An Expert Guide to the Jura E8
Photo by Elizabeth Tsung
The Jura E8 is a premium espresso machine offering one-touch brewing, customizable settings, and a user-friendly interface. It's ideal for coffee enthusiasts seeking consistent quality and convenience. However, consider the E8's higher price point, size, and whole-bean coffee compatibility before purchasing.
Introduction
As a Coffee Expert at Curated and a long-time espresso lover, I've advised hundreds of customers on finding the best espresso machines for them. Working as a barista for six years and co-managing a coffee shop for two years exposed me to all types of coffee and coffee drinkers—and taught me that there are no one-size-fits-all home espresso machines! I love helping people find the right machine for them and helping to explain some of the complex and sometimes “jargony” aspects of home espresso!
Why JURA?
JURA is one of the most well-known and well-respected names in super-automatic espresso machines. JURA is a Swiss brand known for making high-quality and innovative coffee and espresso machines for nearly a century. JURA machines are known for their elegant design, easy-to-use interface, exceptional espresso quality, and the ability to create a wide range of coffee drinks at the touch of a button.
JURA offers a range of super-automatic espresso machines, from simple machines that only make a couple of drinks to complex drinks meant for high-volume commercial settings. For example, the JURA E8 espresso machine is incredibly popular for home espresso and offers many desirable features. This machine brings professional-quality coffee into your home or office with JURA’s signature Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P.) brewing technology, which ensures optimal extraction time for the perfect espresso, and the Fine Foam Frother, which creates barista-style milk foam for cappuccinos and lattes. The E8 also offers an easy-to-use color display, 17 pre-programmed drinks, customizable settings, and an efficient, integrated cleaning system.
In summary, JURA is a well-respected and high-quality brand in super-automatic espresso machines, and the E8 is a great model for those wanting top quality and a selection of classic drinks but not needing too many pre-programmed drinks or user profiles.
Key Features in the JURA E8
1. Design and Build Quality
- Aesthetic design: The Jura E8 boasts a sleek, modern design that works well in various kitchens. Its clean lines and elegant combination of black and chrome accents make it a modern but understated machine.
- Large water tank and bean hopper: The 64oz water reservoir and 10oz bean hopper ensure that you won’t need to refill either too often, making this machine great for those making several drinks per day.
- Construction materials: Built with high-quality materials, the E8 features a mix of durable plastic and stainless steel, ensuring longevity and reliable performance. The machine also comes with a CLEARYL water filter (which the machine automatically detects, thanks to the intelligent water system) to ensure that you are using the best water for the taste and longevity of your machine.
2. Espresso Brewing
- Integrated grinder: The E8's built-in Aroma G3 grinder freshly grinds your coffee for each cup for high-quality espresso. The grinder offers six grind settings to dial in your espresso. Plus, it's super quiet, so you won't disturb anyone when you’re making early morning drinks. If needed, the machine also offers a bypass doser, where you can use pre-ground coffee–a helpful feature for an evening decaf.
- Pre-infusion and extraction process (Pulse Extraction Process): JURA's innovative P.E.P. technology optimizes extraction time for rich, well-rounded espressos every time.
- Brewing temperature control: The E8's intelligent heating system maintains the ideal brewing temperature, ensuring consistency and high-quality espresso. Select between three brewing temperature levels to further customize your brew.
- Programmable coffee strength and volume: Personalize your coffee by adjusting the strength (out of 10 coffee strength options) and volume to your liking. Save your personal preferences, and the E8 will remember them for future brews.
3. Milk Frothing System
- Fine foam frother: The E8's fine foam frother creates barista-quality milk foam, perfect for cappuccinos, lattes, and other milk-based drinks.
- Customizable milk temperature and texture: Adjust the milk temperature and foam consistency.
4. User Interface and Customization
- TFT color display and controls: The E8's intuitive TFT color display makes selecting and customizing your coffee drinks a breeze. Use the physical buttons to navigate the menu, adjust settings, and start the brewing process.
- Pre-programmed specialty drinks: The E8 has 17 pre-programmed drinks, including espresso, cappuccino, flat white, macchiato, cortado, and americano.
- Programmable settings: Save your preferred coffee settings for each drink, so you can enjoy your perfect drink each time.
5. Maintenance and Cleaning
- Integrated cleaning programs: The E8 is equipped with automatic rinsing, cleaning, and descaling programs, making it easy to maintain your machine. The integrated one-touch milk system cleaning function keeps the milk frother hygienic without added fuss.
- Removable components for easy cleaning: The E8 features a removable water tank and drip tray, simplifying the cleaning process.
- Warranty: JURA machines have a two-year limited warranty to ensure quality when you first get your machine.
Is the JURA E8 a Good Fit for You?
Benefits
- Consistent coffee quality: JURA's innovative technologies and build quality ensure your coffee is always delicious, and your machine will last for years.
- Ease of use and customization: The user-friendly interface and programmable settings make it simple to create your perfect drink at the press of a button.
- Separate hot water spout: A separate hot water spout ensures clean water for tea or americanos.
- Efficient cleaning and maintenance: With integrated cleaning programs and removable components, the E8 makes maintenance and cleaning simple.
- Sleek design: The E8 has a sleek and modern design in black, white, or chrome to match your kitchen.
Keep in Mind
- Higher price point: You pay for quality, consistency, and durability with JURA machines. JURA machines aren’t cheap, but they will last.
- Size and weight considerations: Super-automatics can be relatively large, particularly in depth. The E8's larger dimensions and heft might make it a tight fit in smaller kitchens or countertops.
- Milk pitcher not included: The JURA glass milk container must be purchased separately, although another milk container or jar can also be used.
Who Should Buy the Jura E8?
- Home users who value convenience, consistent quality, and easy cleaning: The E8 is perfect for those who want a café-like experience at home at the touch of a button, with features that simplify the cleaning process.
- Coffee enthusiasts who are willing to invest in a premium machine: If you're passionate about your coffee and want a machine that delivers the best, the E8 is a fantastic choice!
Alternatives to the JURA E8
- JURA E6: A more budget-friendly option, the E6 has fewer customization options, fewer pre-programmed drinks, and doesn’t allow for adjusting milk temperature or texture. It's a solid choice for those who want JURA quality without breaking the bank and don’t mind a limited selection of drinks.
- JURA S8: The S8 is the E8's luxury big sibling, offering a larger color touchscreen and more programmability, including the ability to save two sets of preferences for each drink. It's perfect for those who want to splurge on the ultimate coffee experience.
- JURA ENA 8: The ENA 8 is another great choice for a slightly less expensive and smaller super-automatic for home use. The small water tank and bean hopper need to be refilled more often, and the machine offers fewer pre-programmed drinks and less customization than the E8.
- Terra Kaffe TK-01: A great lower-cost alternative, the TK-01 is an under $1,000 super-automatic machine with a sleek design and easy-to-use functionality. It doesn’t have the same top-notch build and espresso quality that JURA provides and has fewer pre-programmed drinks than the E8.
Conclusion
The JURA E8 is a great option for espresso enthusiasts who want top-notch espresso at the press of a button. The E8 provides 17 pre-programmed drinks, customizable settings, and automated cleaning features, making it a great machine.
If you aren’t sure which super-automatic fits you or have questions about the JURA E8, contact one of our Coffee Experts at Curated, who can help you find the best home espresso setup for you!