Nothing beats waking up to the smell of fresh coffee in the morning except waking up to coffee you didn’t make yourself. Instead of asking your spouse to make you a cup, you can opt for an automatic machine that does everything for you. We heard good things about many of the models from Jura, especially its Impressa line, and decided to review some of those machines ourselves. Our research found that some models perform even better than expected like the Impressa C9 (View on Amazon.com).
The C9 has a number of features that we liked, including its coffee programs and burr grinder. Those programs let you make cappuccino and other coffee drinks without jumping through a lot of hoops. Its burr grinder comes with six settings that give you more control over the finished taste and look of your beans. For a perfect cup of coffee, the Impressa C9 is a great choice.
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Features
Specialty Drink Buttons
Make your favorite specialty coffee drink with literally one touch of a button. The Jura C9 comes with buttons for making a latte macchiato or a cappuccino. It will add and froth your milk, brew your coffee and do everything else for you.
Change Cup Size and Strength
Though the C9 comes with settings designed for filling an average cup, you can easily adjust those settings with the rotary dial. Simply select the cup size from the menu and turn the dial to change the size of your cup. You can also use that dial to change the strength of the brewed coffee.
Thermal Milk Canister
You no longer need to head back to the kitchen every time you want to add some more milk to your mug. This automatic coffee system comes with a thermal milk canister that can hold 14 ounces. It keeps that milk perfectly chilled for hours.
Hot Water and Milk Settings
Create the richest hot chocolate you ever tasted with the warm milk dispensed by this machine. You can rotate the dial to choose hot milk instead of coffee. It also comes with a setting that will dispense hot water for drinking or rinsing out your cups.
64-Ounce Water Reservoir
You can now make enough coffee in one cycle to feed a whole group. The C9 comes with an internal water reservoir that holds 64 ounces. That water reservoir also comes out for filling and cleaning.
Coffee Funnel
If you’re not in the mood to grind your own beans, or you don’t have any beans on hand, use the coffee funnel on the machine. This funnel allows you to bypass the grinding chamber to make coffee from pre-ground coffee. Use coffee you buy from your favorite store or coffee shop.
Burr Grinder
Instead of using a traditional blade grinding system, Jura added a burr grinder to the C9. This helps you get a finer grind from your beans and get more flavor. Use any of the six settings to get the exact grind you like.
ThermoBlock Heating System
The ThermoBlock heating system found on this machine helps water come up to temperature faster and keeps that water hot for longer. It also comes with an 18-bar system that forces the water and beans to mix together to give you even more flavor.
Save on Energy
With the C9, you can actually save on your energy bills too. Its energy mode lets you change the amount of energy it needs. This keeps the machine from drawing too much power and lets it enter a standby mode.
CLEARYL Filter
Hard water and other issues with your home’s water system can significantly impair the flavor of your coffee, which is why Jura added its patented CLEARYL filter. This filter does a better job than other filters of removing impurities from any water supply to provide you with the rich coffee flavor you want.
Storage Area
Though the C9 lacks a dedicated cup warmer on top, it does come with a storage area. Storage space on the top of the coffee center stores all your favorite mugs and your family’s cups too.
Instructional DVD
To cut down on the time it takes to operate this machine, Jura included an instructional DVD. That disc gives you helpful tips on cleaning your machine, shows you the brewing options available and teaches you how to froth your milk.
Fast Operations
While it can take some coffee systems several minutes to heat up and start the brewing process, the C9 moves at a faster pace. It makes coffee in just 60 seconds.
Pros
More Program Features: One reason to love the C9 is because it comes with more program features than previous Impressa models did. Those programs let you select the strength and temperature of your coffee as well as the type of drink you want.
Burr Grinder: Other companies make coffee centers that come with a burr grinder, but Jura uses the same type of stainless steel in the C9 that commercial machines feature. The grinder creates high-quality grounds that give you more flavor.
Water Filter System: You’ll love the CLEARYL water filter system that the C9 features. This system removes more impurities from the water that you use than other machines do.
Language Settings: While it comes with the same language settings found on other models, the language settings on this one go beyond what you see on the screen. You can also view standard sizes in European measurements.
Fast Brewing: We love just how quickly this Jura model runs. Even if you use the energy mode, it comes to life in seconds when you hit the power button. With the right settings in place, it can brew your coffee, froth your milk and get it all in the cup in 60 seconds.
Cons
Automatic Frothing: While some like the automatic frothing feature, others prefer doing this step themselves. Jura does not let you adjust the temperature of the steam produced or do any additional frothing with the C9.
Automatic Cleaning: The C9 has a tendency to enter its cleaning or rinsing cycle a little more often than it should. This might mean that you get less use out of the machine because you cannot always use it.
Warranty Restrictions: Jura requires that you use its own cleaning products. Using other products will void your warranty.
Final Verdict: Should You By This Model?
It won’t surprise many to learn that we highly recommend the Jura C9 One Touch Automatic Coffee Center. Though Jura had some other models that we liked, this one is a good middle of the road option. While you’ll find expensive models that cost more, this one comes with some of the same features and many of the features not found on cheaper Jura systems.
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It lets you add steam to your cup with a twist of the steam knob, but it also lets you use the rotary dial to make changes to other settings. That rotary dial even lets you change the strength of the coffee it brews and the amount of coffee it produces. With hot water and hot milk settings, the C9 is great for non-coffee drinkers too. Make hot chocolate, tea and dozens of other drinks.
Comparable Models to Consider
Miele CM 6110 Coffee System (View on Amazon.com)
Designed for use in a variety of settings, the Miele CM 6110 Coffee System is suitable for home use and use in your office. Simple buttons on the front let you change the size of coffee mug you use and quickly make either a cappuccino or a latte macchiato. As it has two separate coffee dispensers on the front, you can make two cups that are the same or different. It even lets you adjust the strength of the coffee poured into each cup. The oversize water reservoir easily comes out for convenient filling too.
Jura ENA 9 One Touch (View on Amazon.com)
If this Jura model doesn’t quite meet all of your needs, try the ENA 9 One Touch from the same manufacturer. The ENA 9 comes in a conveniently compact size that will fit in any space and an aroma boost that helps you get more out of your standard beans. ThermoBlock technology ensures that your coffee comes out at the exact temperature you want, and it also comes with the company’s patented fine foam technology. Integrated built-in features let you descale the machine, clean the internal components or rinse the machine in mere minutes.
Krups 2-IN-1 Touch Cappuccino Fully Automatic Espresso Machine (View on Amazon.com)
For espresso that tastes like a barista made it, try the Krups 2-In-1 Touch Cappuccino Fully Automatic Espresso Machine. Designed for making two cups at once, it comes with a touchscreen display and simple buttons for powering on the machine or changing its programs. Not only can you use that touchscreen to select a specialty drink, but you can also use it to adjust the amount of water used or coffee strength. Krups even lets you retain your settings for faster brewing and drinking later. Save your preferences right on that touchscreen.
