Are you interested in making an investment to bring espresso brewing to the comfort of your own home? Congratulations! We’re here to make your life a bit easier.
Today, we’re comparing two models of a popular beginner to mid-level super-automatic espresso machine. Read on for the complete Impressa showdown between the JURA C60 vs C65.
Meet JURA
JURA is a nearly century-old Swiss company. It was founded in 1931 by Leo Henzrioh and got its start with a whole range of household products. However, they ultimately decided to phase out their other products and dedicate their brand exclusively to espresso machines. Thus, JURA’s products have represented decades of top-notch innovation for the coffee world.
As a result of their commitment to technology, JURA exclusively produces . Their designs have remained simple and sleek, making them aesthetically. versatile.
The portion of JURA’s company that manages sales in the United States is called JURA, Inc.
Impressa Product Overview
Because the C60 and C65 models are both a part of the Jura Impressa line-up, they actually have more similarities than differences. So here’s a rundown of what you can expect from either machine.
Things we like:
- The controls are straightforward and user-friendly, especially great for beginners
- The two different color options are both nice and sleek, suitable for a variety of kitchens
- The water reservoir is quite large, reducing the need to refill
- Shots pulled are consistently high-quality
Things we don’t:
- The placement of the milk froth dispenser is a bit inconvenient
- The bean hopper is a bit small, especially in comparison to the large water reservoir
- Customizability might feel a bit lacking for more experienced users
Weight and Dimensions
Though they are not the biggest Jura models out there, both the C60 and C65 have pretty hefty footprints. They each measure 11″x16.1″x13.6.” They are both above 20 lbs, but at 22lbs the C65 slightly outweighs the 21.2 lb C60.
However, the weight difference is pretty negligible and does not change the fact that these are some of the heavier machines on the market.
Boiler System
Both the C60 and C65 are stainless steel lined, single boiler systems. They are both equipped with Thermoblock technology, meaning they heat and adjust pretty quickly.
The placement of the milk and coffee spigots eliminates the potential utility of a double boiler system, making this choice a good one for this machine (though a redesign on the placement would be nice).
Pump Pressure
As any espresso lover should know, having adequate pump pressure is absolutely essential. Without it, you brews will inevitably be weak and disappointing.
With both the C60 and C65, you can put these worries out of your head. These are both 15 bar systems that can push out cafe-quality results.
Water Reservoir
One of our favorite features on the Impressa products (aside from the espresso of course) is the water reservoir. It is an expansive 64-ounce tank (that’s almost 2 liters), meaning you rarely have to bother with refilling it.
On top of the sheer size of this thing, the C60 and C65’s water tank includes CLARIS and IWS technology:
- CLARIS is an anti-scaling technology designed to filter out minerals, preventing scaling and potential damage to the machine’s heating element.
- The Intelligent Water System (IWS) is a detection system that tells the machine (and you) when the machine’s filter needs changing.
The downside to this humongous tank is, unfortunately, its unavoidable footprint. While the larger profile is not an issue for some, it can present a real challenge to others. Plus, combined with the weight of the machine, you’d likely have to sacrifice a good chunk of counter space to this baby. Storing and un-storing it just isn’t very feasible.
Brewing
The Impressa brewing system is pretty sweet and simple. There are 4 brewing options: 1or 2 coffees and 1 or 2 espressos. Shot pulling is controlled by the PEP (Pulse Extraction Process) system, ensuring that shots are pulled evenly and precisely.
Milk Frothing System
Next, the C60 and C65 models both have a Fine Foam Technology (FFT) system. All you have to do is provide the milk and the system brings it through the boiler and dispenses a near-professional quality microfoam.
We don’t have any qualms with the foam itself, just where it is dispensed. Instead of positioning the dispensing spigot near the coffee spigots, it is situated on the right-side panel. This means you have to move your cup between the two as you brew your coffee. It’s a minor but noticeable design flaw.
Bells and Whistles
Now for the last few tidbits, you can expect to see on both machines. The C60 and C65 both have an energy save mode (ESM). This feature allows you to customize your machine’s energy output during parts of the day when your machine is not in use. ESM-equipped machines can be programmed to save up to 40% of energy output.
Lastly, both Impressa machines have cup warmers. This helps to keep your cups a nice temperature so that the cool ceramic doesn’t ruin the temperature and aroma of your fresh brews.
And there you have it. Regardless of which machine you choose, you’ll be covered on these bases.
Jura C60 vs C65 Showdown
Jura C60
The first model of this comparison is the Jura C60. This is the original version of the machine, featuring an all-black facade with silver accents.
Jura C65
The second, and the slightly newer model is the Jura C65. The most obvious change is the coloring as the company introduced the primarily silver look.
Feature Differences to Note
Appearance
As mentioned above, the biggest difference between these two Impressa models is actually their casing. Both models use the distinctive black and silver combination used for all Jura products.
The original model is a sleek all-black with some minor silver accents. On the other hand, the C65 introduces two silver front panels. Overall, both models accomplish a similarly sleek, modern aesthetic.
Built-in Grinder
Both the C60 and C65 are bean-to-cup brewers, meaning they have bean hoppers and grinders built-in. The hoppers are slightly smaller than average at 7 ounces. They are equipped with lids to keep your beans fresh, though most coffee drinkers will go through the beans fast enough to not have to worry about that anyway.
Additionally, both the C60 and C65 have stainless steel conical burr grinders with 5 adjustable grind settings. While both models are pretty quiet, there is a slight difference on the burr angle for the C65, making it mildly quieter. The angle change also makes the grinding a bit more precise, but nothing very noticeable.
Note: Some coffee fanatics condemn the choice to use metal burrs due to a fear of the dreaded “heat transfer,” which would theoretically diminish the brew quality. However, there is no actual evidence of this worry coming to fruition, as most high quality machines don’t grind fast enough for it to be an issue.
For more information on the differences between stainless steel and ceramic grinders, check out this link.
Target Audience
So are either of the Jura Impressa models right for you? Deciding this is mostly dependent on where you’re at on your espresso journey.
Both of these machines are super automatics, meaning they are better for people who prefer a hands-off experience. If you are someone who wants to tinker and tweak every setting, these machines are going to leave you feeling a bit limited.
However, if you just want a consistent, standard shot or two of espresso every morning, these might be the perfect fit. Jura’s machines are reliable, and while these don’t have a ton of bells and whistles, they definitely get the job done.
So, if you are a relatively new espresso enthusiast or you are just looking for something sweet and simple, these machines (or their newer iterations) are definitely worth the investment.
Looking for the Newer Models?
As you may have noticed while you were shopping for these models, they have recently received an update and are being slowly phased out. The new machines are called the D6 models and are labeled the 15215 and 15216 for the C60 and C65 respectively.
Here’s the Jura D6 15215
…and the Jura D6 15216
These models are largely the same as the previous iterations with just a few notable differences. First, the milk dispenser is moved from the side panel to right next to the coffee spigots. This makes hands-off specialty drink brewing even easier.
On that note, these models also add the “cappuccino” brewing option, making for an improved one-touch experience. The grinder also gets an upgrade to the Aroma G2, and the machine is slightly lighter at 19 lbs.
Wrapping Up
And that’s a wrap on the JURA C60 vs C65 breakdown. In most aspects, these are identical machines, so your choice mostly comes down to whether you want a black or silver finish. Either way, it’s a great choice for a mid-level automatic machine for espresso enthusiasts.
If you are looking for a bit of an upgrade though, check out the D6 models instead.
Happy Caffeinating!
