If you're a fan of pumpkin spice lattes, vanilla-infused whips, or caramel macchiatos, you're in for a real treat. I recently tested what might just be the best sweet foam coffee machine on the market.
The Jura J8 is the latest addition to the Swiss brand's premium lineup of automatic coffee makers. The J8 makes a truly perfect espresso, but what sets it apart is the innovative syrup frother. As your milk steams, the J8 seamlessly infuses the sweetness into the foam, ensuring a perfectly balanced flavor. Gone are the days of homemade coffees with a syrupy layer stuck at the bottom. This is effortless, luxurious coffee in the comfort of your own kitchen.
It hasn't quite made it into our list of the best espresso machines, as I did encounter a few design quirks that could be improved, but the incredible taste certainly sweetened the deal. Here’s everything you need to know about the Jura J8 machine.
Jura J8: First impressions
Upon starting up the Jura J8, I was greeted with a mandatory descaling process – something that, while necessary, was a little more dramatic than I expected. The machine emitted some rather alarming noises, and it splashed a bit of water onto the countertops. Not the most luxurious start, but once past that, the machine quickly got into gear.
The sleek touchscreen immediately stands out, offering instructions and 31 styles of coffee to choose from. I was expecting a slightly more sleek design from the famous Jura brand. This is the first machine I've tested and I've heard amazing things about the Swiss quality, so perhaps my expectations were set too high. I wasn't that keen on the gaps in the machine, the lift-out water tank, or the finish of the exterior, but that is personal taste. I did however, love the high-end stainless steel accessories and BPA-free plastic.
Brewing performance
The Jura J8 covers an enormous range of drinks. There are 31 options to be exact. Here's how it performed with some of our favorites.
Test 1: Espresso
Where the Jura J8 really shines is the espresso itself. I set the grinder to its most intense setting for an espresso, and within 10 seconds, I had a rich, full-bodied shot that was easily the best I’ve tasted from an automatic machine. It was bold, smooth, and at the perfect temperature.
Test 2: Latte and flat white
For milk-based drinks, the Jura J8 adds a bit of theater. There’s a satisfying hiss of steam, and while it’s not too loud, it certainly adds an element of authenticity.
You can customize settings such as coffee strength, milk temperature, and foam density, allowing you to tailor each drink to your liking.
The oat latte macchiato quickly became my favorite. It was the ideal blend of coffee and milk, with just the right amount of foam and strength of taste.
Test 3: Sweet foam specialities
On the right side of the machine, you’ll find a dedicated spot for a removable capsule, which you can fill with any syrup of your choice – think vanilla, pumpkin spice, or gingerbread.
Once you've selected your brew, you can add the exact amount of syrup you prefer to the capsule before attaching it to the milk dispenser. I opted for a dash of pumpkin spice syrup in my latte foam – after all, it’s the season! Watching the process was a delight, as the milk seamlessly channeled through the syrup capsule, combining into a silky, sweet foam.
The result? Deliciously sweet and velvety, with every sip offering a smooth, consistent flavor with that rich espresso flavor coming through. I felt like I'd ordered it from a luxurious cafe, but it was all homemade.
My only disappointment was the lack of cold foam or iced coffee options since I like an iced caramel latte in summer. There are other Jura machines and competitors that offer this, which I've listed below.
Test 4: Americano
The Americano was equally impressive – strong without being watery, with a perfectly balanced depth of flavor. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a high-end machine.
Ease of use
The automatic sensor was confusing to me. When I had the coffee cup in the center of the machine, I couldn't see any sweet foam options on the screen. After some googling, I realised you must move your mug underneath the milk dispenser – the machine will automatically detect its presence and reveal the sweet foam options. I didn't find this particularly user-friendly, but I suppose there may be a slight learning curve initially. I'm used to the super easy De'Longhi Magnifica I have at home, which I could use with my eyes closed.
However, Jura's large, color touchscreen interface is nice to use. Once you've tapped your coffee choice, everything is super automatic, meaning the J8 takes care of the grinding, brewing, and frothing of milk. It was also very easy to fill the sweet foam capsule and get that going. All the accessories slot seamlessly together.
Cleaning and maintenance
The machine has great maintenance reminders for cleaning and descaling, which helps keep the kit in optimal condition without much effort. You can also remove components like the drip tray, milk container, and water tank for easy rinsing.
While it’s not mandatory to use Jura's cleaning materials for your Jura J8, they highly recommend it for optimal performance and maintenance. I also tested the Jura cleaning tablets and solutions – they worked well, since they're specially formulated to remove coffee oils, residue, and limescale without damaging the machine's internal components. Jura say these products will maintain the machine’s performance and longevity, ensuring it continues to brew high-quality coffee.
Who would this suit?
Espresso lovers, sweet foam fans, and probably a whole family of coffee-drinkers with diverse tastes. If you enjoy hosting, the Jura J8 is a perfect choice – it's ability to create barista-quality drinks will impress guests. You could even open your own at-home café with the capabilities of this machine!
How does it compare?
If you’re in the market for an amazing automatic coffee machine, you’ll probably browse our guide to the best coffee makers and the best espresso machines. The 5-star rated De'Longhi Eletta Explore is at the top of our buying guide and won't be getting knocked out of place by Jura. It can make over 52 different types of coffee with the same, adjustable settings as the Jura. They're both excellent at brewing delicious, custom coffees; texturing plant-based and dairy milks; the De'Longhi is actually more affordable than Jura at $2000.
If you liked the sound of both of those, but you don't want to spend as much money, the Philips 3200 and De'Longhi Magnifica Plus coffee makers are still brilliant bean-to-cup options. They sit closer to $1,000, come with customizable settings, and texture milk beautifully. You only sacrifice the luxury of sweet foam variety.
If you're looking for iced coffee, the Jura J8 can't do this, but we recently tested the De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro which excels at making cold brew. I would have loved to see the same capability in the Jura J8. Personally, I use the Dreo BaristaMaker at home to create cold foam for my iced lattes and matches. This milk frother could be an excellent rival to Jura if you're simply looking for a great foam accessory.
What do customer reviews say?
Some reviewers say the coffee is excellent, praising the 'outstanding espresso drinks' and the foam as 'truly amazing.' Some reviewers on Amazon had issues with the parts and needed to return their models. I only tested the Jura J8 for a day in the test kitchen, so I can't speak on longevity and durability – although I can say we have tested many Jura machines as a team over the years and rated them very highly.
Should you buy it?
At a steep $2,999, the Jura J8 delivers exceptional coffee that rivals a top-level café. If you regularly buy takeout coffee, this might pay for itself. With a wide range of drinks, from espresso and cappuccino to sweet foam specialities, every cup is perfectly brewed.
The machine comes with a few usability bumps for me – I didn't like the automatic sensors or the lack of an iced coffee options. While the coffee quality is unparalleled, I think De'Longhi still edges out Jura in terms of user-friendliness.
That said, if coffee quality is your priority and you value that perfect, café-style sweet foam, the Jura J8 is hard to beat.
How we test
To test the best coffee machines on the market, we focus on delivering exceptional brewing performance. As a team of trained product testers, baristas, and coffee enthusiasts, we assess each machine by brewing a variety of coffee styles, including espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes. During the taste tests, we evaluate the consistency, flavor, and temperature of each drink, aiming for a perfect balance.
Ease of use is crucial, so we examine the intuitiveness of the controls, how easy it is to customize drinks, and the clarity of the instruction manual. We also assess special features like milk frothing systems and cold brew functions, checking if they are effective or merely gimmicks.
Since cleaning and maintenance can be a chore, we evaluate how easy the machine is to clean, looking at self-cleaning functions and whether parts like drip trays and milk frothers are removable and dishwasher-safe. We also assess the build quality, ensuring the machine is durable and well-designed for long-term use. After testing, we analyze customer reviews to gauge reliability and satisfaction over time.
Finally, we compare the machine's price with its features and performance to see if it offers good value for money. Our goal is to help you choose a coffee machine that not only brews exceptional coffee but also fits seamlessly into your kitchen for years to come.
