You might think that buying one coffee machine is no different than buying any other. After all, very little has changed about the espresso-making process in the last century, so selecting by brand shouldn’t make much of a difference.
Introducing the Jura E8
Well, the manufacturers at Jura would disagree. In fact, they believe that they have not only perfected the coffee-making process in each of their espresso machines, but they believe that they provide the best quality to boot.
Why is high quality so important, you may ask? Well, an espresso machine, like the Jura E8 in this review, is like a car. Since the first automobile was created, very little has changed with regard to how motor vehicles are powered.
It’s still the same combustion engine over a century later. This is not to say, however, that the quality and generally engineering of most cars hasn’t increased significantly over the years, a fact of which we are sure we need not remind you.
The difference comes mainly from the quality of the components as opposed to the function of the system in its entirety. For the Swiss creatures at Jura, mere efficiency wasn’t enough.
They are constantly looking to improve upon that which is already great. They brought about this improvement through the unique Pulse Extraction Process (PEP), which pushes water through the coffee grounds gently and deliberately to increase the overall flavor and richness of the resulting cup.
The careful construction of this pulse program ensures that all the natural oils and aromas are exhumed from the coffee beans, resulting in a cup of coffee that is incomparably superior.
Many coffee machine manufacturers also don’t take into consideration a very important issue: the water being used. Different areas in your country will have tap water with varying levels of hardness, chlorine, and minerals. Some areas may have higher contamination risks than others.
This issue did not go overlooked by Jura, who ensured that each of their machines has a built-in smart filter that is designed to detect and remove chlorine and heavy metals that may be present in the water supply. The user can also input the hardness level of the water so that the machine can consider this when alerting the user of the best time to change its filter.
Jura machines are also designed to be as intuitive and user-friendly as possible. Most have an incredibly comprehensible display screen.
The screen will provide necessary alerts to remind the user to clean the machine when needed, and it also guides the user through the entire process of removing used coffee grounds, backflushing, and all the other imperative functions of the machine.
With all of these modern and incredible functions, it’s almost surprising that each Jura machine still manages to be incredibly stylish and perfectly suited for a modern kitchen.
One of the most impressive features, especially if you love a tech-savvy device, is the Smart Connect wireless capabilities of Jura machines, which allows you to prepare your coffee from anywhere in the house from an app on your smart device. Imagine having your perfect cup of coffee prepped and ready before you’ve even gathered the courage to get out of bed in the morning!
Even with all these impressive functions, you can be assured that simplicity is a given. More importantly, Jura is dedicated to creating machines that will only produce the most delicious and high-quality cups of coffee a user could ask for.
The Jura E8’s Important Features
The Aroma G2
Jura’s unique Aroma G2 grinder is designed to ensure the maximization of flavor when grinding coffee beans. This is achieved through carefully cut blades that reduce the flavor reduction found in other coffee machines.
The PEP
As stated above, Jura’s signature Pulse Extraction Process gently pumps water into the grounds in intervals to maximize richness and flavor.
The ESM
This stands for Energy Saving Mode and refers to the tendency of Jura machines to conserve power through a standby mode, which the machine switches to when it is not being used.
The CLEARYL Filter
CLEARYL filters are frequently used in many models of coffee machines, and they serve to clean water once heated, ensuring that only pure, uncontaminated water enters the chutes of the machine. This component likely reduces the risk of clogging and other flaws in general.
The IWS
The Jura Intelligent Water System makes use of smart filter detection software to take note of when a new filter has been placed in the machine. Thereafter, the machine switches to Filter Mode.
Quality Taste
We’ve already spoken about Jura’s signature Aroma G2 grinder and all the flavor benefits that this item brings with it, but the E8 comes with an even more exciting new development; the Aroma G3. The G3 is twice as fast as its predecessor but still maintains the flavor and texture just as well as the G2.
The Jura E8 is also equipped with a cover to preserve the aroma of the coffee that, coupled with the Intelligent Pre-Brew Aroma system or ‘IPBAS’, manages to saturate the flavor of the coffee to an extent unmatched by other espresso machines on the market. The unit’s Thermoblock heating component also ensures that the temperature of the coffee is maintained and consistent, meaning that the coffee will never be burned or compromised in terms of its flavor.
If the Jura E8 doesn’t meet your standards, you may be tantalized but the Jura Z8 model, which uses a Professional Aroma grinder to preserve as much as 12% more aroma than normal grinders. This unit is also equipped with the IPBAS and should serve your flavor needs.
The Jura S8 is similarly equipped but uses the G3 like the E8 model. This model’s CLARIS Smart Filter and IWS is also ideal for preserving flavor and texture.
Capacity
The Jura E8 is ideal for a household with multiple coffee drinkers, as it is equipped with a high-capacity water container that can be filled with 1.9 liters of water at a time. This machine can, therefore, produce as much as 64 single shots of espresso before the water would need to be replaced.
Intuitive Design
The Jura machines are stylish and sophisticated, with a minimalist appearance that extends to their function as well. The large LCD screen can be used to easily navigate the machine’s settings, choose a beverage, or even design one to your tastes. Many Jura machines can, with the touch of a button, produce a wide array of drinks, including cappuccinos, macchiatos, and doppios.
Cleaning and maintaining the machine is also incredibly simple, particularly with the help of the display screen, which can guide the user through most if not all of the machine’s features.
The Jura E8 Milk Frother
Unlike some coffee machines out there, the Jura E8 leaves nothing behind and comes fully equipped with a fully automatic milk frothing system to top off your beverage with a delightful cloud of foamy deliciousness. The appearance of the E8 can be somewhat deceiving, as the milk spout is separate from the coffee spout, but both come from the exact same outlet.
You won’t need to move your cup from one spout to the other to get your drink topped off with foam or cream. The frother and espresso are jetted out together from the milk outlet and the additional spout as well.
The only reason for the central outlet is to make things easier for those who like their coffee black and want no diary additions whatsoever. The additional spout is also useful since you can make two cups simultaneously, or even two milk-free beverages at once. The only downside is that you cannot make two foamy drinks at the same time, as only one spout is equipped with foaming capabilities.
Cleaning the Jura E8
A possible downside of most Jura models is the fact that the brew group in Jura machines is built-in and cannot be removed for cleaning. Most automatic coffee machines are equipped with a detachable brew group that can be cleaned by hand as needed. Most Jura models automate the cleaning process, making it understandable that the manufacturers figured there was no need to make the brew group removable.
Some buyers may prefer the convenience of automated cleaning, but those who prefer some added control may be a bit dubious about this aspect. The creators of Jura are perfectionists, though, so they surely would not have kept this design if it didn’t work. Although you are entitled to your preferences, we are sure that you can trust the self-cleaning program.
The Self-Cleaning Capabilities of the Jura E8
The Jura E8 has built-in rinsing and cleaning capabilities for the espresso system and the milk system as well. Each component needs to be flushed out after use to keep things hygienic, but it’s a very simple process overall. The user can set the machine with alerts to remind you to initiate the backflush if you don’t believe you can be trusted to remember to do so unilaterally.
The manufacturers also suggest that the milk system should be more thoroughly cleaned once a day, which would require keeping to the instructions provided on the cleaning container and making use of Jura’s detergent. The Foam frother would need to be detached and washed by hand, which some users may find slightly tedious, but it can be done as you wash the dinner dishes.
Pros and Cons
Benefits of the Jura E8
- The Aroma G3 grinder comes with 8 distinct settings to give the user greater control
- The machine is designed to extract as much flavor and aroma as possible from the coffee beans
- The machine has an automatic cleaning and descaling process for increased convenience
- The LCD panel is large and intuitive
- There are 15 distinct drinks that the machine can produce upon selection
- It has more frothing wand options than many other units
Downsides of the Jura E8
- At 20 pounds, this model is quite heavy and cannot be easily maneuvered or moved around the kitchen.
- There is only one boiler used for both steaming and brewing
Conclusion
Out of all of Jura’s very fine devices, the E8 certainly blows away our expectations. It is equipped with a diverse array of features and functions, and its simplistic but highly intelligent technology makes the machine simple and intuitive to any user.
Capable of producing 15 distinct beverages, the Jura E8 Automatic Coffee Machines 15271 is ideal for a user with a wide palate, or for a household of people with different preferences. It maximizes the extraction process and creates a delicious cup every time.
With fully automated grinding, brewing, and cleaning, the efforts on the part of the user are minimized. All you need to do is select quality coffee for the input, program the machine to your preferences, and get brewing.
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