The Jura GIGA 6 Review: GIGAntuan Overkill?

Usually, I get straight to the coffee machines, but this Jura GIGA 6 review starts with two health and safety warnings. First, never raid your joint bank account to buy a Jura GIGA 6 without consulting your partner. Ever. Second, take a deep breath before reading the next paragraph – I won’t be held responsible for heart attacks.

With an asking price of $5,999.00 – another deep breath – this ultra-luxury model is the most expensive super-automatic espresso machine I’ve ever reviewed. It’s also the biggest and heaviest – all in all, it’s as extravagant as a yacht with a helipad.

Truth be told, Jura coffee machines aren’t exactly the poster children for understatement or a low-key vibe. Quite the opposite. In fact, the Jura GIGA 6 is not really aimed at average joe drinkers. Fair enough, you say, but is it the best super-automatic espresso machine?

In some ways, sure. A better question, though, is whether the asking price isn’t a tad excessive for an appliance that just makes coffee beverages with or without milk.

Of course, it is! Nevertheless, this monster of a machine still manages to knock your socks off from the get-go. It produces delectable coffee despite the price or perhaps because of it?

Best for Office

Jura GIGA 6

A commercial workhorse or the ultimate thoroughbred

Superior quality

Two electronic grinders

Tons of settings

Excellent espresso and milk froth

App has room for improvement

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The Jura GIGA 6 at a Glance: A Coffee Machine on Steroids

Jura has gone large on every aspect of this model. For starters, you get two electronically adjustable, ceramic, flat-burr grinders, each with its own capacious bean hopper. What’s more, there are also two pumps and two thermoblocks.

Thanks to all that gear, this Swiss-made coffee machine ensures that any and all brewing processes are performed at exactly the right temperature – no fluctuations. Of course, that temperature corresponds precisely to the notes you want to tease out from the coffee beans under one of the two aroma lids.

In fact, in the same way that we refer to an espresso maker with two heating systems as a dual-circuit machine, you could call the Giga 6 a true dual-automatic machine.

Incidentally, considering how uncompromising Jura is on everything else, what’s with the aluminum casing? Sure, it’s shiny and better than plastic, but it’s also a very lightweight metal. Lots of cheaper super-automatic coffee machines get the full metal — stainless steel — jacket.

Highlights of the Jura GIGA 6

Justifying the price of the GIGA 6 is much easier once you cut through Jura’s murky marketing mumbo jumbo and get a clear understanding of the machine’s key automatic capabilities. Let me break it down for you:

Flaws of the Jura GIGA 6

By the same token, I’m not going to just pass over the machine’s few — forgivable? — flaws:

We’ll dig into the first five flaws in more detail later. As for the last one, I’m going to get that off my chest right now: way to land a low blow, Jura!

The aforementioned wireless transmitter is worthless without the cute little Cool Control milk jug. And that will set you back an eye-watering $399.00.

Seriously? I just handed over $5,999.00 of my hard-earned cash, and Jura can’t even throw in a milk pitcher on the house?

If this doesn’t infuriate you so much that you refuse to use anything but a milk carton, you can get a Jura glass milk container for $31.48.

Further adding insult to injury, the transmitter is also pretty pointless in and of itself. Turns out it only communicates with Jura Smart Connect, but you can’t link it to the app. I know, it beats me too.

Jura GIGA 6 Features

Despite a few drawbacks, it quickly becomes apparent that the Swiss intend the Jura GIGA 6 to live up to its OTT name and price tag. This is one pimped out super-automatic espresso machine.

It’s designed for users who can’t be bothered with complicated settings but still expect gourmet coffee. Jura has gone to great lengths to spare you any unnecessary effort. Let’s continue my Jura GIGA 6 review by looking at the machine’s most exciting features.

User Interface

The Jura GIGA 6 is equipped with a gorgeous color touchscreen interface that makes navigating the menus easy. And that’s a good thing, seeing as there’s just so much you can do here, from adjusting drink settings to scheduling cleaning tasks.

Jura calls its notification center the “Cockpit.” It’s accessed by pressing the button in the center of the rotary dial up top. I’m actually a big fan of this system, seeing as it’s kept separate from the drink selection home screen.

Speaking of, all the specialty drinks available are represented by pretty icons to which you can add names if you want. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, the GIGA 6 employs a sophisticated AI to organize the home screen according to your favorites.

J.O.E. App

Now, it’s time to talk about the app trap. The question is whether an app improves ease of operation, adds to functionality or just bumps up the price of a Jura automatic espresso machine by several hundred dollars. In the case of the Jura espresso machine, I can’t say for sure.

As a rule, all functions that can be programmed using the one-touch options on the display and rotary switch are in the app menu. The exception appears to be adjusting the grinders. Despite a long search and a call to customer service, I got no joy.

Sure, even when changing the beans, you don’t need to reset the grinder every day, but I’m surprised that this function didn’t make it into the app.

In the end, I used the touch screen to adjust the grinder on the first bean compartment to the second-finest level and set the second hopper and grinder slightly coarser for comparison.

Dual Ceramic Grinders

It pretty much goes without saying that one of the most exciting aspects of the Jura GIGA 6 is its dual grinder system. The machine is equipped with a pair of ceramic flat burr grinders, each of which can be adjusted electronically. What’s more, the GIGA 6 constantly monitors each grinder’s performance and adjusts the burrs accordingly.

I’ll talk more about the precision and sophistication involved later. Suffice to say, I’ve never encountered a super automatic grinder that comes anywhere close to what’s happening here.

Incidentally, another benefit of this dual system is that you’re able to create blends for any beverage by using both grinders. That should be a really exciting prospect for coffee nerds who like to experiment with their espresso!

If you were hoping that this machine would put to bed the debate about whether steel or ceramic grinder mechanisms are quieter, I’m going to have to disappoint you. My decibel meter reads 69.9 – neither infuriatingly loud nor impressively quiet. It’s simply audible.

Pulse Extraction Process

If you’ve checked out any of my other Jura coffee machine reviews you’ll be familiar with the manufacturer’s Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P.) brewing technology. This innovative system works by forcing water through ground coffee in short bursts, allowing flavor and aroma to fully develop.

I’m always impressed by the quality of espresso I can get from a Jura machine, but the GIGA 6 takes things to the next level. Seriously, in combination with the precision burrs and superior temperature control, Jura’s P.E.P. truly shines when making coffee with this superb machine.

Dual Thermoblocks

Thanks to the inclusion of two fully independent thermoblock heating systems, you’re able to prepare two coffee drinks simultaneously. Heck, there are even two pumps, making it possible to prepare espresso and milk drinks at the same time. And in case you were wondering, yes you can prepare two milk-based specialties at once.

That’s all well and good, but the whole system would fail without superior temperature control. Fortunately, the Jura GIGA 6 has that in spades. As I already mentioned, the precision and stability with which this fully automatic behemoth deals with temperature is quite staggering. Plus, thanks to its intelligent preheating technology, the machine will always deliver drinks at the correct temperature, even if you haven’t used it in a while.

Milk System

I won’t keep trashing Jura for being tightfisted with its milk system accessories. However, I will say that I usually prefer an integrated milk system like you’ll find on the DeLonghi Dinamica Plus. With that said, the Jura GIGA 6 milk system is pretty outrageous in terms of the quality it can produce.

I’ll go into more detail later, but for now you should know there’s nothing superficial about the range of options for personalizing milk froth from the Jura coffee maker. Quite the opposite. You can completely rejigger every last detail, which pays off immensely.

Specialty Drinks

I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that the Jura GIGA 6 comes programmed with just about every specialty drink under the sun. So, whether you like to start your day with a cortado coffee or a cappuccino, this baby has you covered.

What’s more, you’re able to go deep in terms of adjusting drink settings, so the options are endless when it comes to creating your own drinks. Aside from being able to tweak your espresso blend, you can adjust milk temperature and coffee strength as well as coffee temperature.

Oh, and if you’re an espresso purist, don’t worry about whether you’ll be able to achieve the ideal ristretto shot. With a minimum espresso volume of just 0.5 ounces (15 milliliters), Jura may have set a new record and is definitely ahead of the super-automatic espresso machine pack.

The Jura GIGA 6 in Use

Thanks to the dual-heating systems, you can bet your bottom dollar that a cappuccino made with grounds from the first bean hopper will be a textbook case of the differences to a lungo made from the second hopper.

Like I said, the Jura GIGA 6 is far more than just a two-cup machine – it’s two super-automatic espresso machines rolled into one. While all extraction processes are still handled by the same – non-removable – brew group, parameters such as brewing temperature and so on are adjusted for different beverages.

The catch is that you definitely need to check which bean hopper is selected before you start brewing. That’s because for reasons that Jura alone understands, the default setting is a 50/50 mix of grinds from both bean hoppers. Who knows why.

Upping the grump factor on this point is the fact that this setting isn’t easy to find in the app. I had to bug customer service about this, too. The trick is swiping up to open the relevant submenu for each specialty coffee. At least all the other important parameters for making espresso, coffee and a latte macchiato are easy to find and can be programmed with great precision.

Don’t let the terminology in the app and touch screen menu throw you off, either. “Water” just refers to the amount of coffee. In Jura speak, extra water – that you add to make an americano, for instance – is called “Bypass Water.” Way to make things unnecessarily complicated, Jura!

Truly Divine Espresso and Coffee

As soon as you taste your first fine-tuned coffee from the Jura GIGA 6, the price suddenly seems a whole lot less insane. If there’s one thing I know by now, it’s that high-priced super-automatic coffee machines take coffee really seriously. In the case of the Jura coffee maker, though, its attention to detail verges on finicky.

For a glimpse into just what the machine could do, I tried making an espresso from the same beans – first with a fine grind and then a slightly coarser one.

Despite the marginal difference, the two cups had very different flavor profiles. The Coffeeness team preferred the finer grind with its intensely chocolatey notes. Still, with its more pronounced brightness, the coarser espresso was also very drinkable.

As a real endorsement, I have to say I’m even happy slurping a boring old lungo or coffee from the Jura espresso machine. Honestly, I have no complaints.

It checks all the boxes: temperature, body and coffee strength are spot-on. So, is coffee from the GIGA better than from the similarly sublime Jura Z10? I can’t say for sure.

One thing I can say without hesitation is that Jura is currently the undisputed champion of super-automatic coffee and espresso. Then again, all that glorious flavor doesn’t come cheap.

Best Coffee for the Jura GIGA 6

We have developed a coffee blend for all super automatic espresso machines, including the Jura GIGA 6. We tested espresso, black coffee and latte macchiato, all of which displayed well-rounded and sweet chocolate notes.

It all depends on the beans: if you put something good in at the top, something good will come out at the bottom!

Coffee for Fully Automatic Espresso Machines

Our famous coffee beans are finally available in the US!

Freshly roasted

Notes of Chocolate

Quick delivery

Low acidity

Get it on Amazon

Here are the ideal settings for our coffee with the Jura GIGA 6:

• Grind setting: Very fine (adjust via touchscreen)

• Always check which bean compartment is selected ( by default the machine uses both at the same time)

• Espresso volume: 1.4 ounces (40 milliliters)

• Coffee volume: 4 ounces (120 milliliters)

• Coffee strength: 5 to start

Milk Froth: It Doesn’t Get Better Than This

While we’re throwing superlatives around, it has to be said that this appliance whips up spectacularly good froth for milky coffee, lattes and other delights. In fact, Mauricio couldn’t wipe the grin off his face after trying a latte macchiato from the GIGA 6.

Who would’ve thought a “simple” cappuccinatore could produce these kinds of results? Of course, being Jura, that’s just the beginning: you can also tweak every imaginable detail – from the temperature, through the proportion of milk versus froth, to the volume.

There’s nothing stopping you from living the dream of perfect coffee specialties from the Jura automatic coffee machine.

By its very nature, the flat white is the final frontier for automatic milk frothers, but the Jura coffee maker produces mouthfuls of flavor and almost nails the creaminess perfectly.

As with other Jura coffee machines, I once again found myself scratching my head over what exactly a “second” of milk is supposed to mean. So, I finally rolled up my sleeves and got to measuring:

Milk has a density of about 0.6 ounces per cubic inch, which is about 1.1 ounces per fluid ounce. This, in turn, means that in one second, the machine delivers about 0.2 fluid ounces of milk. So, for just under 7 fluid ounces, the machine should run for about 35 seconds.

Jura GIGA 6 Cleaning

Having completed my year-long experiment on an old Jura A1, I no longer believe that coffee grounds will find their way into places they don’t belong in the Jura GIGA 6. It’s official: the fixed brew groups in Jura machines work as well as advertised! 

On the whole, the manufacturer has done its utmost to ensure that users clean and descale its machines well. First of all, there’s the cleaning alarm, which tells you when it’s time for a thorough cleaning.

Much like the oil light in a car, you can ignore it for quite a while, but eventually, the machine will just quit on you.

In fact, Jura’s motto for its GIGA machines is very much “trust is good, but control is better.” In addition to keeping an eye on the bean hopper levels, the machine also monitors the drip tray, milk system functionality and the water tank. The oversight even extends to the water filter.

I warn you that all of these demands for attention will probably get on your nerves, but they serve a purpose – ensuring your machine stays clean. What’s more, you can program the intervals between certain cleaning processes in the same way that you set the on/off time.

Silver linings: it turns out that as a housing material, aluminum has one advantage over stainless steel. That’s because you can pat, paw and prod at the Jura coffee maker as much as you like, and you won’t leave any unsightly fingerprints.

Jura GIGA 6 Technical Specifications

Verdict: Jura GIGA 6 Review

Best for Office

Jura GIGA 6

A commercial workhorse or the ultimate thoroughbred

Superior quality

Two electronic grinders

Tons of settings

Excellent espresso and milk froth

App has room for improvement

	CHECK PRICE
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Like its sibling, the Jura GIGA 10, the Jura GIGA 6 is often regarded as an automatic coffee machine for the catering industry. That means it oversteps the usual bounds of my super-automatic espresso machine reviews.

In reality, the GIGA 6 is not ideal for the foodservice industry. Despite its huge array of functions, it lacks a plumbed-in water connection and can’t churn out high volumes in a hurry. Sure, you can get a single cappuccino pronto, but you won’t be able to pump out 10 cups at record speed.

Instead, it’ll fit right in as an automatic coffee machine for the office or a small shop. Does that mean it’s not a homebody?

Like I said at the beginning, this is a purchase that you need to weigh up carefully — together with your significant other. After all, everything about this machine is GIGAntuan: its functionality, coffee and fine foam technology, dimensions and price.

Let’s face it, you don’t need to shell out this much for a touch screen, shiny aluminum and chrome, electronic grinders, a ton of coffee specialties, excellent espresso and even great flat whites.

Then again, maybe you’ve got cash to spare. Although, honestly, you’d have to have won the lottery or have an awesome stock portfolio to justify the oversized price tag. If so, be my guest. The Jura GIGA 6 is an outstanding choice that won’t disappoint.