Delonghi and Jura coffee machines hardly need an introduction to coffee lovers. Both brands have long been cult, dominating the segment of fully automatic espresso coffee machines. Of course, the list of industry leaders also includes Miele, Philips / Saeco, Nivona, Bosch / Siemens, etc. But given the widest range and a huge number of innovations, these two brands do not give competitors a chance yet.
A Jura brand belongs to Swiss Elektroapparate AG, which produces premium home appliances since 1931. The coffee machines became the company’s main focus in the early 90s. Like Bosch, Melitta, Nivona, Jura produces coffee machines at the Eugster/Frismag company factories in Portugal and Switzerland. Today it and Saeco are the world’s leading manufacturer of automatic coffee machines and OEM suppliers (original equipment manufacturer) for many well-known companies.
The Italian Delonghi was founded in 1902. Until the 90s, the company successfully competed in the household appliances segment, including vacuums, fryers, microwaves, etc. In 1990, the Delonghi introduced its first carob coffee maker, the Bar. A few years later, they became the company’s main product.
Unlike many competitors, Delonghi uses its own production facilities, including three development and production locations in Switzerland, a production facility in Portugal, some factories in Romania and stakes in several Chinese joint ventures.
Model range
Both companies produce the espresso coffee machines of different types and classes. List of the most popular models:
Delonghi
– Dinamica and Dinamica Plus with two thermoblocks and 3.5-inch TFT touchscreen – from $ 850 and from $ 1,050 (prices depend significantly on color);
– Magnifica S (22.110 platform, steam wand) and Delonghi Magnifica Evo with auto milk frother ~ £ 300 / $ 600 and $ 690;
– semi-automatic Delonghi La Specialista – from € 430 (Specialista Arte Evo) to $ 1,200 (Specialista Maestro);
– carob Delonghi EC685M Dedica Deluxe ~ $ 150.
Of course, this list is not complete and includes only the most popular mid-price models. The company also offers several superb premium series, including:
– Eletta Explore with cold extraction technology ~ $ 1,700;
– Maestosa 960.75.GLM with two coffee grinders on an EPAM platform ~ € 2,400;
– PrimaDonna Soul with Bean Adapt technology ~ € 1,300.
Jura
– luxurious Jura Giga 10 with two grinders and two thermoblocks – $ 5,000;
– Jura Z10 with cold extraction and 32 specialty drinks – $ 4,000;
– dairy-free compact Jura ENA 4 and Jura ENA 8– $ 1,000 and $ 1,700;
– Jura E6 and Jura E8 – $ 1,700 and $ 2,500;
– Jura X10 – $ 4,000.
Of course, the Swiss company’s model range is much longer, and includes, for example, compact Jura C8 and Jura C3 for € 1,100 and € 750, Jura J8 ($ 2,640), Jura J8 Twin ($ 3,480) and Jura J10 ($ 4,000).
Brand’s Key Features
Cold extraction
Most coffee lovers prefer a traditional hot espresso with smoke above the cup. But on a hot summer day, many people prefer cold coffee. The companies have long offered Cold Brew, which has become a separate class of popular dessert drinks, including a huge number of recipes.
In response to consumer demand, many companies have equipped even mid-price models with this function, which in fact only provides for cooling coffee with ice.
Of course, Cold Brew has nothing in common with the cold extraction technology, which involves the use of relatively cold water. In cold extraction, the temperature in the cup is 30°C – 35°C.
This method was invented by Dutch traders, since hot water on ships during the voyage was limited. The technology uses coarsely ground beans that are soaked in cold water for up to 24 hours.
Today, this technology has been developed and successfully implemented in some Jura and Delonghi coffee machines. The Swiss company compensates for the decrease in extraction efficiency due to the lower water temp by increasing the area of its contact with the coffee tablet. To achieve this, the piston head is shaped like a convex shape. The company calls this technology 3D Cold Brew.
Delonghi developed its own version in collaboration with the Specialty Coffee Association. It uses more precisely controlled pressure and a slower flow of water through the ground coffee, which compensates for the lower extraction temperature.
Jura key features:
– fixed brew groups;
– the volume of milk or foam is regulated by the duration of its supply to the cup (1 sec ~ 8-10 ml milk);
– the company never uses steam wands, offering coffee machines with an auto milk frothing system or models for only black coffee.
Jura vs Delonghi
Both brands offer almost all popular recipes.
Jura
Pros:
– the high-end design and tasteful colors, including Platinum or Moonlight Silver;
– durability with impeccable build quality and components;
– some of the best conical burr grinders in the industry, which are fast, quiet and consistent;
– high innovative level with Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P.) brewing technology, Intelligent Water System (I.W.S.), Cold Extraction Process, etc;
– high usability with individual coffee profiles, one-touch function and extra-shot function;
– temperature, grind size, shot volume and coffee strength are adjustable even in entry-level Jura models;
– fixed brew groups (no manual washing under running water);
– milk-based programs with Fine Foam technology;
– intuitive control via buttons, touchscreen or smartphone;
– high performance of descaling and cleaning.
Cons
– high price;
– Jura coffee machine comes without milk jug, encouraging consumers to buy a separate Jura’s branded milk container, which increases the price;
– some models are blocked in the absence of a filter or after a specified number of cycles, requiring its replacement;
– fixed brew group increases the maintenance costs.
Delonghi
Pros
– superb price-quality ratio for most models;
– the sequence of pouring coffee and milk into a cup in milk-based programs corresponds to classic recipes;
– Delonghi’s LatteCrema milk system is one of the best in the industry and generates superb microfoam.
– intuitive user interfaces;
– extra-shot function (additional 30ml espresso with fixed intensity);
– wide range of settings to adjust grinding, coffee aroma and coffee strength, water volume and temperature;
– user profiles or memo function for saving settings;
– easy maintenance with built-in cleaning functions, removable brew groups and removable parts.
Cons
– a lot of plastic.
Jura E6 vs Delonghi Eletta Explore
Of course, any comparison is correct only for models of the same class or in the same price segment. In our case, the second criterion seems more objective. The current price of the popular Jura E6 and Delonghi Eletta Explore is ~ $ 1,700, which determined the choice of this pair.
Jura E6 – 11 programs, 2.8″ colour display with buttons, brewing unit up to 16 g, 15 bar pump pressure, Professional Aroma Grinder (P.A.G.), 1 thermoblock, Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P. – max aroma due to optimizing the extraction time with pulse mode), 10 levels coffee strength, 3 levels brewing temperature, 3 levels hot water temperature, programmable amount of milk/milk foam, J.O.E. app, water tank capacity / bean container holding / capacity / coffee grounds container (servings) – 1.9 l / 280 g / 16.
Delonghi Eletta Explore – 50 pre-programmed coffee recipes, 3.5” TFT display with coloured touch icons, conical burr grinder with 13 adjustment settings, 2 thermoblocks, LatteCrema Hot and Cool technologies (hot and cold milk foam with 2 carafe), Cold Extraction technology (Cold Brew drinks in under 5 minutes), Bean Adapt technology (auto adjusting machine settings for each coffee type), auto To-Go system for mugs up to 16cm, coffee temperature, strength and size adjustable in five stages, Delonghi Coffee Link app, 1,8 l / 300 g / 14.
Even a superficial analysis shows the best price – quality ratio at Delonghi. The list of its most significant bonuses includes:
– 50 vs 20 programs;
– 3.5” TFT display vs 2.8″;
– 2 vs 1 thermoblocks;
– Cold Extraction technology;
– hot and cold milk foam with 2 milk jugs;
– Bean Adapt technology.
Jura can offer legendary Swiss reliability, which, however, is also significant.
Conclusion
In general:
– Jura offers a much wider range of expensive luxury coffee machines, Delonghi dominates the mid-price segment;
– Delonghi models have the best price – quality ratio, Jura brand offers legendary Swiss reliability. However, in terms of build quality and components, both companies have an impeccable reputation, confirmed by decades of successful competition in the market;
– Jura is ideal for coffee lovers with a very good budget, Delonghi is preferable for pragmatists.
In any case, competition perfectly stimulates the constant improvement of coffee machines.
This video demonstrates the preparation of cold coffee drinks with La Specialista Maestro EC9865.
