Jura is a Swiss developer of high-end superautomatic coffee machines. They range in capabilities (and price) from single-serving espresso makers to infinitely customizable commercial grade barista substitutes. I have been a Jura fan for many years and have owned several machines. Recently, I traded in my Jura E8 for a Jura GIGA 5. The Jura GIGA 5 has since been replaced by the GIGA 6.
Trading-in to a Jura GIGA 5
The Jura E8 was a great machine. It made wonderful coffee and espresso drinks and was easy to use and clean. It was also moderately priced (for a Jura, anyway).
But the GIGA 5 is a beast. This thing is a commercial-grade machine capable of pumping out custom lattes, cappuccinos, and a host of other beverages. It also makes coffee too. It is considerably larger than the E8. I was a little concerned it would not fit under my counter, but it does just fit.
Basic Jura GIGA 5 Features
The machine has 2 bean hoppers with separate grinders – meaning you can fill one side with coffee beans and the other with espresso, decaf, or another kind of coffee. You can brew from one or both sides, meaning you can make a half-caf, half espresso, etc. I love this feature, but I do note that the size of the hopper makes the machine large- the hoppers were the reason I thought it would not fit under in the space I had my Jura E8.
This machine is built for entertaining or heavy office-type use. It can make two specialty drinks at the same time – so your guests won’t have to wait for their after-dinner cappuccino.
Most importantly, the machine makes good coffee- really good. It is worth noting here that the Jura coffee makers do not use pods of any kind. This makes a lot less waste than the coffee makers that use pods and allows me to use the coffee grinds in my garden.
Does the Jura Giga 5 really do it all?
You can adjust nearly every aspect of making a drink with the Jura GIGA 5- from how fine the beans are ground, to the ratio of espresso to milk, and how strong the drink comes out – every aspect of your drink is customizable. The machine has 3 heat settings and 5 levels of coffee strength. I have been playing with all the settings, the size of the grind, the strength of the coffee and the heat to make my perfect latte- I will report back with my exact settings.
Whatever doesn’t the Jura Giga do? Actually is doesn’t do everything. It doesn’t make some of the same drinks that the E8 does- like a flat white or an americano. I can’t imagine why Jura wouldn’t include these drink options in this model. Personally, I like a latte or coffee as my go-to drinks, but my husband noticed since he liked those options in the E8.
The Jura Giga 5 requires regular maintenance to keep it clean and functioning, especially after making milk drinks. Cleaning seems to be the same as the E8, so not much of a change.
I’m still learning all the features, but I’m happy to enjoy professional grade coffee drinks in my own home.
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