machine that can make espresso only.

You can get just as good espresso with the ENA 4 as you can with the Jura Z10 or GIGA 6, even though the ENA 4 is less than a quarter of the price of these machines.

While you can get a machine with milk frothing capabilities for cheaper than the ENA 4 from other manufacturers, their espresso quality will not be as good as what you can get from the ENA 4.

Value for Money Rating: 9/10

Jura ENA 4 Pros

Can make as good an espresso as much more expensive Jura models.

No milk system means it’s much easier to keep clean than other Jura machines.

It’s the cheapest Jura model available.

Jura ENA 4 Cons

No milk steaming functionality.

You can get super-automatic espresso machines with milk steaming functionalities for cheaper than the Jura ENA 8 from other manufacturers.

Best for Offices: Jura GIGA 6

Functionalities

The Jura GIGA 6 can allow you to make all the black coffee and milk-based drinks that the Jura Z10 offers with the exception of cold brew coffee.

Strangely enough, you can still control the machine’s milk temperature, but if you want to make an iced milk drink you need to combine hot coffee with cold foam which, in all honesty, doesn’t sound too appetizing.

The GIGA 6 exceeds the Jura Z10 by having two built-in grinders. This means that you can switch between different coffee beans with the click of a button.

This is ideal for offices where some staff members might want to drink decaffeinated coffee. 

While most Jura coffee machines have bypass dozers for pre-ground beans (which you can fill with decaf coffee), the GIGA 6’s second grinder means you can brew with fresh whole-bean coffee for both decaf and regular drinks.

The Jura GIGA 6 can also let you make two different coffees at once which, again, should save you time in a busy office.

Functionalities Rating: 9/10

User Interface

The Jura GIGA 6 has the same 4.3” touch screen and click-wheel combination as the Jura Z10.

This is the best control panel of all Jura models. You can also make custom coffees from scratch and save them to the machine’s menu so they’re available at the touch of a button.

This should help speed things along during an office coffee break.

User Interface Rating: 10/10

Value for Money

The Jura GIGA 6 is quite a distance from the most expensive Jura coffee maker featured here.

It’s overkill for a home espresso machine, however, if you can convince your boss to charge it to the company…you’re in for a ridiculously cool coffee machine.

Value for Money Rating: 6/10

Jura GIGA 6 Pros

Excellent user interface that combines a touch screen with a click wheel

Two grinders so you can choose between regular and decaf for every coffee you make.

Has a huge water tank and a used coffee grounds container so can take a lot of use before it needs to be cleaned and emptied.

Jura GIGA 6 Cons

Very expensive, even by Jura coffee machine standards.

Overpriced Jura Coffee Machine to Avoid: Jura ENA 8

The Jura ENA 8 is marketed as a more compact alternative to the Jura E6 or Jura E8.

Functionality-wise it bears more resemblance to the Jura E6, offering four black coffee options and four milk-based coffee options.

I don’t recommend the Jura ENA 8 because it is around $200 more than the Jura E6, and the only “advantage” it has over the E6 is that it is 0.3” slimmer and 1.5” shorter than it.

This is not a significant enough reduction in size to justify an increase in price. 

If you do not have enough space to accommodate the Jura E6, then a machine that is only 0.3” slimmer and has the same depth will also be too big for your kitchen. 

A reduction in height does not really matter, it’s the footprint (width x depth) that determines how much space a coffee machine takes up on your counter.

Therefore if you are interested in getting the Jura ENA 8, you should instead opt for the cheaper Jura E6.

How to Decide Which Jura Coffee Machine to Buy

The best Jura espresso machine for you depends on your following preferences:

• What is your budget?
• What types of coffee do you want to make?
• What type of user interface do you prefer?

What is Your Budget?

I won’t beat around the bush here: Jura machines are expensive.

If your budget is under $1,000 then I’d recommend looking at other manufacturers – you’ll be lucky to find even the most entry-level Jura machines at this price.

The cheapest Jura currently on the market is the Jura ENA 4, and this retails at around $1,000.

The majority of Jura’s range retails at between $1,500 and $3,000, with their highest-end machines costing over $4,000.

I’m now going to run through what Jura machines are available at specific price points, as well as give you my personal recommendations on what machines offer the best value for money for each budget.

Please note that these prices are not set in stone (although Jura prices seem to fluctuate less than other super-automatic espresso machine brands).

$1,000 – $1,500: Jura E4 and Jura ENA 4 

If your budget is under $1,500 then your only options are the Jura ENA 4 and Jura E4. 

Neither of these machines can steam milk so if you want a machine with a milk frother at under $1,500 then you are better off looking at Delonghi models.

The two machines can only make espresso and filter coffee and have a very basic button and backlit icon-based user interface. 

The Jura ENA 4 typically costs around $1,000, with the Jura E4 costing around $1,200.

The only differences between these two machines are:

• The Jura E4 can hold up to 16 grams of ground coffee in its brewing chamber. The Jura ENA 4 can only brew 10 grams of coffee at a time.

• The Jura ENA 4 is 1.5” shorter and 0.3” slimmer than the Jura E4.

• The Jura E4 can dispense plain hot water whereas the Jura ENA 4 cannot.

• The Jura E4 has a flat 64 oz water tank, the Jura ENA 4 has a cylindrical 37 oz water tank.

The Jura ENA 4 offers you far better value for your money than the Jura E4.

The only advantage that the Jura E4 has over the ENA 4 is its larger brewing chamber capacity. This means that the Jura E4 can make better filter coffee than the Jura ENA 4.

However, I would not recommend buying a Jura machine (or any super-automatic espresso machine) because of its filter coffee.

These types of machines simply aren’t designed to make filter coffee. You will get far better filter coffee using a $15 French press than a $1,200 super-automatic espresso machine.

$1,500 – $2,500: Jura E6, Jura ENA 8 & Jura E8

For between $1,500 – $2,500 you can get a Jura coffee machine with:

• A button-controlled LCD screen control panel
• Milk steaming functionalities
• The ability to customize the strength, size, and ratio of coffee to milk in your drink

Machines in this price bracket vary in the following ways (depending on their price):

• Number of available menu items 
• Available milk textures
• Dimensions

The table below compares the Jura E6, Jura ENA 8, and Jura E8 across these three criteria:

If your budget is between $1,500 and $2,500 then I’d recommend either the:

• Jura E6 if you are going to mainly be drinking black espresso drinks with the odd milk-based drink every now and then. The Jura E6’s HP1 milk frother means that all its milk-based drinks are basically the same as it can only steam milk to one texture.

• Jura E8 if you are going to be drinking more milk-based drinks than black espresso drinks. The Jura E8’s ability to make multiple milk textures means that there’s much more variation between each of its milk-based drinks. 

I’d avoid the Jura ENA 8. It’s an overpriced machine that doesn’t deliver on the “compactness” that Jura promises.

$2,500 – $4,000: Jura S8 and Jura Z10

For between $2,500 and $4,000, you can get a Jura coffee maker with:

• A touchscreen user interface
• The ability to steam milk to multiple textures
• The ability to make custom coffee drinks and add them to the machine’s menu

Machines in this price bracket will vary in the following ways:

• Whether they can make cold brew coffee
• Whether they can steam milk to different temperatures
• Whether you can adjust milk texture while milk is being dispensed
• Whether the machine has a click wheel in addition to its touch screen to help with adjusting finer settings.

The table below shows how the Jura S8 and Jura Z10 differ in these criteria:

The main advantage that the Jura Z10 has over the Jura S8 is that it can make cold espresso and cold milk foam.

If you are willing to spend an extra $1,000 on the ability to make iced coffee, then go for the Jura Z10. The Jura Z10 is the only Jura coffee machine that can make these iced drinks.

The Jura S8 is an ideal machine if you want to make the best possible milk-based drinks with your machine.

The Jura S8 is the only Jura coffee machine that allows you to adjust your milk texture as your milk is being dispensed. This can allow you to make milk drinks with exact ratios of steamed and frothed milk.

You can see a video of someone using this adjustable milk frother below (watch from 5:07 – 5:17):

$4,000+: Jura GIGA 6

The only current option at this price point is the Jura GIGA 6.

It’s more designed for commercial use than for home use.

What Types of Coffee Do You Want to Make?

The main factor that affects how much a Jura coffee machine costs is the number of coffee types that it can make.

You, therefore, want to think about the types of coffee that you’ll make with your machine and go for a machine that can only make those types of coffee.

Otherwise, you’ll end up overpaying for your coffee machine.

Here are the best Jura machines depending on the types of coffee that you are going to make:

Espresso and Americano Only

If you just drink black espresso, or Americano, or like to add a dash of cold milk to coffee (rather than steamed milk) then you should go for the Jura ENA 4.

You pay a premium for the ability to steam milk. If you aren’t going to use this feature, then you might as well forgo it entirely.

I’d recommend the Jura ENA 4 for Americano drinkers, even though the machine lacks a dedicated Americano menu item (other more expensive Juras have this).

You can make an Americano by making an espresso with the Jura ENA 8 and then just topping it up with boiling water from a kettle.

This will actually create a nicer drink than an Americano from a more expensive Jura machine because the latter will be made with water that has likely been sitting in the machine’s water tank for days.

Espresso, Americano, and the Odd Milk-Based Drink

If you’re mainly going to be making plain espresso and Americano, and the odd steamed milk drink every now and then, then you’re best off with the Jura E6.

The Jura E6 uses Jura’s more basic HP1 milk-steaming system, meaning that it can only make one texture of steamed milk – a thick milk foam.

This means that while it can make a good milk drink, there is a lack of variety in its milk-based drinks – its cappuccino, flat white and macchiato are all basically the same.

This lack of variety is made up for by the fact that the Jura E6 is around $900 cheaper than the cheapest Jura model with an advanced HP3 milk-steaming system, the Jura E8.

If you’re only going to make frothed milk drinks as an odd treat every now and then, then I don’t think it’s worth paying such a large premium to have a wider variety of milk textures.

Mainly Milk Based Drinks

If you’re mainly going to make drinks with steamed or frothed milk in them then you are going to want a machine with an HP3 milk frother.

An HP3 milk frother will adjust the texture of your milk depending on the drink that you make. For example, a latte will have a finer texture of milk foam than a cappuccino.

The following Jura machines use the HP3 milk frother:

• Jura E8
• Jura S8
• Jura Z10
• Jura Giga 6

The best Jura coffee machine for milk-based drinks is the Jura S8.

The Jura S8 is the only Jura machine that lets you adjust milk texture on the fly, so it gives you the most control over how your milk-based drink is made.

If the Jura S8 is too expensive, then the Jura E8 is still a good option for milk-based coffee drinks, boasting nine different milk-based menu options.

Iced Coffee

If you want to make iced coffee with your Jura, then your only option is the Jura Z10.

The Jura Z10 is the only Jura machine that can make cold brew coffee (dispensed at room temperature) and cold milk foam (this is really just above room temperature).

These are cool enough that if you serve them over ice, your ice will not melt.

It’s the closest thing you can get to a coffee shop for cold foam drinks at home.

Decaf Options

If you want the ability to make decaf coffee with your machine, then your best option is the Jura GIGA 6.

The GIGA 6 is the cheapest Jura machine with two grinders, allowing you to easily switch between decaf and regular beans.

If you don’t want to spend big on the Jura GIGA 6, then the Jura Z10, Jura E8, and Jura S8 all have bypass dozers that can be used to make a quick decaf with pre-ground coffee. 

They aren’t as good an option as the Jura GIGA 6 for people who want to drink a lot of decaf coffee, however, because you’ll have to refill the bypass doser every time you want a decaf coffee.

What Type of User Interface Do You Want to Use?

Jura coffee machines have four possible types of user interfaces:

• Button controlled with backlit symbols
• Button controlled with LCD screen
• Touch screen
• Touch screen with a click wheel

Button Operated with Backlit Symbols

This is the most basic Jura user interface. It’s kind of clunky to use and not that intuitive, especially when it comes to adjusting the machine’s settings and activating its rinse and descale mode.

You can see it in use in the video below of the Jura ENA 4 below (watch from 5:05 – 7:05):

The Jura models that use this user interface are the:

• Jura ENA 4
• Jura E4

It’s little surprise that these are the two cheapest Jura models. 

If you don’t mind a basic user interface then you can save yourself a fair chunk of change by opting for one of these machines.

LCD Screen with Button Operation

Mid-priced Jura machines are controlled by a 2.8” color display screen that’s operated by buttons on either of its sides.

The Jura models that have this type of user interface are:

• Jura E6
• Jura ENA 8
• Jura E8

There is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to operating these control panels, as the buttons often have several functionalities depending on whether you press them or hold them down. 

You can see a video of someone walking through the Jura ENA 8’s control panel below (watch from 1:28 – 2:20):

Again, you’ll likely need to consult the machine’s instruction manual or watch how-to videos when you first try to navigate a Jura coffee maker with this type of user interface. 

However when you learn how all the buttons work then machines which use this UI are super easy to navigate.

It’s certainly a big step up from a purely button-operated control panel.

Touch Screen

Although Jura intends a touch screen to be a step up from a button-controlled screen, I actually think that they make Jura machines more difficult to use.

The touch screen sometimes requires you to tap the screen to activate certain settings and sometimes requires you to swipe it. They often struggle to detect whether you are tapping or beginning a swipe which makes it very easy to select the wrong option.

You can see a video of someone struggling with this below (watch from 9:31 – 9:36):

I also found several reports of people complaining about Jura’s touch screen on Reddit, particularly in this thread:

The touch screen interface is like from an old Android 2.3.x phone. Like, it’s 2020, and you’re putting in a system that has 5 fps animations at most? And the UX of the interface.. oh god, took me 3 days to understand i have to swipe and not tap to change various settings. This is so counter intuitive.. If I were the PM or QA of this thing, every run I would do I would bring up this as a major UX pain point.

u/rabus

In short, all things else being equal, I’d go for a Jura model with a button-controlled screen rather than a touch screen.

Touch Screen with Click Wheel (“Rotary Switch”)

The Jura Z10 and Jura GIGA 6 have a touch screen but also have a click wheel that you can use to “swipe” the screen.

You can see a video of someone using the Jura Z10’s click wheel in the video below (watch from 30:10 – 31:12):

This click wheel solves Jura’s touch screen’s oversensitivity when it comes to swiping. 

It’s therefore the best-designed of all these four user interfaces and it’s little surprise that it’s reserved for the most expensive Jura models.

In short, the machines’ available user interfaces from best to worst are:

• Touch screen with click wheel (best)
• Button-operated LCD screen
• Touch screen
• Buttons with backlit symbols (worst)

The table below shows all the models featured in this article along with their user interfaces:

What Do All Jura Coffee Machines Have in Common (Jura Terminology Explained)?

I’m now going to go through all the features that the best Jura coffee machines have in common. This is for two reasons:

1. So you don’t overpay for a specific feature that’s actually shared by a cheaper machine.

2. So we can understand how all of Jura’s pretentiously named “technologies” actually affect the usability of the machine.

Espresso Brewing System: Pulse Extraction Process, Intelligent Pre Brew Aroma, and 3D Brewing Technology

All Jura coffee machines have the same espresso brewing process.

The two consequences of this are:

• Jura machines make better-tasting espresso than other super-automatic espresso machines (but not as good as a good quality portafilter-driven espresso machine)

• All Jura machines make pretty much the same quality espresso

This espresso brewing system breaks down into three Jura technologies: Pulse Extraction Process, Intelligent Pre Brew Aroma, and 3D Brewing Technology. I’ll explain them now.

Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P)

Pulse Extraction Process refers to Juras pushing your brewing water through your coffee puck in pulses, rather than in one steady flow.

This overcomes the main problem with how super-automatic machines brew espresso – namely that they brew unevenly because they cannot prep and tamp your puck properly.

You can see a video of someone explaining this problem in more detail below (watch from 1:25 – 2:50).

Brewing in short pulses reduces the pressure by which your brewing water is forced through your coffee, resulting in a more even extraction and therefore a better-balanced espresso flavor.

This Pulse Extraction Process is by far the most important reason why Jura machines make better espresso than all other super automatics.

Intelligent Pre Brew Aroma System (IPBAS)

Intelligent Pre Brew Aroma System just refers to Jura machines soaking your coffee grounds in a small amount of hot water prior to brewing.

This causes your coffee puck to expand (called “blooming”) which exposes more of its surface area to your water, resulting in greater extraction.

While this is a good thing, all super-automatic espresso machines do this. 

IPBAS is just Jura using fancy terminology for a mundane process (one of many, unfortunately).

3D Brewing Technology

Jura says that their 3D brewing technology is (and I quote): 

“Water flows evenly through the ground coffee at multiple levels in order to extract the maximum aroma”

Honestly, this seems like a marketing waffle again.

Even if you design a system that disperses water in an even way, it does not mean that it will flow evenly through the ground coffee. 

If this were the case then espresso making would be incredibly easy, rather than a topic that people get incredibly geeky about and which even the “experts” would admit they don’t have all the answers to.

All Jura coffee machines have this mysterious “3D brewing technology”, so it’s not like some machines will brew your espresso more evenly than others.

Milk Steaming System: Fine Foam Technology and HP1/HP3 Milk System

Jura uses a unique milk-steaming system that they call “Fine Foam Technology” which allows them to make better-textured milk than any other super-automatic espresso machine.

While all Juras make really good quality thick milk foam, Jura models that use an HP3 milk system (as opposed to an HP1 milk system) can make thinner steamed milk as well as thick milk foam.

Fine Foam Technology

Fine Foam Technology refers to Jura’s milk-steaming system.

Juras’ fine foam frother connects to an external milk container via a silicone tube. 

When you select a milk-based drink, the machine sucks up milk through this tube and steams it twice, once to get heat and air into the milk, and once again to squeeze any larger bubbles out of the milk foam.

The big advantage of this Fine Foam Technology is that Jura machines produce one of the best quality milk foams of any super-automatic coffee machine.

You can see barista and coffee Youtuber James Hoffmann’s verdict on the Jura Z10’s milk foam in the video below (watch from 22:20 – 24:09).

The big disadvantage of Jura’s milk system is that you need to attach a separate milk container. 

This is an unwieldy design that significantly adds to the machine’s footprint, demands an extra milk container (which is not sold as standard with the machine), and can lead to a mess whenever you remove the silicone tube from the machine.

HP1 vs HP3 Milk System

Jura machines with milk-steaming functionalities either use an HP1 or HP3 milk-steaming system.

• HP1: Machines that use an HP1 system can only froth your milk to one relatively thick texture, similar to what you might expect on the top of a cappuccino. While this milk foam is good quality, it does mean a lack of variation in your milk-based drinks. You can’t make a silky latte for example.

• HP3: Machines that use an HP3 system can produce the HP1’s thick foam and thinner steamed milk. It still cannot produce microfoam for latte art, however. Machines that use an HP3 milk system can make silky lattes as well as more foamy cappuccinos.

The Jura S8 has a switch on its milk dispenser that allows you to change between thicker foamed milk and thinner steamed milk on the fly. 

It is the only Jura model that allows you to do this.

The Jura GIGA 6 uses an HP2 milk system. 

I phoned up Jura’s sales team to ask them how this differed from an HP1 and HP3 system, and the rep said that he was not sure, but assured me that the GIGA 6 could make thicker and thinner steamed milk textures (the same as a machine with an HP3 system.

The table below shows the milk steaming system that each of the machines featured in this article has:

Coffee Customizations and Menu Customizations

Jura coffee makers let you customize your coffee in the following ways:

• Strength: This refers to the weight of ground coffee that your espresso is brewed with.

• Size of Coffee: Measured to the nearest half ounce.

• Brewing Temperature: Hotter is always better, in my opinion.

• Amount of steamed milk: Measured by second to dispense.

• Milk Temperature: Measured on a scale of one to ten.

The table below shows the types of customizations that each machine featured in this article lets you do:

As well as letting you customize existing menu options, the following Jura models let you build drinks from scratch and add them to its menu (these new drinks will replace existing menu items):

• Jura S8
• Jura Z10
• Jura GIGA 6

Grinder: Aroma G3 and Product Recognising Grinder

All Jura models featured in this article use an “Aroma G3” grinder.

These are conical burr grinders, making them suitable for grinding coffee beans for espresso.

While Jura will try to claim that their grinders are superior to those found on other types of super-automatic machines, I wouldn’t pay too much attention to this.

Since super-automatic espresso machines cannot prep your puck with any real degree of precision, there is no point in having a really high-quality grinder with such a machine. 

You’re only going to reap the benefits of brewing with a really fine, uniform coffee grind if you tamp your puck precisely.

So, in short Jura’s grinders are good enough, but aren’t significantly better than what you’re going to get with other manufacturers.

Product Recognising Grinder

The Jura Z10 has a Product Recognizing Grinder.

All this means is that your available grind sizes vary depending on what drink you are making from its menu.

I think that this is a bit of a pointless feature, as grind should be adjusted based on the types of beans that you are using, rather than the type of drink you are making.

At first, I thought that the “product” in Product Recognizing Grinder referred to the beans you were using and that the grinder adapted its settings when you changed your beans.

While that would have been amazing (although hard to fathom how such a thing would work), a grinder that gives you different grind settings based on your drink selection is far less useful and not worth paying a premium for.

Cleaning and Maintenance: Intelligent Water System, Cleaning Cycles & Non-Removable Brew Group

All Jura machines have dedicated modes for cleaning out the brewing system, milk steaming system, and descaling. Jura machines cannot have their brew group removed for manual cleaning, however.

Intelligent Water System

Intelligent Water System refers to the fact that Jura machines use CLARIS water filters (also manufactured by Jura) in their water tank and that if you change these filters when prompted, then you will not ever need to descale the machine.

When you turn on a Jura machine for the first time it will prompt you to take a water hardness test. The results of this test will determine how often the machine prompts you to change its water filters.

Jura machines still have dedicated descale modes if you choose not to use CLARIS water filters.

Cleaning Cycles

Jura machines have dedicated cleaning cycles to rinse out their espresso brewing system and its milk-steaming system.

You can see a video of how Jura’s espresso cleaning cycles are accessed and run below – the machines prompt you to run these cycles after every 160 espressos that you make:

You can see a video on how Jura’s milk cleaning process works below. You have to do this after every milk-based drink that you make (the cleaning tray comes with every machine that has milk-steaming functionalities):

Cleaning the Jura’s milk system is significantly more effort than cleaning a steam wand, however, I think it’s less work than having to clean out the detachable milk containers that you find on Delonghi’s and Philips’ super-automatic espresso machines.

Non-Removable Brew Group

You cannot remove the internal brew group from Jura machines.

This differs from the majority of super-automatic espresso machines whose brew group can be removed for manual cleaning and lubricating.

While Jura critics often complain that a non-removable brew group means that stale grounds will get stuck in it and make its coffee taste worse over time, I can find no Jura owners complaining about this happening

This leads me to believe that Jura’s cleaning system cleans the brew group sufficiently so that its espresso quality does not deteriorate over time.

The only downside of a non-removable brew group is that it means that you need to get your Jura machine serviced by a technician every few years (the technician will open up the machine and test the brew group, replacing it if needed).

This usually costs a couple of hundred dollars so adds to the lifetime cost of these machines. Other super automatic brands let you do this yourself.

What Other Cleaning is Required?

The only other ways that you need to clean a Jura machine are to empty and wash out its drip tray and used coffee grounds container and to wipe down its bean hopper every once in a while.

A quick note on cleaning out the machine’s used coffee grounds container.

Although each machine has a different used ground container capacity, I’d recommend that you empty and clean this container out at least every 2-3 days. 

Warm, wet coffee grounds are an ideal breeding ground for mold, so these containers are likely to get moldy long before you reach their capacity.

App Connectivity (Jura Operating Experience)

All Jura models featured in this article can connect to the Jura app on your smartphone.

This lets you use the machine’s control panel from your phone.

The majority of Jura models connect to your phone via Bluetooth and require a Jura smart connect plug (sold separately for around $50) to do this.

The Jura Z10 and Jura GIGA 6 can connect to your phone via Wifi and do not require a smart connect plug to do so.

Although the app’s user interface is really nice, I wouldn’t ever use this feature as you still need to be physically present by your machine to place your cup under it.

You cannot truly make a coffee remotely.

Are Jura Machines the Best Super Automatic Espresso Machines?

Jura makes the best super-automatic espresso machines of any manufacturer.

In his video comparison of the best bean-to-cup machines, barista, and coffee YouTuber James Hoffmann said that the Jura Z10 made the best-tasting espresso and had there or thereabouts the best milk foam of all the super-automatic espresso machines tested.

You can see this video below:

The big differentiator between Jura and other super automatics is espresso quality.

Jura is the only super-automatic to use Pulse Extraction Process, this puts its espresso above that made by all other super automatics in terms of strength and flavor balance.

Final Thoughts

The best Jura coffee machine is the Jura E8.

The Jura E8 has all the features necessary to make excellent espresso and hot milk-based drinks. It executes these drinks as well as any other Jura machine.

While it lacks Jura’s more niche features like the ability to make cold brew and cold foam, this helps keep its price down.