Jura C9 Review: Compact and Powerful

In today’s Jura C9 review I’ll be taking a look at one of the Swiss manufacturer’s latest North American releases. Like many reviewers, I’m always pretty excited when Jura comes out with a new machine. However, Jura coffee machines can be a little hit or miss. And let’s not forget that you’ll pay a premium for even the least expensive model.

With that said, the Jura C9 seems like it’s going to be one of the good ones. Plus, its asking price is actually fairly reasonable. So, let’s cut to the chase and see what the Jura C9 is all about!

Jura C9 Review Overview

I haven’t yet had the chance to put the Jura C9 through its paces, but I did test out the Jura C8 in the Coffeeness kitchen a couple of years ago.

As it happens, the C8 isn’t available on this side of the Atlantic. And while it doesn’t offer the same level of customization nor the same amount of drinks as the C9, it shares many of the same features. Besides, I’ve tested enough Jura coffee machines to qualify as an expert on the Swiss manufacturer’s products!

Given the Jura C9’s $2,199.00 asking price, I’m not sure I could label it as an entry-level fully automatic machine. However, it’s certainly one of Jura’s more affordable models. I think Jura refers to machines at this price point as “Premium Economy.” Then again, everything is relative, right?

Anyway, one thing is for sure: the Jura C9 is a sleek and compact machine that brings a lot to the table, including a supposedly exciting new brewing process. Don’t worry, I’ll dedicate a section to that a little later in this Jura C9 review.

For now, my first impressions are of a beautiful coffee maker that’ll look good in any kitchen. Oh, and Jura has ditched the touchscreen display that graced the front panel of the ENA 8, another of the brand’s compact machines. Was that a good move? Keep reading to find out what I think!

Jura C9 Features

There are tons of cool features to discuss in this Jura C9 review. Let’s take a closer look.

Build Quality and Design

Jura is obviously very proud of the C9’s design language, as evidenced by the manufacturer’s description: “Its convex-concave front invites indulgence … ” To be honest, I have to agree with such lofty statements – the Jura C9 certainly looks like a very premium espresso machine.

The design team obviously spent a lot of time on the details here, and the C9 comes off as modern, minimalist and very inviting. Sure, the machine is mostly plastic, but it isn’t at all flimsy or cheap-looking. Rather, the Jura C9 will feel solid and well-made.

Thanks to its compact dimensions, the C9 will fit nicely in most kitchens. It rises to just under 13 inches (33 centimeters), which means overhead cabinets shouldn’t be an issue. With that said, the machine is over 17 inches (43 centimeters) deep, so it will require a decent amount of counter space.

User Interface

As I mentioned earlier, Jura has decided to equip the C9 with a color LCD display and buttons rather than a touchscreen interface. And I have to congratulate them for that. After all, if you’ve read my Jura ENA 8 review you’ll know that I clearly expressed my distaste for its touchscreen display. If I remember correctly, the interface felt really sluggish, and I got annoyed by all the fingerprints and coffee smudges.

Fortunately, that isn’t something you’ll have to worry about with the Jura C9. Here, we have a bright 2.8-inch (7-centimeter) display surrounded by four buttons – two for selections and programming, and two for menu navigation. All in all, the Jura C9 user interface should offer an intuitive and user friendly experience.

Professional Aroma Grinder

I’ve had plenty of experience with Jura’s Professional Aroma Grinder (P.A.G.) over the years. In fact, the C9’s grinder is identical to that of the C8 I tested. Although the Jura C9 is marketed as having seven grind adjustment settings, it doesn’t really feel that way. Rather, you move the dial seamlessly between the “Mild” and “Intense” ends of the spectrum.

In my experience, the P.A.G. gives the best results somewhere in the middle, although it depends on your coffee roast profile. Oh, and you can expect a fairly quiet grinding experience without any high-pitched whining.

Accessed via a freshness seal lid, the 7-ounce (200-gram) bean hopper is beautifully integrated into the top of the machine. And while that might sound rather small for a bean container, I’d say that’s a positive thing. I mean, you’ll know your best espresso beans haven’t been hanging out in there forever, and you can easily switch them out for something else.

Light Extraction Process

One of Jura’s main selling points for the new C9 is its Light Extraction Process (L.E.P.) brewing technology. As it happens, I encountered this new phenomenon during my review of the latest Jura Z10. And while that model is only currently available in Europe, the Jura C9 brings it to North America. Let’s just say that I was about as underwhelmed by the results as it’s possible to be.

Listen, Jura’s cold brew function was a massive success in my opinion. However, with L.E.P., the Swiss manufacturer has invented a new brewing process that nobody asked for, let alone wanted.

Here’s the deal: The machine uses less ground coffee and significantly lowers the temperature during brewing. The result? A weaker, kind of lukewarm espresso with insufficient body and complexity. Who knows, maybe that sounds good to you. But I’d wager that most everyone who buys this machine will stick to the regular brewing process.

Specialty Drinks

The Jura C9’s specialty drink menu is loaded to the gills with 17 options, including flat white, cortado coffee and cappuccino. Still, seven of the available options are simply Light Brew versions of the classics. And as I already mentioned, L.E.P. isn’t anything to get excited about.

Fortunately, the hot specialties use Jura’s wonderful Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P.). Trust me, this innovative brew method is something to get excited about. I won’t bore you with the details of how it works, suffice to say that it helps Jura machines make some of the best espresso I’ve tasted from a super automatic.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, you’ve got 10 espresso strength levels to choose from, as well as options for adjusting volume and temperature. That level of customization makes the Jura C9 a mighty powerful and versatile espresso machine.

Milk Foam

The Jura C9 is equipped with the same automatic milk system as the C8 I tested. That’s good to see, because Jura has never disappointed when it comes to milk foam. Well, aside from stubbornly refusing to include a milk flask with its incredibly expensive espresso machines. Trust me, I’ll never stop complaining about that until Jura breaks!

Thanks to the Fine Foam Technology, you can expect pretty spectacular results from the Jura C9. The consistency is excellent and your cappuccino or flat white will look like an advertisement for specialty coffee drinks.

What’s more, the temperature of each drink will be bang on the money. During my C8 testing I was happy to drink a cappuccino at 131 degrees Fahrenheit (55 degrees Celsius) and a latte macchiato at 129 degrees Fahrenheit (54 degrees Celsius). That’s perfection!

Jura App

I’m not surprised to see that the Jura C9 doesn’t come with WiFi Connect, so if you want to use the Jura Operating Experience (J.O.E.) app, you’ll need to buy it separately. As it happens, the J.O.E. app is pretty cool if you want to be able to operate your machine from your phone or Apple Watch.

You can schedule cleaning tasks, adjust drink settings and much more using the app. Plus, you can even use Siri to brew a cup of coffee. Just remember to be polite and always say thanks!

Water Tank

With its wave-like design, I have to admit that the Jura C9’s water tank is very pretty. It’s also fully integrated into the machine, which is another positive move away from the ENA 8, which features a standalone reservoir. Best of all, this opaque beauty slides out from the side of the machine, which is a very thoughtful touch. I’m sure those of you who have owned machines with rear-mounted tanks will appreciate why this is so important.

Featuring a 54-ounce capacity, the water tank is on the larger side, especially given the fact that this is a “compact” machine. Plus, you can install a CLEARYL Smart+ water filter, which will cut down on the frequency of having to run descaling cycles.

How to Use the Jura C9

I’ve long been of the opinion that a Jura is one of the best espresso machines for beginners. Sure, the C9 might look a little intimidating as you pull it out of the box. However, rest assured that this thing has been designed to make your life as easy as possible.

Before getting started, I recommend rinsing all removable parts, including the water tank. Then, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installing the water filter before adding fresh water. Oh, and don’t forget to add fresh coffee beans to the hopper – you won’t get very far without doing that.

Now it’s time to start playing with your new Jura C9. Once you’ve fired the thing up, I’d say just go for it and start making drinks. You’ll find that the C9’s operation is very intuitive and straightforward. In fact, it might feel like the machine is guiding you as you navigate the menu and settings.

Speaking of settings, you can access adjustable parameters by long-pressing the button next to a drink icon. Alternatively, Jura lets you mess with settings “on the fly,” which is a very cool option to have.

As I mentioned earlier, you have 10 espresso strength settings, with the maximum equalling a dose of around 16 grams. That might mean nothing to you, so you’ll have to believe me when I tell you that’s very impressive for a fully automatic machine.

Jura C9 Cleaning

When it comes to cleaning and descaling super automatics, there’s quite a bit to take care of. Still, you’ll soon get used to all the ins and outs of maintaining your Jura C9. Besides, having spent this much on a coffee maker, I’m sure you’ll want to keep it in tip top condition.

You’ll find that all removable parts are easy to take care of, including the drip tray, water tank and milk spout. By the way, you should pay special attention to the milk outlet and pipework, seeing as there isn’t an automatic cleaning program. Sure, the machine performs a quick rinse after each use, but that isn’t enough. So, at the end of each day, take the whole thing apart and rinse it well.

Otherwise, there are once again no special features to report. The C9 is easy to rinse, the internal brew group is self-cleaning and you only have to do what the display tells you. Of course, you will have to run a descaling cycle every so often, no matter how well-filtered your water might be. I’ll leave it to the user manual to explain the details, but you can rest assured it won’t be too painful!

Jura C9 vs E8

Costing $2,799.00, the Jura E8 is a good deal more expensive than the C9. However, I can confidently say that the E8 is one of the best fully automatic espresso machines I’ve ever reviewed.

There are some similarities between the two machines, including 10 coffee strength settings and a similar design. However, the Jura E8 easily surpasses the C9 in terms of performance.

For starters, the E8 is equipped with the superior P.A.G.2 grinder, as well as a larger bean hopper. Plus, the Jura E8 features an extensive menu of specialty drinks without the new L.E.P. brewing technology. Elsewhere, there’s a hot water option with three temperature settings as well as a larger 3.5-inch (8.9-centimeter) display.

Best of all, the E8’s milk system is simply incredible. Seeing as there’s a nozzle on the spout, you’re able to fine-tune your milk foam to perfection. Heck, the machine even waits for the milk to settle when you’re making a latte macchiato. Seriously, I think this might be the best automatic milk frother I’ve ever used, and it makes the E8 well worth the investment.

See Also: Jura E8 Review

Jura C9 vs E8 Comparison Chart

Verdict: Jura C9 Review

As it turns out, I wasn’t at all convinced by the Jura C8 when I tested it. That’s just fine, though, because it isn’t even available in North America. What’s actually important is that the Jura C9 is available on these shores, and it’s a pretty marvelous machine.

I have to say that the C9 is far superior to the equally compact Jura ENA 8, even if the L.E.P. drinks aren’t worth bothering with. Anyway, the rest of what the C9 brings to the table more than justifies its asking price. Ultimately, this is a premium super automatic espresso machine that looks the part and truly delivers the goods.

Jura C9 FAQs