Espresso Machine Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars
Jura E8
We have had this machine for a year now, and it’s still working as well as the day we brought it home.

I have to say, I *love* my E8! I tried one at a store and, after a lot of research, settled on Jura Capresso because of the cleaning cycle feature (most others you have to remove the “brew group” once a week or so and manually clean it – I was *so* not going to do that!). I settled on the E8 versus other JC’s because of the price and the features… the higher-end models’ extra features (none of which directly affect the quality of a single cup) were worth the additional cost, especially since I live alone.

I’ve no complaint about the temperature of the coffee, as long as I pre-heat my cup. A little hot water out of the spiget does the trick. I use a decent coffee bean from a local store and have excellent results. I did have to play around with the grind settings, but I expected that.

The frother (I don’t have the fancy add-on) does a better-than-decent job of frothing/foaming milk; however, it’s not as good as a coffee-house machine wielded by a pro, with perfect-temperature milk and a cold pitcher. However, it works much better than any home-based espresso machine I’ve encountered, and much better than what one often gets from a disaffected coffee counter person.

The flavor is rich and full – like cafe crema or espresso ought to be. While, again, a true barista with a true pro machine and the best beans can indeed produce a better cup, this is far better than what I typically get in a high-end coffee shop. That’s part of what originally sold me on it – I found out the store that I sampled it at used “cheap supermarket beans” (as they put it).

One does have to be careful with the beans; if they’re oily, they’ll cling to each other and not make their way down the hopper. The solution? Stick your finger in the beans and swirl once, or don’t use oily beans (oily doesn’t necessarily mean more flavor). I like the beans I use but they do stick slightly, and a little touch with my finger fixes the ‘problem’. The manual, video, web site, and talking chicken that came with the product makes this very clear.

Cleaning is a breeze – every couple of days I empty the hopper that catches the pucks (grounds). Once a week or so I rinse out the drip tray. Every once in a while it alerts me that I need to run a cleaning cycle: in goes the tablet and that’s it.

My only complaint – and I knew this going in – is that for $1000 it ought not be 100% plastic. The spigot that the coffee comes out is plastic, and raises/lowers. I’m always careful, because if something that I have control over is going to break, it’s going to be this piece. More expensive models have metal for this piece, but I couldn’t see adding $500+ dollars for this.

I was originally concerned not having a cup warmer might be an issue. It says it has a passive cup warmer in some of the online literature, but that’s baloney – the top doesn’t get any warmer than rooom temperature. However, it is no inconvenience (and I’m pretty lazy) to release some water from the spigot into the cup, and let it sit for a few seconds.

This is just about the best thing ever! I used to go to coffee shops and drop $7 – $10 a day. I figure I’ll make that back after costs in about a year. It’s not expensive – it’s economical in my book!

OK, this thing ain’t cheap. I mean, how can you ever justify spending $1000 on a coffee maker?? I named mine Miss AnniBirthenTine. She was so expensive, that she was my ‘Anni’versary, ‘Birth’day, and Val’enTine’s day gift all rolled into one item! That being said, I admit I have a bit of an unhealthy relationship with my coffee maker. I love her. Fine. I said it.

One thing I have noticed is that Miss Anna is smarter than I am. She tells me when to clean her, fill her with water, etc. And, I love that. She’s clean and polite – never demanding. Here and there she does some things I am not sure of, but nothing has been serious. For instance, I also experienced what the reviewer who gave one star said – intermittent coffee – part way through she would just turn off. I did not call customer service, but instead did some troubleshooting on my own. I came to the conclusion that the beans I bought were a bit oily (which is warned against in all the manuals and videos) and were jamming the works. I ran it through a clean cycle with a tablet and she has been a happy coffee maker since.

Miss Anna has been a part of our family since early Jan 2005. I drink Capuccinos every morning and use the hot water a lot during the winter for tea and soup. When I am feeling rather saucy, I even make espresso with half and half. YUM. You would have to rip this thing out of my cold, dead arms to get it away from me. I love Miss Anna. When I am away on vacation, I am sad about the mediocre swill people call coffee that I have to settle for until I return home. As long as I don’t think about the money, I love this thing more than I can describe.

5.0 out of 5 stars
Great coffee on demand by Jura
I first used one of these as a guest in a household that has one. By the 10th cup of coffee I was hooked. For an “on the go” coffee fan, it is truly one of life’s pleasures.

5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Coffee. A couple of suggestions for owners.
I’ve had the E8 for 9 months and continue to use it constantly through the day. It makes great coffee. Some have complained that the coffee isn’t hot enough.

5.0 out of 5 stars
You will never go to Starbucks again
Update Dec 2008.
Another reviewer complained about the flow of coffee slowing down considerably.

5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Brew
Makes a perfect cup of espresso. Wonderful Americano. Easy to use, “must” read instructions first. Made the “big” mistake of not installing the water filter, in less then a month…