The Jura A1 coffee maker is a luxury coffee and espresso machine which touts barista-quality drinks at the touch of a button.
While espresso purists may find the simple menu and lack of a milk frother intriguing, others may balk at the high price tag that accompanies even Jura’s most basic machines.
Let’s take a closer look at the Jura A1, and you can decide if this entry-level Jura automatic espresso machine is right for you.
| Jura A1 | |
|---|---|
| Size (L x W X H) | 17.5 x 9 x 12.7 in |
| Weight | 20.3 lb |
| # of Beverages | 3 |
| Milk System | No |
| Hot Water | No |
| Water Tank Size | 36.8 oz |
| Pre-Ground Bypass | Yes |
| J.O.E. Compatibility | Yes |
Things to Consider Before Getting a Jura A1 Coffee Maker
The Jura A1 is a super-automatic espresso maker with a built-in burr grinder. Unlike some of Jura’s higher-end machines, the A1 does not have a built-in milk frother. As a result, the A1 brews only three beverages: ristretto (a shorter, more concentrated espresso shot), espresso, and black coffee.
The A1 may be a good fit for people interested in something more like a Keurig or other single-cup coffee dispensers. Its freshly ground, single-serving brews will be more flavorful and more eco-friendly than coffee you might get from a plastic pod.
However, if you are looking for a machine that makes a full pot of coffee, the A1 may not be the right choice. Likewise, the A1 isn’t the right machine for fans of milk-based beverages like lattes and macchiatos.
Jura A1 Product Overview
The A1 is a touch-activated bean-to-cup espresso and coffee maker that makes three different drink options.
The A1 comes in piano black and piano white to match the decor of your kitchen. It’s a relatively compact coffee machine, measuring 12.7 x 9.0 x 17.5 inches. This makes the Jura A1 a good option for kitchens short on space.
The Jura A1 comes with a 37 fluid-ounce water reservoir and a 4-ounce bean hopper with an aroma preservation seal to keep the beans fresh. Larger households or people who drink many cups of coffee throughout the day may find them to be on the small side.
The spent grounds tray holds up to nine pucks of grounds, but you’ll want to clean that daily, even if it isn’t full.
Pros
- You can control the water volume and brew strength, making your coffee drinks more customizable.
- The Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P.) ensures that every cup is premium quality and rich with flavor.
- The Jura A1 is eco-friendly and produces almost no waste.
Cons
- The Jura A1 is a bit pricey for most people, especially considering its relatively small menu.
- The small serving size may not be ideal for certain people.
Features and Benefits of the Jura A1
Grinder
Let’s start with the bean grinder. The Jura A1 Super-Automatic Coffee Machine uses an AromaG3 stainless steel conical burr coffee grinder to grind any variety of whole beans into the ideal consistency for smooth coffee or espresso.
The machine grinds the coffee beans fresh for each cup of coffee; great news for the flavor of your morning brew. However, it could be cumbersome for households with many coffee drinkers to brew each cup individually.
While we’ll go on record stating that fresh-ground is always best, the Jura A1 does have a bypass chute for pre-ground coffee. This can be nice if you want to make an occasional cup of decaf without changing the beans in the hopper.
Timer
If you want to wake up to your favorite warm beverage immediately, the Jura A1 has you covered! While there is some controversy in the instruction manual, the manufacturers confirm that the A1 does have a built-in custom timer.
The timer lets you set a specific time that the A1 starts brewing. You only need to hit a button and receive your morning wake-up in your favorite mug.
Eco-Friendliness
the A1 excels in eco-friendliness. There is no plastic waste because the beans are freshly ground and don’t come in pods. The beans are natural and degrade into compost.
Design
The Jura A1 comes in piano black or piano white. It looks sleek and minimal, with a basic LCD screen for operation at the top of the machine.
This machine is compact and could be ideal if you have little counter space available.
While it may seem like a small thing, the drip tray on the Jura A1 is another interesting facet of its design. The drip tray is easy to monitor and does not leak. Any run-off from the dispenser will not stain your counter.
Pulse Extraction Process
The Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P.) is one of the specific innovations Jura has come up with to help brew flavorful beverages.
Rather than pushing a steady flow of water through the puck of coffee grounds, the P.E.P. system pulses water into the grounds in short bursts. This allows the optimal flavor to develop, even for short specialties like ristretto.
Controlling Water Volume and Brew Strength
Though the Jura A1 is a simple machine, there are still some customizations you can make to your beverages.
Through the use of settings, you can control the amount of water used in the brewing of your beverage. This can help you to dial in the flavor and coffee strength levels you prefer.
There are also two possible coffee-strength settings for each beverage.
Alternatives and Conclusions
Like all of the espresso machines in Jura’s impressive lineup, the Jura A1 is a high-quality machine and will produce flavorful espresso and coffee.
However, we think this machine is probably only right for a small number of consumers. It’s quite expensive and doesn’t have as many features as many other machines you could buy in this price range.
Consider the Philips 3200 LatteGo for more features at the same price point.
If you’re looking for something less expensive, you might like the Gaggia Brera.
Check out the table below to compare these options at a glance.
| Jura A1 | Philips 3200 LatteGo | Gaggia Brera | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size (L x W X H) | 17.5 x 9 x 12.7 in | 17.0 x 9.7 x 14.6 in | 15.5 x 10 x 11.5 in |
| Weight | 20.3 lb | 17.7 lb | 20 lb |
| # of Beverages | 3 | 5 | 3 one-touch, can manually make more |
| Milk System | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hot Water | No | Yes | Yes |
| Water Tank Size | 36.8 oz | 70 oz | 34 oz |
| Bean Hopper Size | 4 oz | 9.5 oz | 8 oz |
| Pre-Ground Bypass | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Grinder | Stainless Steel Conical Burr | Ceramic Flat Burr | Ceramic Flat Burr |
| Interface | LCD with buttons | Touch screen | L.E.D. with buttons |
| App Compatibility | Yes | No | No |
If the hefty price doesn’t deter you, the Jura A1 will produce flavorful shots of espresso and quality coffee for coffee purists. However, some may find the high price hard to justify for the number of features.
Happy Caffeinating!
Jura A1 Coffee Maker Review: A Luxury Coffee Machine That’s Simple To Use
Read our review of the Jura A1 automatic coffee maker. Learn about the pros, cons, and features that this single-serve automatic coffee brewer provides.
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