Jura E8 review: 17 drinks, smart filter tracking and fine microfoam, with a few hot-and-cold caveats
The Jura E8 15648 Automatic Espresso Machine covers everything from ristretto to latte macchiato, tracks its own filter and cleaning, and connects to an app. Its foam is dense and silky and its controls are clear, but the milk and hot water come out cooler than I'd like and the brew unit is sealed inside.
Michael Reynolds
Hands-on review
Hands-on testing, research, specs
4 weeks
27 minutes
Jargon helpNew to espresso? Tap any dotted term to see what it means.
In this review
Yes, if you want a wide menu of coffee and milk drinks with very little thinking. The Jura E8 is one of the easiest automatic machines I've used: clear buttons, automatic filter detection, a dashboard that shows every maintenance task, and dense, silky milk foam. Its espresso is smooth with a lovely crema, though slightly light in body. The weak spots are milk at about 50°C, hot water that's too cool for strong tea, a fairly loud mechanism and a brew unit you can't remove to rinse.
Jura E8 at a glance
Jura E8 pros and cons
- Very easy controls and a clear maintenance dashboard
- Dense, silky microfoam for cappuccinos and flat whites
- Automatic filter tracking and a removable pre-ground chute
- Milk comes out at about 50°C, which feels cool
- Hot water is too cool for strong black tea
- Brew unit is sealed and the mechanism is fairly loud
Who should buy the Jura E8?
- Families who want lots of drink choices
- People who never want to track filters or cleaning
- Anyone who prefers buttons to touchscreens
- People who like very hot lattes
- Espresso fans chasing a heavy, intense shot
- Anyone who wants to rinse the brew unit by hand
First impressions of the Jura E8
The Jura E8 is the kind of machine you can hand to anyone in the house.
Its buttons are clear, its menu is logical and it tells you exactly what it needs.
That was my first impression, and it held up for four weeks.
Out of the box, the E8 looks smart rather than flashy.
The front has a chrome-look panel around the spouts, and a small light above the cup grille switches on whenever a drink starts.
It's a nice touch when you're making coffee before sunrise.
The second thing I noticed was the menu.
There are 17 drinks, from a short espresso to a latte macchiato with an extra shot.
My first cappuccino came out with dense, silky foam.
It also came out cooler than I expected, which became a theme of my testing.
The cup light above the drip tray switches on as soon as a drink starts.
What the Jura E8 actually is
The E8 is a fully automatic, bean-to-cup espresso machine with a milk system.
It grinds, doses, compresses and brews the coffee, then ejects the used puck, all at one touch.
Milk is drawn through a hose and frothed by the spout.
Inside is a thermoblock✕ThermoblockA compact heater that warms water as it flows through, instead of keeping a whole boiler hot. It heats up fast and uses less standby energy. with intelligent preheating and a 15-bar pump.
The brew unit✕Brew unitThe chamber inside an automatic machine that receives the ground coffee, presses it into a puck, pushes hot water through it and then ejects the used grounds. takes 5 to 16 grams of coffee per brew.
The grinder is quick: my 15-gram doses took about five seconds.
Engineered in Switzerland, the E8 is made in Portugal.
The housing is mostly plastic, including the drip tray grid.
It feels solid enough, but it doesn't feel as premium as some all-metal machines.
Jura E8 design and setup
The Jura E8 measures 28 × 35.1 × 44.6 cm, or 11 × 13.8 × 17.6 inches.
It fits under standard wall cabinets, with a little room needed above the bean hopper lid.
The water tank holds about 1.9 liters, and the bean hopper about 280 grams.
The grounds container takes roughly 16 pucks.
An electronic sensor in the drip tray tells you when the water basin is full.
Smart filter detection
The E8 recognizes Jura's CLEARYL Smart+ filter automatically.
It tracks how long the filter has been in and how much water has passed through it.
When the cartridge is used up, the machine asks for a new one.
There's nothing to reset and no calendar to keep.
Setup
Setup is quick and guided on the 3.5-inch color screen.
You test your water hardness, insert the filter and let the machine rinse.
The first few drinks are weaker while the grinder settles, so I didn't judge anything until the fourth cup.
Our tip: Keep the drip tray contact pins clean and dry, so the full-tray warning stays accurate.
The tank sits on the side, so leave a little room to lift it out.
Display, buttons and the app
The E8's controls are its best feature.
A color display sits in the middle of the front, flanked by physical buttons and arrows.
Each button controls the drink or setting next to it.
I found the navigation clearer and faster than most screen-based machines.
On-the-fly changes
You can change the strength and the amount of water while a drink is being made.
My favorite trick: pressing the button during an espresso lets it keep running for a longer, gentler shot without stopping the pump.
It's handy for brighter roasts that taste a little sour at a standard ratio.
The maintenance dashboard
The display shows the status of every maintenance task at a glance.
Filter life, brew unit cleaning, milk system cleaning and descaling all have their own indicator.
For a busy household, this is one of the E8's biggest strengths.
The app
The E8 works with Jura's J.O.E. app.
The app shows the same maintenance status as percentages and countdowns.
You can set the drink size, strength and temperature, then start the drink from your phone.
In my testing, the machine started grinding within about a second of pressing start in the app.
It also links to Jura's shop for filters and cleaning tablets.
The grinder
The E8 uses Jura's Professional Aroma Grinder with steel conical burrs✕Conical burrsA cone-shaped cutting part that turns inside a ring. They grind evenly at fairly low speed, which keeps heat and noise down..
It's fast: about five seconds for a 15-gram dose.
The weakness is how fine it goes.
At its finest setting, the grind still felt a touch coarse for a really deep, heavy espresso.
With darker roasts, that wasn't a problem.
With lighter roasts, the shots ran a little fast and tasted bright and slightly sour.
Bars show how much resistance the coffee puts up and how long the water stays in contact with it.
As with every Jura grinder, only change the setting while the grinder is running.
Our tip: Pick medium-dark roasts for espresso on the E8, because they taste full-bodied even when the grind isn't ultra-fine.
Jura E8 espresso performance
The E8 uses Jura's Pulse Extraction Process✕Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P.)Jura's method of pushing hot water through the coffee in short, rapid bursts instead of one steady stream. It lengthens contact time for short drinks, giving a fuller flavor., which pushes water through the coffee in short bursts.
For my main tests, I used a 15-gram dose and a reduced volume setting.
I aimed for a classic 1:2 ratio, and the cup weighed about 29 grams, or 1 ounce.
How it tasted
The crema✕CremaThe golden-brown foam on top of an espresso. It forms when pressure pushes gases and oils out of freshly ground coffee. was smooth, thick and even in color.
I tasted mild chocolate and a gentle acidity.
The body was a touch thin for my taste, which I put down to the grind not going quite fine enough.
In milk drinks, that didn't matter at all.
Dose and output from my testing.
Lighter roasts
I also tried a light-to-medium roast with apple and orange notes through the pre-ground chute.
At a standard ratio, it tasted bright and slightly sour.
Letting the shot run longer with the on-the-fly extension balanced it nicely.
| What you taste or see | Likely cause | First change |
|---|---|---|
| Sour, thin | Light roast or grind too coarse | Use a darker roast or extend the shot |
| Bitter, harsh | Over-extraction | Go one step coarser or reduce volume |
| Light body | Grind can't go finer | Switch to a medium-dark blend |
| Pale crema | Stale beans | Use fresher beans |
| Lukewarm shot | Cold cup | Warm the cup with hot water first |
Our tip: Extend a bright, light-roast espresso by pressing the button during brewing, and the sourness softens.
Long coffee, americano and doubles
The long coffee was one of the E8's best drinks.
I set it to 150 milliliters at the highest temperature, and it delivered about 140 grams.
It came out hot, with a dense, durable crema and a lighter texture than espresso.
I tasted more sweetness and a soft, almond-like note.
The E8 also has a one-touch americano✕AmericanoAn espresso topped up with hot water. Because the extra water doesn't pass through the coffee, it tastes cleaner and less bitter than one long brew., which adds hot water after the espresso.
That keeps the cup cleaner than one long pour.
The full menu
| Drink type | Drinks on the E8 |
|---|---|
| Black coffee | Espresso, 2 × espresso, coffee, 2 × coffee, americano, lungo, espresso doppio |
| Small milk drinks | Cortado, macchiato |
| Milk drinks | Cappuccino, flat white, latte macchiato |
| Extra-shot versions | Cappuccino, flat white and latte macchiato with an extra shot |
| Other | Portion of milk foam, hot water |
Milk foam and milk drinks
The E8 draws milk through a silicone hose from a carton or container.
The milk and coffee come out of neighboring spouts on the right of the outlet.
The foam is excellent.
It's dense, smooth microfoam✕MicrofoamMilk foam with bubbles so small you can't see them. It feels silky and blends into the coffee instead of sitting on top like froth. with fine bubbles and a silky feel.
Cold whole milk, around 3.8% fat, gave the richest and sweetest results.
Milk first, then coffee
For cappuccinos, the E8 pours the milk first and the espresso second.
That's the reverse of the traditional order, but the drink tastes good and looks layered in a glass.
The temperature problem
My frothed milk measured about 50°C, or 122°F.
That's pleasant for sipping straight away, but it's cooler than many people expect from a cappuccino.
Around 55°C would feel more natural to me.
Probe thermometer readings in the cup.
One foam, different ratios
Cappuccino, flat white and latte macchiato use very similar foam.
The difference is mostly the amount of milk compared to coffee.
The milk hose and coffee share the outlet on the front of the machine.
Hot water and tea
The hot water spout is handy for americanos and tea.
At its highest temperature setting, my cup measured about 80 to 85°C.
That's because water rushes through the thermoblock quickly rather than sitting and heating.
It's fine for green and herbal teas, which prefer cooler water.
For strong black tea, which wants water close to boiling, it's a little cool.
| Tea type | Ideal water | Does the E8 work? |
|---|---|---|
| Green tea | 70–80°C | Yes |
| White tea | 75–85°C | Yes |
| Herbal tea | 90–100°C | Fair |
| Black tea | 95–100°C | A bit cool |
Our tip: For black tea, keep a kettle, because the E8's hot water tops out around 80 to 85°C.
The pre-ground chute
The pre-ground coffee✕Pre-ground bypassA separate chute that sends already-ground coffee straight to the brew unit, skipping the grinder. Handy for decaf without emptying the bean hopper. chute sits on top and is fully removable.
That matters more than it sounds.
Coffee oils and moisture can build up in a chute and grow mold, and a removable one can be soaked and washed.
Opening the chute door switches the machine to pre-ground mode.
If you close it without adding coffee, a sensor notices, shows a warning and cancels the drink.
That saved me from a cup of hot water at least once.
Cleaning and maintaining the Jura E8
Milk system
Each day, the frothing head drops down from the side, and its air valve, connector and silicone nozzle come apart without tools.
I rinsed them under warm water, which stops milk solids from clogging the tiny air channels.
For a deep clean, you add Jura's milk cleaner to a separate container, and the machine draws it through the milk circuit, then rinses with hot water.
The sealed brew unit
The E8's brew unit is fixed inside.
You can't remove it, rinse it or grease it yourself.
Instead, the machine asks for a cleaning cycle, and you drop a cleaning tablet into the pre-ground chute.
The program dissolves the tablet and flushes the chamber.
It works, but I prefer machines where I can see and rinse the brew unit.
Filter or descaling✕DescalingRunning a mild acid solution through the machine to dissolve mineral scale left by hard water. Scale slows heating and can block pipes.
With the CLEARYL Smart+ filter, descaling intervals stretch out, because the machine tracks water use and hardness.
| When | Task | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | Rinse the frothing head parts | Stops milk clogging the air channels |
| Daily | Empty drip tray and grounds | Prevents odors and mold |
| Weekly | Wash the removable pre-ground chute | Prevents mold from oils and moisture |
| Weekly | Automatic milk system clean | Removes milk fat from the circuit |
| When prompted | Brew unit tablet cleaning | Strips coffee oils |
| When prompted | Filter change or descaling | Controls mineral scale |
My estimate of hands-on daily cleaning time.
Daily use and noise
My mornings started with a long coffee, and afternoons with a cappuccino.
Back-to-back drinks were quick, thanks to the fast grinder and intelligent preheating.
Rough maths from a 1.9 L tank, allowing for rinse water.
Noise
The grinder is quick, but the gears that move the brew unit are fairly loud.
You hear a mechanical clunk during preparation and again when the puck is ejected.
It's not unbearable, but it's louder than the quietest machines I've tested.
The chrome front catches the light under the cabinets.
My four weeks with the E8
Week one: learning the menu
The E8 took almost no learning.
By day two, I'd found my favorite drinks and saved my long coffee at 150 milliliters.
Week two: chasing a better espresso
Week two was about espresso, because that's where I expected the E8 to struggle.
I spent week two trying to get a heavier espresso.
Medium-dark beans on the finest setting gave the best result, and extending the shot helped brighter beans.
Week three: milk drinks
I also tried oat and semi-skimmed milk, and both foamed well, though whole milk stayed my favorite.
In week three, I switched to cappuccinos and flat whites in the afternoon.
The foam was consistently excellent, and pre-warming the cup fixed the temperature issue for me.
Week four: maintenance
By week four, the E8 had become the most-used machine in the house, mostly because no one needed help with it.
The dashboard told me the filter had about a fifth of its life left and the milk system was due a clean.
Both jobs took a few minutes, and I never had to guess what came next.
Living with the E8 in a busy household
The E8 is at its best when several people use it.
Its menu covers almost everyone, from a short espresso to a tall latte macchiato.
During my test, it served an espresso drinker, a flat white fan and someone who only drinks tea.
Simple enough for anyone
Guests worked it out without asking me anything.
The icons and labels are clear, and the button next to each drink makes it obvious what to press.
That's not true of every automatic machine.
Some hide drinks in sub-menus or rely on swipes that confuse first-time users.
The extra-shot drinks
The extra-shot versions of cappuccino, flat white and latte macchiato were popular.
They add a second shot to the same drink, which makes up for the espresso's slightly light body.
If you find milk drinks too mild, they're the easy fix.
The cup light
The small light above the drip tray turns on when a drink starts.
It sounds like a gimmick, but it helped in a dark kitchen early in the morning.
It also makes the latte macchiato's layers look great in a glass.
What it can't do for everyone
There's no user profile system on the machine itself.
Everyone shares the same saved settings for each drink.
The app helps a little, because you can adjust a drink before you start it from your phone.
In practice, our household agreed on the long coffee settings and adjusted everything else on the fly.
| Person | Their drink | How the E8 handled it |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso drinker | Espresso, strongest setting | Smooth crema, a little light in body |
| Flat white fan | Flat white with extra shot | Silky foam, best with a pre-warmed cup |
| Long coffee drinker | Coffee, 150 ml, hottest | Hot, sweet, lasting crema |
| Tea drinker | Green and herbal tea | Good temperature, too cool for black tea |
Our tip: Try the extra-shot milk drinks if regular cappuccinos taste too mild for you.
Beans and milk
Use fresh whole beans within a few weeks of the roast date.
Medium-dark roasts suit the E8's grinder best.
Avoid oily beans, which can clog the grinder over time.
| Bean or milk | How it worked | My tip |
|---|---|---|
| Medium-dark blend | Best espresso and long coffee | Finest grind setting |
| Light-medium roast | Bright, slightly sour | Extend the shot |
| Whole milk, about 3.8% fat | Silkiest, sweetest foam | Use it cold |
| Barista oat milk | Good foam | Shake well first |
Common mistakes to avoid
The Jura E8 is easy to use, but a few habits make a difference.
Our tip: Keep the frothing head parts on a clean towel overnight after rinsing, so they dry fully before the next day.
| Mistake | What happens | Better habit |
|---|---|---|
| Using a cold cup for milk drinks | Cappuccino cools quickly | Pre-warm the cup |
| Light roasts at a standard ratio | Sour, thin espresso | Extend the shot or use darker beans |
| Skipping the daily frother rinse | Milk clogs the air channels | Rinse the parts every day |
| Leaving the chute unwashed | Mold from oils and moisture | Remove and wash it weekly |
| Expecting boiling tea water | Black tea tastes weak | Use a kettle for black tea |
What I would change
I'd like a milk temperature setting, a finer grinder and a removable brew unit.
A metal drip tray grid would also feel more premium.
Is the Jura E8 worth the money?
The E8 is a premium machine, and its value depends on what you prioritize.
If you want a wide menu, clear controls and a machine that manages its own maintenance, it's excellent.
If you care most about the deepest espresso flavor and piping hot milk, it falls a little short.
Ask yourself three questions before you buy.
Do you value ease of use over maximum flavor depth? Are you happy with milk drinks you can sip right away? And would automatic filter and cleaning tracking make your life easier?
If the answers are yes, the E8 is a very easy machine to live with.
If you answered no to the second question, look for a machine that lets you set the milk temperature.
If you'd rather rinse the brew unit yourself, choose a model with a removable brew group.
Machines like this are a long-term purchase, so think about what you'll do every day for years.
For me, the E8's clear controls and maintenance tracking mattered more each week than the last few degrees of milk temperature.
Check what's included where you buy, because milk containers, filters and cleaning tablets vary between bundles.
The E8's black finish suits a bright, modern kitchen.
How it compares with other espresso setups
The most useful comparison is with the types of machines you're likely choosing between.
The Jura E8 stands out for ease of use and maintenance tracking.
| Feature | Jura E8 | Black-coffee-only machine | Manual machine and grinder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drinks | 17, with milk | Espresso and coffee | Anything, by hand |
| Milk foam | Dense, silky, about 50°C | None | Steam wand, any temperature |
| Controls | Buttons, color display, app | Buttons | Manual |
| Maintenance tracking | Automatic dashboard | Basic | None |
| Espresso depth | Good, slightly light | Varies | Excellent, skill-dependent |
| Brew unit access | Sealed | Varies | Fully accessible |
A black-coffee-only machine is simpler but can't make milk drinks.
A manual setup gives you full control over temperature and texture, at the cost of time and skill.
The E8 is the easy, do-it-all choice for busy households.
| You mostly drink | Is the E8 a fit? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Long coffee | Excellent | Hot, sweet, lasting crema |
| Cappuccino and flat white | Very good | Silky foam, but about 50°C |
| Espresso | Good | Smooth crema, slightly light body |
| Green or herbal tea | Good | 80–85°C water |
| Strong black tea | Fair | Water a bit cool |
The E8's color display sits between two rows of physical buttons.
Other Jura machines I tested
The Jura E6 is the simpler step down, with one-touch cappuccino and a menu that learns your habits.
The Jura C9 also makes 17 drinks, in a more compact body with a gentle Light Brew mode.
If you'd rather use a touchscreen than buttons, see my Jura S8 review.
Which one is right for you: is the Jura E8 your match?
4 quick questionsJura E8 specifications
From manufacturer data and my own testing.
How I tested and scored the Jura E8
For four weeks, I used the Jura E8 as my everyday machine for espresso, long coffee, americanos, cappuccinos, flat whites, latte macchiatos and tea water.
I weighed doses and yields for espresso and long coffee, measured milk and hot water temperatures with a probe thermometer, and worked through the grind range.
I used the app, ran the milk, brew unit and filter routines, and tried pre-ground coffee through the chute.
I then checked my notes against Jura's specifications and owner documentation.
- Espresso (8.0): crema, body, flavor, dose and grind range.
- Milk drinks (7.8): foam texture, milk temperature and drink variety.
- Ease of use (8.9): buttons, display, on-the-fly changes, app and maintenance tracking.
- Cleaning (8.0): milk cleaning, brew unit routine, chute access and drip tray.
The overall score of 8.1 is an editorial rating that reflects those four areas.
Jura E8 FAQ
Is the Jura E8 worth it?
Yes, if you want many drinks with very easy controls and automatic maintenance tracking. If you want very hot milk drinks or the most intense espresso, look at a machine with adjustable milk temperature or a finer grinder.
How many drinks does the Jura E8 make?
It has 17 drinks, including espresso, coffee, americano, lungo, espresso doppio, cortado, macchiato, cappuccino, flat white, latte macchiato, extra-shot versions, milk foam and hot water.
How hot is the milk on the Jura E8?
In my testing, frothed milk came out at about 50°C, or 122°F. That's pleasant to sip straight away but cooler than many people expect.
Is the hot water hot enough for tea?
At its hottest setting, the water in my cup measured about 80 to 85°C. That's fine for green and herbal tea, but a little cool for strong black tea.
Can I remove the brew unit to clean it?
No. The brew unit is fixed inside. It's cleaned with an automatic tablet program when the machine asks.
How do I clean the milk system?
Take the frothing head apart and rinse it under warm water daily, and run the automatic milk cleaning program with Jura's milk cleaner regularly.
Does the Jura E8 have an app?
Yes. It works with Jura's J.O.E. app, which shows filter life and cleaning status and lets you adjust and start drinks from your phone.
Can I use pre-ground coffee?
Yes. Open the chute on top, add one level scoop and choose your drink. If you open the chute but add no coffee, the machine warns you and cancels the drink.
How loud is the Jura E8?
The grinder is quick, but the gears that move the brew unit are fairly loud during preparation and when ejecting the puck.
What milk works best?
Cold whole milk gave the silkiest, sweetest foam in my testing. Plant-based barista milks also worked well.
How big is the water tank?
About 1.9 liters, or 64 fluid ounces. The bean hopper holds about 280 grams.
Kitchen & coffee tester
Michael spent six years as a line cook in restaurants in Chicago and New York, and he has tested kitchen appliances for HouseholdMe since 2018, from air fryers to coffee makers. He holds an SCA certificate in barista skills and used the Jura E8 as his everyday coffee machine for four weeks for this review.
- Four weeks of hands-on testing of the Jura E8 15648
- Jura product specifications and owner documentation
- General espresso brewing and maintenance guidance