Jura C3 Review: Is This New Machine Worth Buying?

With Jura coffee machines, things always look pretty much the same: the machine? Basically great. Coffee, espresso and milk foam? Exemplary. Price? Ouch! In today’s Jura C3 review, I’ll be discussing one of the Swiss brand’s latest releases. And while it looks a little dated in some ways, this is obviously a high-quality Fully automatic espresso machine. What’s more, it’s surprisingly compact and straightforward.

However, when I look at the price tag, I wonder whether this thing is really worth the investment. Has the world been waiting for the new Jura C3? Absolutely not. Would I want it sitting in my home kitchen? Yes and no.

Jura C3 Review Overview

Let’s be honest: whenever Jura tries its hand at simplified fully automatic coffee machines, the result is a bit of a mess. Because in comparison, the simplification seems like an unnecessary constraint.

Compared to current models with cold brew and sweet foam functions, every missing feature seems like a tired attempt to somehow justify the pricing. And believe me, there’s plenty missing from the Jura C3, including a milk foam system. Ultimately, this is a bare-bones machine that only makes espresso and coffee.

As you might have guessed, I consider the Jura C3’s $1,199.00 asking price to be rather excessive. Then again, some might argue that the quality of its espresso makes the C3 worth the investment. However, from an objective standpoint, the Jura C3 is simply too expensive, especially given its limited features.

As it happens, the new C3 is almost identical to the Jura C8 I tested in Europe. All that’s missing here is the milk system and accompanying menu options. So, although I haven’t had my hands on the Jura C3 yet, I can tell you exactly what to expect.

In a nutshell, you’re getting a compact and sleek coffee and espresso maker. And although the machine’s user interface looks dated, it does the job. Plus, I shouldn’t downplay the fact that the C3 comes equipped with a great stainless steel conical burr grinder, Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P.) brewing technology and more.

Jura C3 Features

At this point, some of you will likely feel like the Jura C3 is pretty pointless. I mean, it can’t even make a cappuccino! Still, I know that many of you are interested in the idea of superb espresso at the touch of a button and don’t care about milk foam. So, for the latter crowd, let’s keep the ball rolling in this Jura C3 review!

Size and Design

As I mentioned at the start of this Jura C3 review, the machine looks a little dated. On reflection, I think that’s mainly because the user interface looks like something from an 80s video game.

Elsewhere, though, there’s no denying the fact that this is a sleek, understated design masterpiece. I particularly appreciate the C3’s elegant silhouette and convex-concave curves. What’s more, the machine’s 54-ounce (1.6-liter) water tank fits seamlessly into the side panel and features a nice wave design.

The Jura C3 is certainly one of the manufacturer’s more compact models. Rising to just 12.8 inches (32.5 centimeters), the C3 should fit nicely under your kitchen cabinets. Still, given its 17.2-inch (43.7-centimeter) depth, I’d recommend taking measurements before you buy.

User Interface

I’ve long been of the opinion that touchscreen interfaces on espresso machines are overrated. In fact, during my recent Jura C9 review, I was happy to see that the manufacturer had returned to a color LCD screen with buttons.

Still, I have to ask questions about the so-called Easy Control Panel you’ll find on the Jura C3. Seriously, given the amount of money you’re spending, it’s a little disappointing to see a small (mostly) black and white screen with dot matrix letters. Heck, it doesn’t even look retro-cool – it just looks wrong.

Even so, the C3’s user interface is very intuitive and easy to navigate. From here, you can select between coffee and espresso as well as adjust drink settings. Incidentally, the Jura C3 offers three strength settings, which refer to the dose of ground coffee used for a brew. I would recommend sticking with the highest setting (“Intense”). During my C8 test, I found that the cup results using the other two settings were dull and lifeless.

Professional Aroma Grinder

The Jura C3 is equipped with the classic Professional Aroma Grinder (P.R.G.).

The principle of simplicity is evident, among other things, in the fact that the Jura C3 doesn’t use numbers for the grind settings on its P.R.G. Instead, the scale from “Mild” to “Intense” indicates how the coffee will taste at a particular setting.

You won’t learn anything about what makes espresso taste the way it does. But that’s not what this machine is for.

Interestingly, the finest grind setting is not the best choice for this fully automatic machine. Far from it. You’ll actually achieve the best results with a medium grind setting. Of course, it depends on the roast you ultimately put in the bean container. Nevertheless, you should steer clear of the finest setting. Otherwise, your espresso will taste bitter and over-extracted.

At 66 decibels, the grinder isn’t quiet, but it’s not excessively loud either. The noise is reminiscent of very inexpensive DeLonghi espresso machines, which isn’t necessarily a compliment. Nevertheless, it’s not too much of a concern.

Specialty Drinks

There isn’t much to discuss in terms of specialty drinks, seeing as the Jura C3 makes only espresso and coffee. Still, if that sounds like your idea of the best fully automatic espresso machine, you’re in luck.

I’m slowly running out of words to describe the varied espresso and coffee flavors from a Jura machine. I mean, there are only so many times I can use “chocolatey,” “multifaceted” and “tangy” without sounding boring. Then again, the C3 espresso is very chocolatey, multifaceted and tangy.

This all comes down to Jura’s legendary P.E.P. brewing technology. Here, the Swiss came up with a magical way to get around the inherent pressure and grinder limitations of super automatic machines. And it’s been a complete triumph, putting Jura coffee machines light years ahead the competition.

At 176 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees Celsius), the coffee is quite hot, while the espresso could be a little warmer than its 149 degrees Fahrenheit (65-degrees Celsius). But here, too, it’s mainly my personal taste that comes into play.

Jura App

While I’m not a huge fan of coffee machine apps, I do admit that the Jura Operating Experience (J.O.E.) app is pretty nifty.

The app allows you to monitor water and coffee bean levels, schedule cleaning tasks and adjust drink settings. Plus, as far as I can tell, you’ll have to use the app if you want to tinker with temperature settings. During my Jura C8 review, I couldn’t find a way to do this on the machine, even though the user manual assured me I could. And while things might be different with the C3, I highly doubt it.

How to Use the Jura C3

Trust me when I tell you that using the Jura C3 will be a piece of cake. While the user interface is overly simplistic for my taste, it’s easy to use. So, I doubt you’ll need to open the user manual when you’re first making coffee. Once you’ve unboxed the coffee machine, make sure to rinse removable parts, paying special attention to the water tank.

Once that’s done, you’ll need to install the CLEARYL Smart+ water filter. Jura claims that this filter will eliminate the need for descaling, but I’m skeptical. Either way, it’ll certainly cut down on the frequency of having to descale the machine.

Now it’s time to make espresso or coffee. Them’s your choices. Add fresh water to the tank and pour your best espresso beans into the bean hopper. Next, you can simply place a cup under the spout and select your drink or long press the corresponding button to access the product settings. From there, you can fiddle with strength and volume settings, and maybe even your drink’s temperature!

And that’s it, folks! There really isn’t anything else to say about using the Jura C3. So, if simple, straightforward and streamlined are your life keywords, you’ll enjoy using this fully automatic machine.

Best Coffee for the Jura C3

After 10 years reviewing super automatics and espresso machines, and over 15 years reviewing coffee beans, we’re proud to offer our own Coffeeness Espresso Blend. Comprising ethically farmed and sourced coffee beans, our Espresso Blend is expertly roasted in small batches to guarantee freshness.

This premium blend of direct trade Brazilian coffee beans produces rich, bold and complex espresso that’s ideal straight or paired with milk. Featuring notes of chocolate and hazelnut, our Espresso Blend is particularly low in acidity, making it easy on the stomach.

Here’s how we recommend setting up your Jura C3 for the perfect cup of coffee:

Jura C3 Cleaning

As you might expect, cleaning the Jura C3 is very straightforward. With that said, you should get into the habit of performing certain cleaning tasks at the end of each day’s use. These include emptying and rinsing the drip tray and emptying the used grounds container. Oh, and feel free to wipe down the machine’s exterior with a damp cloth to keep it looking good.

The machine will rinse itself after each coffee, but once in a while it’ll prompt you to run a cleaning program. This will take care of deep cleaning the permanently installed brew group, so don’t ignore the C3 when it tells you to run the program!You’ll need to use Jura cleaning tablets for this and it’ll take around 20 minutes.

As for descaling, you won’t need to worry too much if you have a water filter installed. Still, you can expect the machine to let you know when the filter needs to be changed. And if you don’t the machine will ask to be descaled when it’s needed.

Jura C3 vs ENA 4

Currently available for $N/A, the Jura ENA 4 is another of Jura’s compact fully automatic espresso machines.

Ordinarily, I’d assume that the C3 is meant to replace the ENA 4. However, the latter machine was recently given a grinder upgrade, so it seems like it’s here to stay for a while. Now equipped with the P.A.G. grinder, the ENA 4 has a slightly more modern-looking user interface than the Jura C3. Overall, though, the ENA 4 isn’t as sleek as the C3.

Both machines make only coffee and espresso, and both offer three strength adjustment levels. However, I know for sure that you can’t adjust the drink temperature on the ENA 4’s user interface. Then again, during my testing the espresso was always delivered at the ideal temperature for sipping.

The Jura ENA 4 features an external cylindrical water tank, which Jura made a big deal out of when the machine was released. But to be honest, I find it kind of annoying. As with the C3, you’re going to spend a lot of money on the ENA 4, and you’ll never have milk foaming capabilities. If you’re fine with that, the ENA 4 could be the machine for you. 

See Also: Jura ENA 4 Review

Jura C3 vs ENA 4 Comparison Chart

Verdict: Jura C3 Review

If you’ve made it this far into my Jura C3 review, you’ll know that I’m not fully convinced by this new machine. I would have liked to have seen a hot water function at the very least. And perhaps the manufacturer could have come up with a way to upgrade to a milk system.

To be honest, it seems to me like Jura is cramming the C3 into its lineup. I don’t think the C3 needs to exist, and I wonder if anyone will really care. Sure, it looks rather nice, and will feel extremely premium. However, there are plenty of great machines at a similar price point with more functionality and a wider range of features.

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