In the world of automatic espresso machines, the Jura Z8 is hailed as one of the best, but why?
Well, for those of you who are considering buying a Jura Z8 espresso machine, keep reading.
I’ve done the research and put together a comprehensive Jura Z8 review so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
Ready to start reading? Let’s go!
Jura Z8 Overview
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The Jura Z8 espresso machine is a sophisticated machine that packs in some of Jura’s top technology. They let you prepare a great coffee with the touch of a button, making them super easy to use.
In fact, this automatic coffee machine actually allows you to brew a whopping 21 different types of drinks! That’s significantly more than some of Jura’s other machines, say the Jura A1.
Most importantly, the Jura Z8 has features that make for a silky smooth cup of coffee. That gives it an A+ from me!
However, to really understand the Jura Z8, you’ve got to take a closer look at some of the key features. Take a look below to see what I mean.
Features Review
The Jura Z8 automatic coffee machine is jam-packed with features, so get ready for a wild ride.
Each of these key aspects makes this Jura coffee machine stand out from the crowd.
Here’s what to know about some of the top features of the Z8.
Design
Jura is famous for well-designed, sleek machines, and the Jura Z8 is no different.
The Z8 is made largely of chrome and aluminum. The chrome material is scratch-resistant, helping make your coffee machine more durable.
At the same time, the aluminum is lightweight, making this big machine less hefty than you might expect.
Speaking of hefty, the Jura Z8 is definitely on the large side. It measures 9x9x9 inches and clocks in at a whopping 40.2 pounds!
Still, despite its larger size, it still looks great in your kitchen.
It’s got a unique, glass drip tray as well as an illuminated water tank and pipes.
The last feature of the exterior design that’s worth mentioning is that the Z8 is erosion resistant. It can undergo quite a bit of wear and tear and you’d never notice.
Another major aspect of the Z8’s design is its 4.3-inch, high-resolution touch screen. This interface is pretty advanced, allowing you to program just about anything you can imagine.
For example, you can:
- Customize drinks
- Name drinks
- Copy drinks
- Adjust the grind size
- Adjust the milk temperature
- Change the coffee strength
And, those are just a few of the things you can do with this machine!
You can also connect your automatic coffee machine to your phone or tablet using its Smart Connect system. Then, download Jura’s JOE app to program your drinks from your phone.
Cappuccinos without leaving the couch? Yes, please.
Brewing Capacity
In terms of the brewing system, the Jura Z8 doesn’t leave a whole lot to be desired.
The machine features some of our favorite Jura brewing technology, such as a dual thermoblock heater.
The dual heater means that the machine can heat and steam your milk at the same time as pouring your espresso.
Compared to some of the other Jura coffee machines with a single thermoblock heater, this feature shaves seconds off your coffee prep time!
It’s not just a dual heater that the Z8 has, either.
The machine also features Jura’s Pulse Extraction Process (PEP) brewing technology. This technology forces hot water through the coffee grounds in short bursts.
The result is a much silkier espresso shot with a thicker crema!
In terms of brewing capacity, the Jura Z8 fares pretty well.
It has an 81-ounce water tank, which is significantly more than the standard 64-ounce tank you’ll find on other Jura machines.
That’s a big enough tank for you to pull 81 single shots of espresso or 40 double shots of espresso before refilling.
The bean hopper is pretty sizable too. It allows you to store up to 9.9 ounces of coffee at a time.
A few other notable features of the brewing system include improved technology for making long coffee drinks, such as lungo shots.
It also features IBPAS. This is a percolation technique that helps preserve the coffee’s aroma.
The way it works is by optimizing the coffee extraction time. That way, the flavors of the coffee can fully develop.
That gives you a super flavorful cup of coffee!
Grinder
The grinder on the Z8 is a pretty major feature of the machine.
The Z8 features Jura’s Professional Aroma Grinder, which is a conical burr grinder.
The conical shape of the burrs allows the machine to break up the coffee beans into a super uniform size.
That’s important for a coffee lover who wants a smooth and consistent cup of coffee!
On top of that, the grinder is designed to help prevent the coffee beans from oxidation.
Coffee beans oxidize when they’re exposed to air. Prolonged exposure causes them to become stale and lose their flavor.
The G3 grinder, however, has a special grind cap to prevent air from getting into the coffee bean hopper. This helps preserve the aroma (and flavor) of the beans for a better cup of coffee!
The one downside to the Z8’s grinder is that the burrs are stainless steel.
While these are super sharp and get an even grind, they can also heat up the beans as they turn. That can alter the flavor of the coffee slightly.
If you don’t want to use the grinder and would rather use pre ground coffee, you can!
The Jura Z8 has a bypass doser that allows you to put your favorite specialty coffee grounds in the machine. This is super convenient for coffee brands that you can’t find in whole bean packets.
Drinks
I’m no coffee purist, which is why the Jura Z8 coffee machine is such a great device in my book.
The Jura Z8 lets you make an extensive list of beverages, including a whopping 21 different pre-programmed drinks.
The drinks menu on the machine includes:
- Ristretto
- Doppio ristretto
- Espresso
- Doppio espresso
- Regular coffee
- Cappuccino
- Latte macchiato
- Flat white
- Espresso macchiato
- Hot milk
- Hot water
That’s just the start of the drinks menu. There are tons of other beverages on the list that you can whip up if you like.
In addition to these one-touch coffee drink options, you can also get creative with the customization.
The Jura Z8 allows you to customize tons of different settings on your coffee.
If you want piping hot lattes, you can set the milk temperature to extra hot. Or, if you want a beverage made with microfoam only, you can do that too.
In essence, if you want to customize an aspect of your drink, you can.
Milk System
I have a love-hate relationship with the Z8’s milk system.
Let’s start with what I love about it.
The Jura Z8 features an advanced, HP3 milk system. With this system, you can get any type of steamed milk you like.
Whether you’re looking for fluffy cappuccino foam or hot latte milk, that’s possible with the HP3 system.
Better yet, you can program the milk system from the touchscreen menu. And, you can tweak the temperature and other aspects to customize your milk foam.
Now, let’s talk about what I don’t love about the Z8’s milk system.
Unlike most Jura machines, the Z8’s milk frothing system is external to the machine.
In other words, you’re going to have to connect an external milk pipe to the machine in order to actually use the system and make a milk froth.
Not only is this just less convenient, but you’ve also got to buy the gear separately.
When you’re already shelling out a hefty investment in the Z8, it seems a bit unfair to make you buy milk-steaming supplies as well.
User Friendliness
Despite the fact that the Jura Z8 is a pretty high-tech device, it’s not super hard to use.
In fact, this Jura automatic coffee machine has several built-in functions that make it easy to use and navigate when you’re brewing your coffee.
For one thing, the machine features a number of indicator lights. These light up when it’s time for you to clean the milk frother, drip tray, filters, and more.
On top of that, it has automatic cleaning systems.
That way, you don’t have to get involved in the maintenance of your machine. Just pop in a cleaning puck, hit a button, and let the machine do the work!
In terms of brewing your coffee, the Jura Z8 makes that simple, too.
All the programmed drinks on the machine can be made by pushing a single button.
However, if you want to, you can alter the temperature, strength, and other aspects of your drink for a personalized experience.
If you do want to start customizing your beverages, the Z8 makes things easy. The menu has images for each drink and is very clearly labeled so you know exactly what you’re tweaking on the machine.
Finally, the Z8 is programmable from the JOE smartphone app. In the app, you can read walkthroughs and tutorials to make it even easier to use your machine!
Cleaning and Maintenance
If you want your Jura Z8 to last, you’ve got to know a thing or two about cleaning and maintenance.
Luckily, this super-automatic espresso machine makes both of these tasks pretty straightforward.
The Z8 works with proprietary Jura cleaning pucks, which you pop into the machine when you want to run a cleaning cycle.
Then, simply run the cycle from the touchscreen. The machine will handle the rinsing, cleaning, and descaling all on its own!
For another thing, the Jura Z8 has an indicator within its intelligent water system that will light up once it’s time for you to change your filters.
This is super handy because it helps you avoid running the risk of over-using a filter and damaging the machine.
When you do change the filter, there’s no hassle involved. You can easily remove it and pop in a new one.
The machine then automatically synchronizes your new filter with the rest of the machine, making sure it’s ready to go again.
On top of that, the Jura Z8 features a CLARIS Smart Water Filter. This filter helps keep sediments and minerals out of the water you use to brew your machine.
The result is soft water without hard, mineral tastes, making for a great cup of coffee!
When your water filter is ready to be changed, the Z8 lets you know about that too. Talk about easy to use!
FAQ
If you’ve still got a couple of questions about the Jura Z8, I hear you.
You’ve got to be absolutely sure before you buy a machine like this one!
To help you seal the deal, I’ve put together a couple of FAQs to clear up any last loose ends.
Does This Z8 Come With Smart Connect?
Yes, the Z8 comes with Smart Connect equipped! That means that you connect use Bluetooth wireless connections to connect your smartphone or tablet to your Jura machine.
Just remember, you’ll need to download the JOE app to take full advantage of the Smart Connect system. The app is 100% free to download and use.
What’s the Difference Between the Jura Z8 and Z10?
There are four major differences between the Jura Z8 and the Z10. The first difference is that the Z10 allows you to brew a whopping 32 drinks while the Z8 only has 21 drink options.
Another major difference is that the Z10 allows you to prepare a cold brew instead of just hot coffee.
Finally, the Z8 features a dual thermoblock heater while the Z10 features a single heater. That means the Z8 actually preps your coffee faster than the Z10.
Verdict
The Jura Z8 is a pretty fancy machine, even for the likes of a Jura.
It features some of the latest in Jura technology, such as a dual thermoblock heater and Smart Connect capability.
Plus, it has a much larger capacity than some other coffee machines on the market. That means you can use it in an office setting or for homes with big families!
Regardless of what setting you’re thinking of buying a Jura Z8 for, I’m confident you’ll fall in love with this machine. It’s practically the definition of getting your bang for your buck.
