I’ve had a mid-range DeLonghi automatic coffee machine for about 8 years and its given faultless service. However lately I’ve noticed the grinder is starting to struggle a bit and the grinds are getting coarser even on the finest setting. I know its better to have a separate grinder and espresso machine, but ain’t nobody got time for that when I’m up at 05:30 and have to shower, change, eat and be out the door by 06:30.
Anyway, I was thinking of upgrading to a Jura machine, is that still state of the art coffee making or have the others like DeLonghi, Siemens, Philips/Saeco, Miele caught up? The model I’m looking at is the ENA4 since I need it to be as small as possible, and I just need coffee (espresso/ lungo) without the fancy milk based options.
No, the others haven’t caught up yet. We were about to pull the trigger on a Jura after lots of research however as we like milk options, we took the Melitta Barista as it makes superior milk drinks even to the Jura.
Do visit their shop (http://www.juraworld.com/), its really well done and we almost felt guilty for not getting a Jura.
I do like the odd milky drink so I also have an induction milk frother, which is easy to clean (jug goes into the dish washer) and importantly you don’t get burnt spots as you do with appliances like the Nespresso Aeroccino.
I prefer this option as it means less space in my tiny kitchen and less filling of the water container since the milk mechanism needs steam to generate the froth and self-clean.
Btw, my regime is exactly the same and this is why I actually take my coffee at the train station and enjoy it in the train during my commute. I hate to rush my coffee. But yeah, I know what you’re talking about we moved from a manual espresso machine with a separate grinder (Gaggia + Baratza grinder) which was fun on the weekends, but during covid I felt like a barista making 10 coffees a day for the family and nobody was grateful. I know that once the grinder on our full automatic loses its edge, I’ll have to replace the whole machine, but hey, nothing is eternal…except taxes
They’re mostly identical inside, including the Jura ones, so no, don’t waste your money. I repaired a couple of Delonghi/Satrap ones multiple times to get more than ten years lifespan out of them (minor things like a microswitch failing, easy to replace) and salvaged parts from one on to the other when the first one had finally given up the ghost.
I’ve seen deLonghi ones as cheap as chf200 in the last year or so, quite a few available at 300 or so. I’d go for the cheapest one of those you can find, which will be internally identical with the other models at two or three times the price that offer touch screens, and loads of milk/chocolate/whatever options. Even if you replace every three or four years you’re going save a lot of money compared with spending thousands on a Miele or a Jura.
Not doubting you, and I thought the same until I went down a review rabbit hole culminating in this German reviewer and barista. There are ways in which Jura can be better and justify their premium including better grinders, pulse extraction and more pressure than the usual automatics (possible because of higher manufacturing tolerances, better seals etc…). They also have legendary lifespans with some 20 year old machines still in regular service with proper maintenance.
TBH I don’t have any actual experience of Jura ones, so yeah, maybe. But the page you linked is clearly a commercial thing, with all the links ‘sponsored’ to give payback from each click, and only comparing within the Jura range. Also I note that he’s gushing about the milk, foam, whatever. I mean, if that’s what you’re looking for, then fine, I guess…
Me, I’m all about the taste of the coffee, and only about the taste of the coffee, The biggest hurdle I find to that, apart from the beans you use, obviously, is the cup size and strength options available, which can vary between different models.
For instance, we recently acquired, via an inheritance/house clearance, a real top-of-the-range deLonghi model ( “delonghi primadonna exclusive esam6900”), cost something close to ukp2000, we think, with all the extras, three different add-ons for milk and stuff (two of which had never been used, the other only once or twice by the look of it), colour screen, multiple profiles etc. etc. But fundamentally it’s the same internals as the others we’ve had (and still have in other house/apartments) but the maximum serving size it can be set too is too small for our normal requirements, so we have it set on Coffee Long, not extra-long, and use the 2-cup setting. Each different model requires a little experimentation to get this bit just right.
The coffee it makes is just the same as the other machines, as far as we can tell.
@Castro We are one of those machine owners. Going on 25 years for our beloved old Jura, which originally served our little office, then moved home. We’ve had it serviced in CH twice, and it still makes wonderful coffee. I keep it spotlessly clean, and all its parts are dishwasher-friendly (although I only do that a couple of times a year). Even the steam wand still works, although I now prefer a high-speed battery whisk. I joke with OH that the Jura will outlive me.
It may be splitting hairs, but those are affiliate links as opposed to sponsored placements. And if you can’t trust a German, who can you trust?
I can’t be bought at any price. I purchase all the products I test and evaluate them subjectively. I’ll never sell space for product placements or positive reviews.
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Very nice topic. I’m interested only in a thick, strong espresso. No milk and no fancy stuff. Which Jura model would you recommend? Including also older ones (used).
Or sugar…
I tend to have low blood pressure and was recommended coffee when I feel dizzy…luckily I really love coffee in its purest form (black), undiluted and unspoiled.
Our Impressa E75 is long out of production. She has her drawbacks–Claris water filters (easily obtainable but pricey) and occasionally a cleaning tab thrown into the powder chute. With any used machine, I would be wary of whether it has lived in a hard-water area. If it has, then you’d better hope that the owner plumped for the Claris treatments and servicing.
I am a bit confused about the prices of the Jura machines. I can afford a Jura (sounds like an expat bragging now lol, which of us has the best coffee machine, car or “villa”), but seriously now: the question is…is it worth it? As long as you use quality beans the outcome should be of similar quality, whether it is a DeLonghi or a Jura. Am I missing something?
That’s also my question. I’ve own deLonghi Magnifica and I’m wondering if Jura would be a solid upgrade in this case. In two factors:
thicker espresso
better cup -consistency (DeLonghi is not perfectly consistent)
As I read about Jura, they seem to use better grinders and also use this patented P.e.P. system (better extraction theoretically). But I don’t know if these would be recognisable difference compared to deLonghi, or just good marketing.
