A new day, a new Hive post! Today, I want to talk about one of the most essential parts of my morning routine.

I am a coffee lover. I know, I know—there are plenty of people out there who prefer tea, and I respect that. But for me? I prefer the liquid black gold.

My journey started like most people: with a standard drip coffee machine. Eventually, I moved on to the convenience of Dolce Gusto capsules. I think we actually wore out about three different Dolce Gusto machines over the years! While I honestly thought the coffee from the capsules was decent—and you can't beat the speed—we eventually decided to say goodbye to them.

There were two main reasons for this: the high cost of the capsules, and the enormous mountain of plastic waste they created.

The move to Bean-to-Cup

It was time to step up to a fully automatic machine. About three years ago, we landed on the Melitta Barista T-Smart.

On paper, it was perfect. We immediately reduced our waste, we could use two different types of beans (great for switching between roasts), and it made tasty Latte Macchiatos. However, there was a catch. In the three years we owned it, the milk system broke down... three times.

Last Saturday was the final straw. The first coffee of the morning went down without a problem. But after I finished changing the tires on the car and came back inside for a reward, the milk system started sputtering again.

I know I could have sent it back to the shop for repairs again, but I was done. It was time for something new.

The saturday night rush

So, my wife and I rushed to the store. It wasn't exactly the best timing—it was Saturday evening, 20 minutes before closing time.

The pressure was on. The staff was clearly looking forward to the weekend, and we just wanted a machine that would guarantee a relaxed, delicious coffee on Sunday morning.

The choice in the store was overwhelming. The sheer amount of types and brands is dizzying. Our criteria were simple:

• Fully automatic.
• A good milk system (essential for us). - Durable and easy to maintain.

I knew that Jura is often cited as one of the top brands for these machines—the "Rolls Royce" of home coffee, so to speak. But I honestly didn't think we would walk out with one. I’m someone who watches the price tag, but I also demand quality.

Because of the time pressure, we didn't have long to doubt. We walked out with a Jura E8.

From what I’ve read since getting home, the E8 is considered the "sweet spot" in their lineup, offering high-end features without the most extreme price tag.

First impressions

Immediately after installation, the difference was clear. The finish and materials feel a step above our discarded Melitta.

We brewed the first cup and spent some time learning the interface—how to tweak the strength, the temperature, and the volume. The first cup was a regular black coffee. It was definitely richer than the Melitta, but just as importantly for us (since we have an open-plan house), the machine is significantly quieter.

The latte surprise

I am a latte drinker, and this is where the biggest surprise came.

The milk foam this machine produces is incredible. It is almost indistinguishable from milk frothed by a professional barista in a cafe. It is genuinely "fluffy" and creates that perfect micro-foam texture.

Despite the higher price point, I am very satisfied so far.

There is one major difference in design: the brew group cannot be removed. On most machines, you take this out to rinse it under the tap. Jura claims their internal cleaning programs are so advanced that manual removal isn't necessary. It feels a bit like a leap of faith to trust the technology, but time will tell!

For now, I'm going to go make myself another Latte. No just kidding I am the train to the office :(

Cheers!
Peter

Posted Using INLEO