Last updated: March 17, 2019.
Automatic and super automatic coffee machines are great for those who love professionally made coffee but can’t justify how much those drinks cost. If you stop by a shop or restaurant even just a few times a week, you can easily spend $20 or in a single week, which really adds up by the end of the year. Many people complain that these machines are larger in size than a standard coffee machine and that they don’t have room in their homes for one. After deciding to review top models, we decided to look at those that perform well but take up less space like the Jura ENA 1 Automatic Coffee Center (View on Amazon.com).
Don’t let its compact size trick you though. This one comes with all the features that made Jura a household name, including program levels for coffee strength and cup size, eco-friendly settings and a built-in grinder. The ENA 1 is also much easier to use than some of the larger models you might consider.
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Jura ENA Micro 1 Compared to Others
Rank | Product | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jura ENA Micro 1 Automatic Coffee Center | Buy on Amazon | ||
2 | Philips Saeco Chrome Espresso Machine | Buy on Amazon | ||
3 | Gaggia Anima Deluxe Automatic Coffee Machine | Buy on Amazon | ||
4 | DeLonghi Compact Automatic Cappuccino, Latte and Espresso Machine | Buy on Amazon |
Features
Compact Design
As its grinder and bean hopper remain hidden inside, you can easily store this model on your counter or under a cabinet. It measures 9-inches wide by 17.5-inches deep by 12.7-inches tall to help you save a little space.
Cup Size
Use the cup size icons visible on the touchscreen to choose the amount of coffee you want. This keeps the machine from brewing too much. Cups of nearly six-inches tall will fit under the front coffee spout.
Bean Hopper Lid
The internal bean hopper lets you keep beans at the ready for grinding and brewing the freshest cups around. To ensure that those beans stay fresh and deliver the full flavor you need, Jura added a lid to the bean hopper. This aroma preservation lid keeps air from reaching and weakening your beans.
Use Less Energy
Its zero-energy switch keeps the machine from drawing power when it’s turned off. It also comes with two modes to help you save even more energy. One mode sends the machine to standby mode after several minutes of inactivity, and the other turns it off completely after 120 minutes of inactivity.
Three Coffee Settings
Make an espresso that has deep flavor and a rich color with the espresso setting on this machine. You can also program the machine to make cappuccino that comes with rich crema on top. The ENA Micro 1 comes with a ristretto coffee setting too.
Dosage Level
The ENA Micro 1 also comes with two different dosage levels. It can use just eight grams to make a smaller cup or up to 10 grams of coffee for a larger cup. Adding more milk or water will change the overall strength of your coffee.
Burr Grinder
A conical burr grinder ensures that the machine will grind each bean you place inside to the right consistency. This machine carefully and slowly grinds the beans before those beans reach the brewing chamber. It then adds water to get as much flavor from those beans.
Adjustable Spout
Its adjustable spout can accommodate cups as little as two-inches tall, which is great for making traditional espresso. That spout also rises taller to accommodate taller cups. It can even work with most travel mugs.
Aroma Levels
Two aroma level settings are accessible via the touchscreen display. The lower setting produces a hint of coffee scent into the surrounding air. With the higher setting, you might smell that coffee all through your home.
Easy Maintenance
Thanks to its integrated cleaning cycle, you can clean your machine quickly after popping a cleaning capsule or tablet inside. If you go too long between cleanings, the machine will even alert you of this. It also shows you when you need to run a rinse cycle.
Attached Drip Tray
The attached drip tray features grates that sit flush with the tray to keep your cup from tipping over. Those grates allow any coffee or liquid that spills over the side of the cup to drip inside the tray for fast and easy cleaning later.
Grinder Settings
Multiple grinding settings let you decide how to grind those beans. A coarser grind might be right for heartier beans, while a finer grind is more suitable for beans you buy in stores.
Pros
While Bean Grinder: While it looks similar to those pod machines you see in stores, the ENA Micro 1 comes with its own whole bean grinder. Instead of relying on a limited selection of pods and flavors, this machine lets you make any type of coffee you want from any whole beans.
Program Settings in Advance: This coffee center comes with three buttons that you can actually program in advance. Once you change those settings, you select the type of coffee you want and wait for the machine to finish pouring.
Touchscreen Convenience: What could be easier than using a touchscreen to make all your selections? Unlike other Jura models that come with a rotary switch, the ENA Micro 1 comes with a touchscreen that shows you all settings and helps you easily keep track of your selections.
Convenient Cleaning: Thanks to its built-in cleaning settings, cleaning this machine is a breeze. Jura lets you choose from a cleaning or rinse cycle via the touchscreen. That touchscreen also shows you when the machine needs some routine maintenance.
Energy Efficient: The ENA Micro 1 comes with plenty of features like an eco-friendly switch that help you cut down on energy consumption and waste.
Cons
Heavier Than Competitors: One of the best benefits of a smaller machine is that you can move it easily. As this one weighs right around 20 pounds, you may have a hard time moving it on your own.
Only One Cup: Automatic coffee centers and machines usually brew two cups, but the ENA 1 can only brew one cup at a time. If two or more people share the machine, you’ll have to wait some time for your cup.
Shiny Finish: The shiny finish on the ENA 1 has a tendency to show fingerprints, which will require more wiping and cleaning.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy This Model?
We absolutely cannot recommend the Jura ENA Micro 1 Automatic Coffee Center enough. As it makes just one cup, it’s great for homes that only have one coffee drinker and those who drink coffee at different points during the day. If both you and your spouse wake up at different times, you can both have a hot cup of coffee when you need it. The ENA Micro 1 is also a great choice for apartment dwellers and those living in tiny dorm rooms. Though it does weigh more than other compact models. It has a smaller footprint to save on space.
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With its touchscreen display, using this coffee center is easy enough for anyone in your home to use. You can choose your drink, coffee strength, water temperature and other settings from that display. The display also helps you keep track of regular maintenance and notifies you when it’s time for rinsing or cleaning the machine. While some might like a larger model with more features, we think the Jura ENA Micro 1 is great for those living in smaller homes.
Comparable Models to Consider
Philips Saeco Chrome Espresso Machine (View on Amazon.com)
Just as small as the Jura, this chrome espresso machine from Philips Saeco comes with some great features too that will impress your friends. It has a built-in steam wand on the front that lets you froth your milk in the way you want, and as this wand has a manual design, it gives you more control. Ceramic grinders retain heat from the machine itself to give your beans a gently roasted flavor without burning those beans. We like that the manufacturer included its descaling formula to remove build up and scaling inside the machine.
Gaggia Anima Deluxe Automatic Coffee Machine (View on Amazon.com)
While the Gaggia Anima is a little larger than the Jura, it costs around the same and comes with features like clearly marked buttons on the front. Choose an espresso or espresso lungo from those buttons. You’ll also find buttons for adjusting the aroma level or getting milk froth. Once you hit one of those buttons, it shows you the options you can select from on its digital display. This model also comes with a menu button for accessing the temperature settings and other features as well as a button for dispensing hot water.
DeLonghi Compact Automatic Cappuccino, Latte and Espresso Machine (View on Amazon.com)
This DeLonghi model is a little larger than the ENA Micro 1 but comes with just as many features and a digital display that helps you track all the changes you make. When you hit the aroma button during the brewing phase, the machine will slowly add more water at different times to extract more flavor from those beans than almost any other machine can. It also features a power saving switch that reduces the amount of energy it needs by up to 77% and a feature that combines milk and steam.