Jura E6 vs. E8: Which Should You Buy?

Jura E6 or E8: It Comes Down to the Milk Switch

On the E6, every milk drink and every cup of hot water needs your hand: after you press the button, the display says "Open switch", and you turn a switch on the front to let the milk foam or water flow. On the E8, milk drinks run at the touch of a button: Cortado, Latte macchiato, Espresso macchiato, Flat white and Cappuccino. Hot water comes from its own spout.

Inside, Jura built them alike. Both have a 64 oz (1.9 L) tank, a 10 oz bean container, a 16-portion grounds container, a 15 bar pump and the same 1450 W rating in the US editions. Both use the same plain-text messages, maintenance programs and Error 2/Error 5 rule.

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Side by Side

Drink names are the ones printed in the two US manuals' preparation chapters.

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Same Maintenance, Same Messages

The maintenance programs are identical on paper:

"Non-recommended descaling agents (e.g. vinegar)… could damage the machine," both manuals say. The milk cleaner warning is stronger: other cleaners "may cause the cappuccino frother to become blocked and fly off the machine."

Reset the grounds counter the right way. "Always empty the coffee grounds container when the machine is switched on. This is the only way of resetting the coffee grounds counter."

Messages are plain text, not codes: Fill water tank, Empty grounds, Drip tray not fitted, Fill bean container, Too hot, and the maintenance prompts. The E6 shows Rinse the milk system and Clean the milk system prompts; the E8 lists Clean the milk system.

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Milk Care Is Where the E8 Costs More Attention

The E8's one-touch milk system has more parts to look after. Its manual says to change the HP3 milk pipe and CX3 milk spout about every 3 months. On both machines, poor foam or milk spraying from the frother means it's dirty: clean the milk system and take the frother apart to rinse it.

Little or no water or steam from the frother, and a very quiet pump? Both manuals point to the connector being blocked by milk or by limescale loosened during descaling. Unscrew the black connector with the hexagon on the measuring spoon, clean it, and refit it by hand.

Milk should be cold, at 39-46 °F (4-8 °C).

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When Something Goes Wrong

Adjust the grind only while the grinder is running. The E6 manual warns that adjusting it while the grinder isn't running could damage the grinder adjustment switch. On the E8 the switch sits under a cover behind the bean container.

Neither manual describes an owner-removable brewing unit. "DO NOT remove any service covers… NO user serviceable parts included." Jura USA: 1-800-220-5701; Canada (FAEMA): 1-855-544-8600. Neither manual prints a warranty length.

More: Jura E8 troubleshooting · Jura E6 messages.

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Which Should You Buy?

• Choose the E8 if you make milk drinks most days and want them at one touch, or want flat whites and cortados.
• Choose the E6 if you mostly drink coffee and espresso, and don't mind turning a switch for the occasional cappuccino or hot water.

We haven't compared prices, and neither manual says anything about reliability.

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FAQ

Does the Jura E6 make flat whites?

Not as a listed product. The E6 manual lists cappuccino and macchiato as its milk drinks. The E8 lists flat white, cortado, latte macchiato, espresso macchiato and cappuccino.

Are the E6 and E8 the same size inside?

Yes. Both have a 64 oz (1.9 L) water tank, a 10 oz bean container and a 16-portion grounds container.

Do I need to descale if I use a CLEARYL filter?

No. With a CLEARYL Smart or Smart+ filter fitted, both machines stop prompting for descaling. Replace the filter when the machine asks.

What does Error 5 mean on a Jura E6 or E8?

The machine has been in the cold and has disabled heating for safety. Let it warm to room temperature. For any other numbered error, switch off and call Jura.

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Related Jura Guides

• Jura E8 Error Codes and Troubleshooting
• Jura E6 Error Codes and Problems
• Jura Descaling Guide
• Jura Maintenance and Cleaning Guide

Sources: JURA E6 (NAC) and E8 (NAC) Instructions for Use, US/Canada editions.