We drank so much coffee and espresso over the last few months that we could almost feel ourselves vibrating while sitting behind our desks. All that hard work really paid off though because it helped us narrow down our selection to some of the best espresso makers and coffee machines around. One of the top choices that many of us loved was the Jura E8 Superautomatic Espresso Machine (View on Amazon.com).
While you can find cheaper and more affordable models out there, those models are best for beginners and those who don’t really care what their coffee tastes like. The E8 has an intelligent water system that filters out impurities and a pulse extraction process to get more flavor from any beans. When you want an espresso that tastes like one a barista made that you can enjoy in your own home, the E8 is your best option.
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Jura E8 Compared to Others
Rank | Product | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jura E8 Superautomatic Espresso Machine | Buy on Amazon | ||
2 | Jura IMPRESSA Z9 Automatic Coffee Machine | Buy on Amazon | ||
3 | Gaggia 1003380 Accademia Espresso Machine | Buy on Amazon | ||
4 | Krups Falcon Full Automatic Espresso Machine | Buy on Amazon |
Features
Large Bar Pump
Espresso machines come with a bar pump inside that helps pump and push water from the water tank to the brewing reservoir. Though most feature a 15-bar pump, the E8 comes with an 18-bar pump. This allows the machine to operate quicker and get your espresso done faster.
Thermoblock Heating Technology
The Thermoblock heating technology used by Jura ensures that you get more flavor from your beans. This technology applies to the water that moves through the machine but applies to the brewing process too. Using the right temperature prevents the coffee from tasting bitter or dark.
LED Display
A bright LED display on the upper left panel on the front of the E8 helps you switch between coffee drinks and settings. That display works with the dials and buttons on the front too.
Top Grinder
As with other espresso machines from Jura, this one comes with a built-in grinder on the top. As a burr grinder, it does a good job of breaking down those beans to the texture you selected. You can use the front dials to change the consistency of the grind.
Large Water Reservoir
The average size cup of coffee is around six to eight ounces, but most machines only let you brew a small number of ounces at once. As this machine has a 64-ounce water reservoir, you can brew several cups from one tank. When you use standard espresso cups, you can get even more out of that tank.
Dual Frother
Located on the right front of the E8 is a milk frother that steams milk to the perfect temperature to create froth or foam. The attachment lets you add the amount of milk you want to any drink. You can also use that frother as a steaming wand.
Water Sensor
With other machines, you may find that they stop working when the water level drops too low or the tank runs out of water. The E8 comes with a water sensor that automatically tells you how much water you have in that tank and when you need more to reduce the time you wait for a cup.
Compact Size
Despite all its features, this Jura model has a fairly compact design. It measures 11-inches by just over 13-inches by 17-inches. You can use it even the smallest of kitchens or office spaces.
Automatic Shut Off
Espresso machines can overheat when left on for an extended period of time. The E8 comes with an automatic shut off features that forces the system to shut down when left on. This can also help you save on the power that it drain’s from your home’s electrical system.
Superautomatic Design
As the E8 is a Superautomatic model, you only need to worry about water, beans and milk. The machine will do everything else for you. It grinds the beans to your consistency level, mixes the beans with water in the brewing chamber, pours the finished coffee and even heats up your milk.
Intelligent Water System
The Intelligent Water System (ISW) that comes with the E8 has an RFID chip inside. That chip works with the display and sends out an alert when you need to replace the filter. The system also does a good job of filtering out anything in your water supply that might change the flavor of your coffee.
Pulse Extraction
Thanks to the pulse extraction process used by this machine, you can enjoy the natural flavor of your beans with every sip. It pulses the beans with enough water to extract the most amount of flavor to create Italian-style espresso.
Pros
Water Filtration System: The water filtration system on the E8 is one of the best we tried. You can use it with tap water and get coffee that tastes like you used bottled water. The filter removes most of the impurities found in standard water supplies.
Programming Dial: Its programming dial, which you can see on the front, lets you set up the machine in just eight simple steps. Select the filter type, hardness level, aroma strength and other features. You can even tell it how much water you added to the reservoir and the language you want to use.
Pre-infusion Setting: We like the pre-infusion process because it lets even the cheapest of beans taste like a more expensive variety. The two-step process adds a small amount of water to the whole beans before grinding to extract the most flavor. You can also adjust the strength of the aroma to enjoy the scent as the coffee brews.
Suitable for All Users: Jura created this model from some of the highest grade stainless steel available. That makes it suitable for use in your home and for commercial applications. The stainless-steel grinder comes with six possible settings.
Cons
Frequent Maintenance: Like other Jura espresso machines, the E8 will sometimes enter a cleaning or rinsing cycle more than you would like. Until it finishes that complete cycle, you can’t make coffee.
Frother Design: Jura designed the frother to easily come on and off for cleaning, but you risk that attachment coming off when you use it, which can lead to hot milk spraying all over you.
Leaky Tanks: Some former customers complained that their water tanks developed leaks over time. If this happens, you’ll need to send your tank back to the manufacturer for reconditioning.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy This Model?
After looking at a lot of Jura espresso machines and coffee machines, we had to recommend the E8. We don’t like that the froth attachment has a tendency to pop up with regular use, and we aren’t fond of the leaky tanks that some experienced. The issues with its rinse and clean cycles didn’t bother us too much because we like that those cycles keep the machine clean and let us enjoy the rich coffee flavor. It also means that we can spend more time drinking our coffee and less time cleaning our machine.
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The multiple grinding settings are another bonus. Those settings let you grind down to a minimum of 5 grams or a maximum of 15 grams. You’ll like experimenting with those grinding settings to find one that works for you. For anyone looking for an espresso and coffee machine for home or commercial use, we can’t recommend the Jura E8 Superautomatic Espresso Machine enough.
Comparable Models to Consider
Jura IMPRESSA Z9 Automatic Coffee Machine (View on Amazon.com)
For a coffee machine that does more than just make espresso and traditional coffee drinks, there’s the IMPRESS Z9 from Jura. Designed to make your life easier, it features a simple design that lets you grind your beans, select the drink you want and whip up that drink with just one button. The TFT color display on the front functions as its home screen and gives you complete access to all features. We also like that it has an integrated library of drink recipes that you can try out and six standard recipe options.
Gaggia 1003380 Accademia Espresso Machine (View on Amazon.com)
Whether you love espresso, cappuccino or any other specialty coffee drink, you’ll love having this machine in your kitchen. It has buttons across the front that let you make six different specialty drinks and a button that sends the machine into cleaning mode. With the display and rotary switch, you can even change the amount of coffee that you make at one time. This machine can make up to 10 cups, making it great for offices and shared spaces. Other great features include a conical burr grinder, pre-brewing system and aroma compartment with a double lid.
Krups Falcon Full Automatic Espresso Machine (View on Amazon.com)
With a smaller footprint than the Jura model, this Krups coffee machine is great for making coffee and espresso at home because it helps you save on kitchen space. Use the touchscreen display on the front to select the drink you want from the available recipes. It even has a hot water setting for making mixed drinks and a steam setting for adding froth to a cappuccino. The 57-ounce water tank helps you make more drinks from a single fill, and it has its own filtration system that automatically removes impurities from the tap water you use with the machine.