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.
Large Capacity Water Tank
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.
Design Features
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.
The Aesthetics
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 Features
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.
A Look At The Spouts
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.
Changing The Coffee Strength
While I was brewing, I was able to 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!