Look up any list of the best bean to cup coffee machines and Jura is most likely going to be involved in the conversation. Models such as the Jura E8 have wowed us in the past, so my expectations were high going into this review of the new Jura S8, updated for 2024.
New this time around is a Sweet Foam function, which includes an attachment for flavoured syrup so you can add a little sweetness to your frothy milk. It gives you even more drink options on what was already an impressive entry in the extensive Jura series.
In this Jura S8 review, you'll find all the details you need to decide whether or not this is the right coffee maker for you.
Jura S8 (2024) review: price and availability
The newly updated Jura S8 is available to buy now, and will set you back £1,695 in the UK. For the time being at least, it's not available in the US, and availability and pricing is still to be confirmed (though the previous Jura S8 model remains on sale there). In the UK, you can buy the machine direct from Jura.
Jura S8 (2024) review: unboxing and setup
The Jura S8 is a sizable coffee machine, and comes in a box you could accurately describe as a crate. When you've got it open and set up in your kitchen, you'll find it takes up 28 cm x 34.8 cm x 44.6 cm (that's 11 inches x 13.7 inches x 17.6 inches), so make sure you've got the space for it. There's just one colour option here, which is Piano Black.
You get setup instructions included with the unit, which aren't the easiest to follow, especially if this is your first bean-to-cup coffee machine: there are quite a few bits to familiarise yourself with, and at first glance it's not clear what goes where or the difference between cleaning utensils and actual attachments.
That said, you shouldn't really have any major problems getting this up and running – and there's plenty of help on the web, if you need it. From opening the package to making my first drink took about 20 minutes or so, once I'd figured out which box held the glass milk container and how it hooked up to the main system.
The 4.3-inch touchscreen display is nice and big, and helps with setting up the unit. This is a machine that can connect directly to your home Wi-Fi, which helps with features like software updates and being able to control it from your smartphone – certainly not a feature that you get with every coffee maker out there.
The coffee beans go in at the top of the unit – there's room for 280 grams of them – and the 1.9-litre water tank is on the side. As well as being generously sized, this water tank is particularly easy to pull off and put back on, even if you're a little limited in terms of space: it's evidence of the clever design choices Jura has made throughout.
It's worth bearing in mind there's quite a bit of cleaning involved here: the milk attachment needs cleaning every day, for example, but you get clear instructions and a lot of these processes are fully or partially automated. Plus, there's the obvious benefit of a long-lasting machine that still produces great coffee years down the line.
Jura S8 (2024) review: features and performance
The Jura S8 is capable of making 27 different drinks, including all of the most common ones – from espressos and cappuccinos, to sweet cortados and latte macchiatos. The spouts on the front are height adjustable, and the milk and syrup attachments are fitted to the immediate right of the unit.
You've got the signature Jura pulse extraction process (PEP) in place here, meaning water gets pulsed through the coffee during the brewing process, bringing more of the flavour and the aroma out. It's particularly useful for shorter espresso shots, and as far as my tastebuds can make out, is a really well implemented feature.
I'm pleased to report that the Jura S8 works exactly as advertised and makes coffee that tastes fantastic. The brand has a long and storied history in the business, and the S8 certainly isn't a let down – it comes across as an appliance that has a lot of expertise and care and consideration behind it.
The milk and syrup frothing system worked flawlessly in my testing as well, and though we only get a limited amount of time to review these machines – we can't tell you how they'll operate a year or two down the line, for example – out of the box this is a device that produces perfectly poured drinks that taste great.
Another appealing feature here: the sheer number of customisation options you get. You can adjust serving amounts, coffee strength, milk foaming levels, and more, all via the touchscreen – it's not the most responsive or intuitive of panels, but it gets the job done, and it doesn't need much getting used to.
You can operate the Jura S8 from your smartphone as well, if you want: there are apps available for Android and iOS, and as well as picking your drinks you can also use them to stay on top of cleaning tasks. In the end, I think I actually preferred using the on-board touchscreen, but the app is there if you need it.
Jura S8 (2024) review: verdict
The Jura S8 bean-to-cup coffee machine gives you a wide choice of drinks – now more than ever, with the Sweet Foam attachment – which are very well made and taste superb. It operates reliably, and relatively quietly, and with the customisation options here you can really tailor your drinks to your own personal taste.
As with other Jura machines, there is a reasonably high level of maintenance required here, but once you get into these routines they can be done pretty quickly – and of course they ensure everything keeps running smoothly and your coffee keeps on tasting as good as it did the first time you switched on the machine.
It's perhaps not the best option for complete beginners – though they will get there in the end – and the price is a little high for a mid-range coffee machine like this. Overall though, the Jura S8 scores so highly in so many categories that it's a device I'd wholeheartedly recommend adding you to shortlist if you're looking for a coffee maker.
Jura S8 (2024) review: alternatives to consider
The Sage Barista Touch Impress is just about our favourite bean-to-cup coffee machine at the moment, and has the T3 Awards badge to prove it as well. In our review we described it as fast, smart, attractively designed, and capable of making drinks that beat what you can get in your local coffee shop – in fact, we're a little obsessed with it.
Then there's also the De'Longhi Eletta Explore if you're looking for an alternative to the Jura S8. This is another hugely impressive bean-to-cup coffee machine that got full marks from us, and we were particularly taken with the wide range of drinks it's able to produce, as well as the way you can tailor those drinks to suit your own tastes.
