Jura-Capresso

When Mary-Ann and I come into work and see a new machine sitting on one of our desks, we get pretty excited. Getting to be the first people here at Whole Latte Love to unbox and test a new product is a pretty great thing. This morning, it happened again! As we downed our first cups of coffee, we were told that we would be testing the new Jura-Capresso EC50 espresso machine and telling all of you about it.

Aesthetically, the EC50 is simple and classic. It has no display, a single light, and a single knob. It is utilitarian (which I love). No frills, just solid and sleek with its stainless steel and black body.

Some people take issue with machines with pressurized portafilters but personally, Mary-Ann and I sort of like them. Being new to the business and not being the best at grind settings and tamping, it’s nice to be able to make a solid shot of espresso without having to factor in frequent human error! The EC50 does just that. Regardless of the lack of caffeine in our systems, and the fact that it wasn’t even 9am here yet, we were able to impress ourselves with the amount of crema that came from the shots.

As for the temperature of the shots, you should see the blister on Mary-Ann’s tongue. Despite her saying out loud “Wow, this glass is hot” her cloudy judgment allowed her to sip the piping hot shot which resulted in a pretty humorous dance around the kitchen. The thermo-block heating system (that warms up in less than a minute) made for a nice laugh first thing in the morning.

The EC50 measures up at a whopping (not really whopping at all, actually) 11.5x7.25x10.25 and weighs just 8 lbs. This is one of the smallest machines we have ever used, but still manages to carry an impressive 42 oz of water in its rear mounted reservoir. It lifts out easily for filling with a nifty built in handle to carry to the sink, or the top moves plenty to fill it with a pitcher of water.

Taking after its higher end siblings, the Jura-Capresso EC50 is equally compulsive about being clean. After every brew cycle, the EC50 produces steam to remove any water from the thermo-block water heater, meaning you only have to descale after between 200-300 shots depending on your water.

The powerful frothing wand produces an almost ridiculous amount of steam and pressure given its size. A pitcher of milk is quickly frothed before your shots even have a chance to cool down as the EC50 heats from brew to steam temperature in a matter of seconds. Unlike a typical Pannarello wand, in order to steam your milk you will have to remove the black plastic frothing sleeve and re submerge the metal wand. While it’s not optimal, it really wasn’t a big deal considering the sleeve does come off very easily, and has a small tab so that any heat from the frothing doesn’t bother you.

Just like the when I would beat my older brother in video games, hide and seek, and (later in life) police his grammar, the EC50 takes some of the best traits from its bigger siblings (like my family’s dashing good looks), and puts them into a smaller package (size isn’t everything).

We carry a lot of amazing, top of the line machines here at Whole Latte Love. So it’s easy to be a little jaded when it comes to working with entry level, budget friendly machines. And just like waking up to a fresh snow fall or watching a lightning storm from afar, it’s exciting that there are some fantastic offerings for people who want to share in the joy of the espresso culture, but just aren’t sure that they’re ready to pull the trigger on a big ticket item just yet. Brewing consistently solid shots, giving you more than enough power to froth your milk, and fitting in any kitchen, the Jura-Capresso EC50 is an amazing value from a very well respected company.

I’ve been on a 90’s rock kick lately, and Garbage has been in pretty (extremely) heavy rotation. Their James Bond theme “The World Is Not Enough” was on when I pulled into the parking lot this morning after stopping at the warehouse to pick up today’s new toy. The title line to the track is fitting for today, as I realized that the Espresso Machine industry is not unlike every other industry in that everyone is trying to outdo the latest and greatest. Whole Latte Loves resident n00bs (Mary-Ann and I) test gadget for today is the Jura-Capresso ENA Micro 9, the newest addition to their popular ENA line of compact Super Automatic machines.

Building off of the very popular ENA 9 machine, Jura has managed to cram all of the same features and great quality into an even smaller package (11% shorter than the ENA 9). It’s small enough to fit in the passenger seat of Bond’s classic Aston Martin! Weighing in at 20lbs and measuring roughly 9x12x17, the foot print is minimal especially considering what the machine is capable of. Also impressive is that despite the smaller size, the capacities remain the same compared to the ENA 9: a 37 oz rear mounted reservoir, 4.4 oz bean hopper, 10 puck capacity for spent grounds, and 5 inch clearance to fit all your favorite cups. The drip tray, despite looking very small, actually holds a substantial amount of liquids so that you will not have to drain it often.

Just like the ENA 9, the Micro heats up in around 30 seconds, and is able to brew a shot of Espresso in less than one minute – perfect for running out of the house first thing in the morning. It retains its predecessor’s classic design with the Chrome/Silver/Black color scheme, slanted front face, and adjustable brew head. The display is also the same: an easy to read, color coded, single line LED display. Just like all Jura’s as well, the Micro loves to keep itself clean, and will prompt you to rinse out the coffee and milk systems. The similarities start to fade at that point however.

The most noticeable change is the location of the hot water wand and how it is operated. Rather than cluttering up the front of the machine, the Micro integrates the hot water wand into the brew head, and employs a button on top of the machine over the knob on the ENA 9. Also on top are familiar one-touch buttons for different coffee drinks.

These include Cappuccino, Latte, Espresso and Long Coffee. The new click dial design makes navigating the menus even easier, and the selection button is located conveniently in the center of the dial. Lastly, there is the rinse button you press when the Micro prompts you that it needs to rinse either the coffee or milk systems.

Further back from the interface are the bypass doser and the grind settings. Pulled forward compared to the ENA 9, the Micro makes it even easier to use pre ground coffee using the included funnel, and a powder sensing system that begins the brew process as soon as the bypass doser cover is closed. There are 5 adjustments to the grind settings, which were enough for Mary –Ann and I to find a good place for two different kinds of beans that we had access to today.

Back further is the door for the bean hopper that holds almost a quarter pound of coffee, and has an optimal slant to ensure that the beans never get stuck, and that the machine has a consistent flow of beans to multi-level conical grinder. The grinding of the coffee can be a noisy operation, but the Micro 9 makes quick and quiet work out of the job. A silicone seal on the bean hopper cover ensures that the beans stay fresh, and the aroma of the coffee is the same from cup to cup.

Furthest back is the water reservoir, holding a respectable 37 oz of water for your brewing and hot water needs. It comes with a Clearyl Blue water filter which, according to Jura-Capresso eliminates the need to descale and helps to ensure the taste of your Espresso regardless of the quality of your tap water.

The Micro 9 comes with Jura Capresso’s Fine Foam frothing system, consistently giving you fantastic foam every time you brew a specialty milk drink. The included tube connects the brew head to either Jura’s Thermal Milk Container, or can extract milk right from the carton. the milk and coffee systems are kept separate to avoid cross contamination, and the machine is “Certified Hygienic”. Going further with the Micro 9’s penchant to clean, Jura-Capresso has numbered the parts that can be taken off to be cleaned in order to make reassembling it even easier.

If you are looking for a simple, one-touch Super-Automatic machine that can fit in your kitchen or nook without question, the redesigned and compacted internals in the Micro 9 make it a great contender for this constantly shrinking (in dimensions!) field of Espresso machines. It carries with it everything that people love about Jura (and people LOVE their Jura’s) in an attractive shell.

Is anyone else as excited about the newest James Bond movie, Skyfall, as I am? Because I’ve been craving a new movie more than I require my morning coffee fix.

Many people claim they can't get through the day without their morning coffee. Meanwhile, other members of the coffee culture can't do without their morning espressos, cappuccinos, or other specialty coffee beverages. Gauging by the astronomical number of Starbucks throughout this country (about 11,000), I'd consider that proof that a lot people prefer something a little fancier than a cup of drip to start their day off right. In response to this elevated demand for specialty coffee drinks, the development of high quality home espresso machines like the Jura-Capresso Impressa Z7 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine have also increased. The Z7 allows one to create coffee perfection at the touch of a single button. At a cheaper price than Starbucks. And, most importantly, in the comfort of your own kitchen.

I am one of millions of people who not only love their espresso but also live a fast-paced lifestyle too. For people like me, a one touch Super-Automatic Espresso Machine is the most sensible way to get your coffee fix fast. The Jura-Capresso Impressa Z7 is a home espresso machine that incorporates the features of a commercial machines with the compactness and style required for home use.

One of the features buyers appreciate most on the Jura Z7 are the 8 preset buttons which allow you to make the perfect cappuccino, latte, espresso, or etc...just by pressing a button.

You can also adjust the settings of each drink to accommodate your specific tastes i.e. a stronger dosage of coffee or a finer grind setting of your favorite beans, it is incredibly simple to do. The LED display walks you through each step with simple and clear directions. It will also alert you when it is time to clean the machine, refill your water reservoir or bean hopper, and when to empty your dredge drawer. Simple.

If you've ever tried to make your own specialty coffee drinks at home, you would know it can both take a fair amount of your precious time and it can be both challenging and time consuming. With the Z7 you simply cannot fail to make a perfect drink, with perfect froth, at the perfect temperature with great speed and with no waiting in line. The Jura Z7 is an espresso machine of the caliber that causes people to forget about their route to the nearest Starbucks and will save you money in the long run.

That speed particularly comes in handy when you are entertaining guests as well. With the Z7, you can be the perfect host, and assume the role of barista with confidence. You can make a variety of beverages to suite all tastes within mere minutes and the machine will take care of discarding the used coffee, allowing you to spend more time with your company.

If you want perfection, and variety of delicious coffee beverages with the convenience and speed of a super-automatic home espresso machine, then the Jura-Capresso Impressa Z7 may be exactly what the doctor ordered. Cheers!

Jura-Capresso has impressed me every time I've taken one of their machines out of the box, and my experience was no different with the Jura-Capresso Impressa Z7 One-Touch-Super-Automatic Espresso Machine. Going back to basics, I was happy to see that the Z7 eschewed a full color display for the simplicity of eight one-touch buttons, one for every drink option the machine has to offer.

I prefer having all the selections available to me without any additional required navigation to make a selection like the Jura-Capresso Impressa J9.

I like the Impressa Z7's huge side mounted water tank, 2.8 liters to be precise, the largest capacity of any of the Jura-Capresso machines I've looked at yet. I loved that the Impressa Z7's water tank is made of classy looking black plastic and features a built-in sight glass that still lets me eyeball the water level. The large water capacity of course means less frequent fill-ups, and coupled with the eight one-touch pre-set drink buttons it’s easy for guests to use which makes it a great entertainment and party machine.

Another attractive design feature of the Z7 was the location of the bypass doser. The doser on the Impressa Z7 is located inside of the same compartment as the bean hopper, which I liked because it cut down on the number of doors on top of the machine. I'll admit that I was a little disappointed to find that there was no fitted slot for the ground coffee scoop that was included with the machine like there is on some Jura-Capresso machines.

When it comes to aesthetics, the Impressa Z7 sports a black plastic case with a silver plastic front panel. It's got a standard red text LED display; however, the screen is large enough to display pictures as well such as a coffee cup to indicate that the machine is ready to brew or water when it needs rinsing.

Programming is accomplished using a rotary dial located on top of the machine and you can change things like drink strength, energy saver functions, and the display language.

I was surprised to see that the Z7 boasts three sets of spouts instead of the usual two. There was a regular set of dual espresso spouts that could be used to brew two coffee drinks at once, the dual spouted Frothxpress cappuccino system for milk drinks, and a unique third spout for hot water. All of the spouts are height adjustable for a clearance of approximately 2.5” to 4” for the espresso and hot water spouts and 4” to 6” for the cappuccino spouts. I can also happily say that the Impressa Z7 is equipped with lights that illuminate your drinks while they brew, which was one of my favorite features of the Impressa J9. It looks really cool and makes the experience feel almost like a performance.

While I was brewing, I was able adjust the strength and volume of my drink by turning the Z7's rotary dial. I've found that the rotary dial is a standard fare for most Jura-Capresso machines, and with this being the third one I've looked at, I knew how to use it. The machine brewed quickly and quietly, all with just the push of a button.

As the last super-automatic machine I'll be looking at for a while, The Jura-Capresso Impressa Z7 was a good way to say goodbye to the one-touch convenience I've grown to love. Anyone looking for a reliable super-automatic machine with robust features need look no further than the Jura-Capresso Impressa Z7!

For those of us who like our coffee hot, warm cups are a must. It brings a tear to my eye to admit that not every machine comes with a built in cup warmer, which is why I was so happy when I un-boxed the Jura-Capresso Cup Warmer.

My first impression was that the Cup Warmer looked a little bit like a computer, I found this quite fitting as coffee and computers are both essential parts of my life. Because its largely made out of plastic, the Cup Warmer is lightweight, reasonably sized, and looked great next to the Jura-Capresso Impressa C9 espresso machine that I was working on.

	In terms of features, the Cup Warmer was pretty straightforward. It has two drawers and can hold anywhere from 4-10 cups depending on the size. The large volume of cups makes it great for entertaining. I measured the clearance on the drawers and found that it's about 3.6" wide and 4.25" tall so anything larger than that is out of the question. The drawers heat up to 130°ƒ and I was pleased to find that the Cup Warmer can be programmed to turn on and off automatically. Personally, I recommend programming the machine to turn on roughly 10-20 minutes before you plan on making your coffee as it takes a little while for it to heat up.
With a stylish aesthetic and high capacity, the Jura-Capresso Cup Warmer is a great addition to any barista’s arsenal and is a wonderful companion to any Jura-Capresso espresso machine.

Today I had the opportunity to dabble with my second Jura-Capresso machine, the Jura-Capresso Impressa C9 One Touch espresso machine. The Impressa C9 is a one-touch-super-automatic machine that can make water and milk based drinks with the push of a button. I tested this machine with Filicori Zecchini Gran Crema Forte whole bean espresso.

At first glance I was immediately a fan of the Impressa C9's black plastic casing. Additionally, I also really liked its transparent, side-mounted water tank. In my experience, the Jura-Capresso line of machines are great at telling you when the tank needs to be refilled, but there's something comforting about being able to see how much water you have left for yourself.

Powering on the C9 via the switch located in the back of the machine, my first thought was "hey, the glowing red dot looks a little like Hal 9000." Instead of a display screen, the machine has a basic LED red text display located above the drink buttons on the left side of the machine.

Joking aside however, the machine was very easy to use. While it doesn't have a display screen like the Jura-Capresso J9 that I looked at in my last blog, I found the buttons on the Jura-Capresso C9 model to be pretty intuitive. Small cup for an espresso, big cup for a coffee, etc. The machine can brew two coffees or espresso at once if you push the buttons twice. For milk drinks, I noticed that the Impressa C9 used all of the same button icon's that the J9's frothing system did so I could tell which was which.

The quality of the coffee was great and the machine brews quickly, but I was curious about whether its settings could be customized. By opening a hidden panel beneath the display I accessed the rotary dial that allowed me to customize drinks and program the machine. Personally, I found the dial a bit tricky to use and made me feel a bit like a safe-cracker, but, I was doing it in the name of coffee. Just like the J9, I was able to modify the strength, volume and temperature of the drinks' preset values.

All in all, I found the Jura-Capresso Impressa C9 to be a very adroit one touch machine. If you enjoy making cafe style drinks in the comfort of your home, this machine delivers simple design, and good quality coffee making capabilities.

It feels pretty good to say "wow, that was easy," and that about sums up my experience with the Jura-Capresso Impressa J9 One-Touch-Super-Automatic Espresso Machine. A cappuccino, you know that drink your girlfriend made you pay $4 for the other day? Five minutes out of the box and I'd made one with the push of a button, it was that simple. Being a one touch machine, after I filled up the water and beans it was ready to go. Now, because I'm partial to milk drinks, I also connected the milk container that comes with the machine so I could use the J9's dual spouted milk Frother, which dispenses both milk and coffee. And yes, it does look as cool as it sounds.

Connecting the container took me all of about 30 seconds after I managed to find the rubber adapter needed to connect it to the machine. It's a tiny little black piece that comes packaged with the container. So, if you find yourself saying "how's the hose supposed to stay in?" don't fret, you probably just forgot to connect that adapter to your hose.

The J9's power switch is located near the back of the machine on its right side and its’ on button is on top of the machine to the left of the rotary dial. The machine takes a few seconds to boot up its display, but after that you're good to go. Right off the bat you've got access to any of four pre-programmed drink options, plus milk and hot water.

Additional drinks can be selected by turning the rotary dial.

Because I was feeling particularly adventurous I checked out "Expert mode" in the programming menu, accessed via the conveniently labeled P button. In "Expert mode," you can adjust a drinks' strength, temperature, and volume to your heart's content. After goofing around with it for a bit, I decided to go back to the original settings and found that I was able to restore factory defaults as easily as I had changed them. For those of you whose inner Batista has a need to tinker, go for it!

I can happily say that I was impressed by both the quality and simplicity of the J9, not to mention that it's quite a snazzy looking machine. At the end of the day, it really doesn't get any easier than one button.

It’s time for the fourth, and final, installment of the “Best Bang for Your Buck” blog series. This time around, I’m highlighting the grinders I believe offer the best value for your money. I’ll sort our grinders into three categories: drip, espresso and universal.

Judging criteria will include: price, ease of use, build quality, overall durability, and access to after-sale parts and service. I know you’ve probably read this elsewhere, but remember not to short change your grinder. It is actually half of the equation to brewing a solid shot of espresso. Even for drip coffee, you’ll need to spend more than $20 for a blade grinder. Blade grinders, as you may have read, simply spin around two blades at high speed and chop the beans into smaller pieces. Chopping the beans can burn and actually change the flavor structure of the coffee, which is why we tend to recommend burr grinders, here at Whole Latte Love. Burr grinders produce more consistent grinds and help eliminate heat transfer to preserve the flavor of your beans. With that in mind, let’s get right into it…

For drip-coffee drinkers, I’m going to go with the Jura Capresso Infinity Burr Grinder. It’s under $100, unless you go for the stainless steel body, and is a solid little grinder. Sporting a pair of conical burrs, 16 grind settings, a gear-reduction system, and running at a low RPM rate of 420, the Infinity is a great companion for drip coffee makers. While it won’t deliver grounds exact enough for commercial portafilter baskets, you could argue that this grinder can produce results good enough for espresso machines with pressurized portafilter systems. Overall, the Jura Capresso Infinity is an excellent grinder for under $100.

For espresso lovers, once you factor in price, the Baratza Virtuoso and Virtuoso Preciso are incredible grinders that can cater to almost any espresso machine, all the way up to Prosumer-level units. The Virtuoso has a hardened burr set, a beefy, 480-watt motor, a metal retaining collar on the top burr( to eliminate the flex that results in different-sized coffee particles) and 40 grind settings. This grinder can accommodate any of the Gaggia semi-autos, with their exacting commercial portafilters, and deliver the grinds needed to produce great shots. The Virtuoso Preciso is basically the Virtuoso evolved. It is $100 more but has an additional 11 micro adjustments per grinder setting, giving you a total of 440 grind settings. You’ll be able to fine-tune your espresso grind to accommodate machines as finicky as the Rancilio Silvia. The Silvia is one of the most demanding semi-automatic machines we carry. It’s a great feat for any grinder to keep up with Miss Silvia.

Lastly, the Baratza Vario gets my vote as the “Best Bang for your Buck” in the combo or all-purpose grinder category. If you brew multiple types of coffee, there is nothing else that compares or even comes close to the Vario. Other grinders may have more settings, bigger motors and hoppers, but none pulls it all together like the Vario. Within its compact frame lies a pair of Mahlkonig 54mm ceramic burrs, 230 grinder settings, and a digital timer for hands-free operation. The ceramic burrs last twice as long as their steel counterparts and Mahlkonig is the leading ceramic-burr manufacturer. There are two dials on each side of the grinder, one with 10 macro and 23 micro settings. Switching between the settings is as easy as sliding the dials up or down and, unlike infinite grinders, you can duplicate the grind setting every time. Regardless of whether you’re using an espresso machine, French press, stovetop or drip coffee maker, the versatile Vario can keep up with all your needs.

I hope you enjoyed this blog. Feel free to leave a comment and weigh in on my top picks.

In last month's article, we took a look at a few standout semi-automatic machines for every price range. This time around, we're exploring super-automatic espresso for every budget. If you're in the market for a new machine, take a moment to check out our top picks below.

Economy Machine
The Saeco Vienna Plus, available in silver and graphite, is one of our most popular starter machines. While the Vienna Plus may not have all the bells and whistles found on higher-end machines, it is a solid super automatic suitable for daily use. Ideal for the value-conscious espresso lover, this machine is easy to use and maintain.

Surprisingly accommodating, the Vienna Plus can be programmed to brew 1-8 ounces of espresso. This model also features Saeco's famous OptiDose system to let you adjust the amount of beans ground per cup to customize the flavor and strength of your beverage. For full-flavored drinks, the Saeco Vienna Plus comes with a pre-infusion cycle that saturates grounds prior to brewing.

Don't let its price tag fool you; this machine has been outfitted with quality parts and features. Beneath the hood is a stainless-steel lined Thermoblock boiler, capable of quick and efficient operation. To the right of the control panel, you'll find an integrated conical burr grinder with 18 grind settings. A Pannarello wand makes for easy steaming and frothing; it can also dispense hot water for tea or an Americano. When it's time to clean your machine, the brew group pops right out. Just rinse it under a faucet, put it back in place and you're good to go.

Mid-Grade Machine
A step up from the Vienna Plus is the Jura-Capresso Impressa ENA5. In addition to letting you customize beverage strength and volume, the ENA5 lets you program drink temperatures. It is also equipped with Jura's Intelligent Pre-Brew Aroma System, a two-step pre-infusion cycle that ensures maximum flavor and crema extraction. There is a digital display that acts as an indicator, letting you know exactly what is going on with your machine. Maintenance alerts and programming features are clearly displayed for your convenience.

The mid-grade ENA5 offers the additional option of brewing with pre-ground coffee. If you're an occasional decaf or flavored coffee drinker, the bypass doser will let you prepare drinks from pre-ground coffee and prevent cross contamination with your regular beans. Like the Vienna Plus, the ENA5 has a conical burr grinder, but with this model there are six grind settings to choose from.

A stainless-steel lined Thermoblock boiler minimizes warm-up time and accommodates on-demand water usage. The Impressa ENA5 also eliminates minerals and scale from your tap water using an advanced Clearyl filtration system. The result is great tasting drinks and reduced scale buildup. A dedicated alert will even let you know when the filter needs to be replaced.

Its frothXpress system is another big advantage the ENA5 has over the Vienna Plus. This user-friendly system will automatically steam and froth your milk and dispense it directly into the cup. You can also manually steam and froth using the dual frother plus wand. If you're looking for a well-equipped super-automatic machine, the Jura-Capresso ENA5 may just be the one for you.

High-End Machine
Want to go all out? The Gaggia Accademia is a super automatic machine that's built to impress. This machine has been designed on a one-touch platform so you'll be able to make your favorite drinks with the push of a button. There are seven programmable drink buttons for espresso, caffe, caffe lungo, cappuccino, latte macchiato, and more.

The Gaggia Accademia lets you adjust coffee strength, temperature, and volume. Even the milk options are programmable with the Accademia; you can choose from normal, minimal and no-froth settings. The Milk Management System can add perfected steamed and frothed milk to your cup but since it functions on an external circuit, there milk actually never enters the machine. In addition, this one-touch machine has a stainless steel steam wand to let you manually steam and froth for lattes and cappuccinos; it also doubles as a hot water dispenser.

Gaggia's top-of-the-line machine super automatic has a built-in ceramic burr grinder with seven grind settings. As with the ENA5, the Accademia has a bypass doser to accommodate pre-ground coffee. This model operates on two stainless steel boilers, a vast improvement over both the ENA5 and Vienna Plus. With to boilers, you'll be able to alternate between brewing and frothing without any down time.

Best of all, the Accademia is exceedingly easy to clean and maintain. The milk system has an auto rinse cycle that cleans the circuit after each use to keep it free of residue and contaminants. Also, the brew group is removable so, like the Vienna Plus, the group can be rinsed under tap water. Dedicated maintenance alerts will let you know when the machine needs to be cleaned or descaled. The Gaggia Accademia is an investment that will deliver a world class brewing experience.

Most shoppers tend to fall into one of two camps—some make snap judgments when it comes time to buy and others carefully analyze every option before committing. Chances are, the analytical shoppers out there have done their research and noticed that a few brands, namely Gaggia, Delonghi, Saeco and Jura-Capresso, have consistently earned high consumer ratings on wholelattelove.com and elsewhere. For these manufacturers, introducing a new espresso machine is a big deal, since they've got near-flawless reputations to protect. Jura-Capresso is the latest of the elite manufacturers to introduce a new super automatic, the Impressa Z7 One Touch.

Program Your Way to Custom Coffees
Sure to garner high praise, the hotly anticipated Z7 is well-equipped for home or office use. This coffee and espresso juggernaut has a host of programmable features that will really let you customize beverages to your liking and thanks to one-touch functionalities everyone—from connoisseurs to novices—will be able to make quality drinks with ease. Dedicated drink buttons for cappuccino, macchiato, coffee, espresso, ristretto, special coffee, milk and hot water mean that your favorite beverages are just seconds away. If you're particular about the way your drinks are prepared, the Z7 may be the perfect machine for you. It will let you program coffee volume, temperature, and strength as well as well as milk volume and hot water temps to suit your tastes. Prefer more milk or coffee in your cappuccino than the traditional recipe calls for? It's doable with the Z7. Making hot chocolate for the little ones and want to dial down the water temp? Go ahead; this versatile machine has 3 hot water settings to choose from. Aside from drink programmability, you can also set the energy saving mode and auto-off feature to create an espresso machine tailored to your needs.

The Perfect Grind
Jura-Capresso is keenly aware that great espresso starts with having the proper grind so it has equipped the Impressa Z7 with a conical burr grinder to reduce heat transfer and protect coffee flavor and aroma during the grinding process. This innovative system lets you adjust the grind on continuous scale, using a knob located on the top of the machine, to achieve the desired results. You can also control coffee strength during the grinding process; choose from mild, normal, strong, and extra-strong settings as needed. There is a built-in 10oz hopper, so you can store whole bean coffee in the machine, ready to brew.

If you have a decaf drinker in the house, use the Z7's integrated bypass doser to brew decaffeinated pre-ground. This will keep your regular and decaf coffees separated and pure as they make their way through the machine.

The Perks
From the technical and design perspectives, there are plenty of bright spots with the Jura-Capresso Impressa Z7. This powerful machine is equipped with two stainless-steel boilers so you won't waste any time between brewing and frothing. Once your drink has been made it will automatically pour into the cup through a dedicated coffee spout. The drink dispenser is height and width adjustable; it'll accommodate anything from a 6” tall mug to tiny espresso cups!

When you're ready to steam, the Z7 gives you two options to choose from. Use the Cappuccino System and let the machine do all the work. Pour milk into the carafe, attach the container to your machine and the Z7 will siphon, steam or froth and dispense the finished product into your cup, ready to enjoy. You can even store your milk container in the fridge, in between use, to keep it nice and fresh. If you prefer to work with your milk manually, this unit has a dedicated steam wand to allow you to do just that. It's powerful enough to create nice, rich milk with a layer of microfoam for gourmet beverages.

At the end of the day, cleaning and maintenance is a breeze. The Impressa Z7 has built-in alerts that will notify you when your attention is required. It will remind you to empty the dregs drawer, clean the milk system and change the water filter to keep your machine in perfect operating condition. The Z7 even runs an auto rinse cycle every time it powers up to keep your machine clean.

If you're considering a high-end super automatic espresso machine, check out the Jura Impressa Z7. It's sure to be a favorite among coffee and espresso lovers.