The Jura X8 was released in April 2018 just over 15 months ago.  The X8 replaced the Jura Impressa XJ9 and Jura Impressa Xs9 in the range and built on the experience, positive and negative of the machines in the Jura GIGA range.  Like the GIGA, the Jura X8 is designed for fully automatic self service operation.  With milk and coffee dispensing from a single outlet and new features such as large selection keys, cup positioning on the drip tray, a simple robust outlet assembly and lockable water tank / bean hopper the X8 works really well in self service locations as well as in an office environment.

From a service & support point of view:

Looking at the service history we have provided far less phone support for milk flow issues on the Jura X8 compared to the first generation Jura GIGA machines.  The Jura X8 end of day milk system clean is more automatic as the machine adds its own water for the clean and performs an automatic rinse.  This allows the user to start the clean and walk away.  Possibly this small change has resulted in the end of day clean being done more consistently resulting in fewer milk flow problems.  The milk frother is also simpler. The air suction is now internal to the machine removing a small part that can potentially be damaged or lost.  In the event that the end of day clean is missed, the milk frother can be easily cleaned.

Breakdowns over 15 months in the field is ‘zero’ with almost 100 units sold over this time.  This is not a typo.  Thinking back I could not remember a single breakdown so I went though the complete service history to confirm this is correct.  We have been out to a 3 milk issues and a mains water kit failed however the Jura X8's have not had a single breakdown.  This reliability is remarkable and something I have not seen before.

The machines coming in for service have made between 5,000 and 18,000 coffees over a 12 month period.  We rate the machine suitable for up to 60 staff.  Based on 60% of staff drinking 2 coffees per day, a 60 staff office will make 360 coffees per week over 50 weeks = 18,000 cups per year.  So far the Jura X8 is achieving this without breakdown.

From a features point of view:

The programmable milk temperature is the stand out feature appreciated by our clients.  For each milk drink 10 levels of temperature can be programmed so clients can achieve a temperature that suits everyone.

The new Claris Pro Smart water filter solves a past problem where a filter is fitted however the machine is programmed for descale or visa versa.  This is now a completely automatic system.  The machine sees the new filter, automatically switches to filtration mode and rinses the filter.  It then prompts the client to change the filter when it has expired.  Filters eliminate the need to perform 45 min descales and at $39 ex GST for 300 litres (Approx. 2000 coffees), they are a cost effective solution at 1.95 cents per cup.  A new even more cost effective larger Claris Pro smart water filter will be released soon.

1. Automatic or Manual

The first decision is, which type of coffee machine, automatic or manual, will suit your needs.  If you are looking for an office coffee machine for staff use an automatic machine is generally the best option.  No training is required to operate the machine and they produce a good consistent quality coffee.  If your office has a catering division with trained baristas and you are wanting to serve a cafe quality coffee to clients a manual machine may be the best option.

Below are the major benefits of each machine type: 

Automatic Coffee Machines

• Ease of use - No training required.  Bean to Cup -  Place a cup and press a button.
• Speed - Coffee in (40 - 60) sec depending on the model.
• Drink quality - The coffee quality is high and consistent.  It is not dependent on barista training or experience.
• Drink choice - Some automatic machines also make chocolates and mochas for non coffee drinkers.
• Flexibility - Coffee strength, milk type and quantity can be adjusted cup by cup.  Milk temperature is programmed.
• Milk choice - Limited to 3 types of milk unless the model has a manual steam wand option.
• Waste - There is no wasted coffee or milk
• Mess - No cleaning is required through the day.
• Cleaning - An automatic clean is performed at the end of the day (2 min).
• Plumbing - Automatic machines can operate from a built-in water tank so plumbing / drainage is not required.

​Manual Coffee Machines

• Ease of use - Barista training and practice required.
• Speed - Coffee in 60 - 120 seconds depending on experience.
• Drink quality - The coffee quality can be very high depending on the barista skills and experience of the operator.
• Drink choice - Chocolates and mochas can be made manually.
• Flexibility - Coffee strength, milk type, milk quantity and temperature are all adjustable to suit preference.
• Milk choice - Unlimited using a manual steam wand.
• Waste - Some coffee and milk will usually be left over.
• Mess - Some spilt coffee grounds and left over milk will need to be cleaned up after each coffee.
• Cleaning - The machine is back flushed at the end of the day (2 min).
• Plumbing - Connection to plumbing and drainage is required.

2. Capacity

Each office coffee machine in our range is rated in terms of the number of staff it is suitable for.  The staff rating ensures the machine has enough capacity to meet demand and will be reliable over its recommended life span.  

If you are looking for a machine for general staff usage, select a model that has a staff rating greater than the number of staff you currently have and expect to have over the next 3 - 5 years.  If staff numbers grow unexpectedly, upgrading the machine is always an option.  This calculation allows for coffee you make for clients.  If you are looking for a machine for clients and visitors only, estimate the average number of cups you will make per working day and use this number to determine suitable models.

​If you have a large number of staff or you have multiple coffee points available, you may want to consider getting more than one machine.  This has the advantage of speeding up coffee delivery in peek times, such as mornings and lunch times, and ensures there is a machine available during cleaning and servicing.  Simply divide the the total staff number by the number of machines you are looking.

3. Steam wand or Automatic milk system

A steam wand allows you to steam milk cafe style in a jug.  Manually steaming milk requires some training however it gives you the flexability to steam any type of milk, regular, lite, soy almond etc and you have complete control over foam level and temperature.

An automatic milk system draws milk directly from the milk fridge, heats the milk, adds air for foam and dispenses it directly into the cup.  There is no noise, mess or waste however you are limited to a max of three types of milk if you have a milk fridge with milk lances.  The milk lance system allows you to open the fridge and plug into the your prefer option without pulling tubes out of the milk.  There is space inside the fridge for 2 x 2 litre cartons, full cream and lite, and a 1 litre UHT carton for soy etc. 

The WMF 1100S and 1500S provide a steam wand and automatic milk system.  With both options available staff can simply press a button for a fully automatic coffee or chocolate or they can let the machine make the espresso while they steam their choice of milk. 

4. Chocolates & Mochas

Do you need a machine at makes automatic chocolates?  The WMF range all make fully automatic chocolates.  To make a chocolate on a Jura automatic or manual machine add 2 - 3 tea spoons of drinking chocolate to some hot water and stir until dissolved.  Use the machine to add the milk, either the automatic milk system on a Jura or the steam wand on a manual machine.

5. Water tank or plumbed in

Some models operate from a built-in water tank only, some models must be connected to plumbing / drainage and some models provide the option of both.  Connecting the machine to plumbing and drainage reduces machine maintenance thought the course of the day as the water tank does not need to be filled and the drip tray does not need to be emptied.  The water filtration system also eliminates the need to descale the machine.  Please note descaling can also be eliminated by using in tank water filters on tank water machines.  If plumbing and drainage are not available in the location you wish to position the machine a water tank model is the best option.  There is also a plumbing cost associated with connecting the machine to mains water / drainage and the mains water models are more expensive.

6. Space requirements

Check that you have enough bench width and height above the bench top to suit the machine.  In the specifications tab for each machine you will find the bench width required for the machine by itself and for the machine with a milk cooler / fridge.  You will also see the height clearance required above the bench top.  If you have overhead cupboards or shelves measure the distance between the bench top and the bottom of the cupboard / self.

We have been installing the WMF 1100S coffee machine for 6 months now with great results.  The machines are ideal as office coffee machines for offices of up to 100 staff and in self service locations such as car showrooms and convenience stores making up to 80 cups per day.