Jura E6 vs Breville Barista Touch: Which one is better? My short answer is the Jura E6.
Frankly, I also have to admit that the Jura E6 is an expensive kitchen appliance. But given that this one can make dreamy espresso and exceptional quality milk-based drinks with minimal effort, I’d say it’s worth it. I especially like its ability to be remotely controlled, allowing me to prepare my favorite decaffeinated beverage before I even get out of bed.
The Breville Barista Touch is an affordable yet formidable semi-automatic espresso machine. But instead of just touching the button and walking off as you would with the Jura E6, you have to stand at this machine and do more manual steps. While it affords you greater control over all the processes, it may not be the most convenient choice for those with a busy schedule.
Jura E6 Vs Breville Barista Touch: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2023-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Jura E6 Vs Breville Barista Touch: Differences
The Jura E6 knocks out the Breville Barista Touch 3-2. Keep scrolling and reading to decide which will be your next espresso machine!
Coffee Flavour
Winner: Breville Barista Touch
Built-in Grinder
Both the Jura E6 vs Breville Barista Touch feature a built-in stainless steel conical burr grinder, which outperforms blade grinders in terms of quietness, consistency, and speed. As for the Jura E6, among most other Jura espresso machines, its grinder is called “Aroma G3.”
The stainless steel conical burr grinder has a reputation for fast and quiet operation, ensuring the noise level of the grinding process is minimal. That way, your early bird brewing cycles won’t rattle your entire house or extend to your neighbors. They’ll wake up to the unexpected treat of ready-made cups of scrumptious espresso. As a bonus, the grinding curve offers a finer grind, resulting in a smoother, more tasty cup of espresso.
Let’s talk about an equally important aspect – the number of grind settings. The Jura E6 has 6 grind settings, while the Breville Barista Touch raised my eyebrows with 30 grind settings! Yes, believe it or not, there are 30 different grind sizes on this mid-range espresso machine. That’s a lot of space to experiment and play around with the texture of the coffee grounds.
The thing is, while the Jura E6 presses the grounds automatically, the Breville Barista Touch requires you to do it manually through a step called “tamping.” This process is easy and swift, but it demands a smidgen of finesse.
Just slot the included 54-millimeter portafilter into the cradle beneath the grinder to get the coffee grounds for a single or double shot, then manually tamp them with a stainless steel tamper. I can’t speak for everyone, but for myself and many home baristas, we have a predilection for manual tamping over the automated procedure. The included tamper feels better built and sturdier than the cheap plastic ones that come with many comparably priced models.
The Barista Touch comes out of the box with four filter baskets, with both pressurized and non-pressurized options included for single and double shots. If you dial in fresh bean grounds correctly, the non-pressurized baskets are preferable, yielding espresso shots that are sweeter and more flavor-packed. Conversely, if you’re using pre-ground coffee, say, to whip up a swift decaf shot, it would be wise to opt for the pressurized baskets, as they have the capacity to offset any potential grind inconsistencies.
Heating System
Both the Jura E6 vs Breville Barista Touch have a single boiler machine. This means they lack the ability to brew coffee and steam milk at the same time, so there is little limitation during the preparation of milk-based beverages.
So if you’re in the habit of preparing copious amounts of milk-based beverages daily, a double boiler machine should be on your radar. With the presence of two boilers, the two operations – brewing espresso and steaming milk – are carried out independently and simultaneously, eliminating any risk of incorrect temperature settings (brewing espresso necessitates a lower temperature compared to steaming milk).
It’s worth noting that these espresso machines don’t need more than a minute to heat up the water to the proper temperature. The Jura E6 features Thermoblock technology, which shortens the heat-up process to about 20 seconds. As for the Breville Barista Touch, it can come to the right temperature in just 3 seconds with its unique ThermoJet heating system. Amazing!
Brewing System
One thing that the Jura E6 vs Breville Barista Touch have in common is their pre-infusion capability. Simply put, these machines can soak the coffee grounds with a small amount of hot water before the extraction process begins. This step allows the grounds to bloom for better extraction, resulting in a better-tasting espresso. For the Jura E6 in particular and most Jura espresso machines in general, this process is made known through the innovative Intelligent Pre-Brew Aroma System (or I.P.B.A.S.).
My only gripe is that I couldn’t adjust the pre-infusion times on these machines. I’ve tested some espresso machines that let me play around with the pre-infusion interval or even completely disable it.
Then the extraction process will occur at a pressure of 15 bars on both. Just hold on for seconds! Instead of relying solely on gravity to pull a shot of espresso, machines use pressure measured in “bars.” 9 bars is the minimum pressure required to extract espresso.
The extraction process is what puts the Jura E6 head and shoulders above the Breville Barista Touch and many other models out there and enables it to be very close to perfection. It simply involves forcing hot water through the coffee grounds in short bursts. The result? It ends up with a super smooth espresso with very little bitterness, and there is a great crema layer on top.
Milk Frothing System
Like most of its siblings, the Jura E6 boasts an automatic frothing milk system. Meanwhile, the Breville Barista Touch features a Panarello-style steam wand that automatically brings air into the milk to froth it.
The Jura E6 sports HP1 professional fine foam technology, which is advertised as providing delicate foam with extremely fine bubbles. Setting it up involves a few simple steps: Attach one end of a rubber hose to the milk frother and dip the other end into a container filled with milk.
It is possible to fine-tune the amount of milk foam to your liking in seconds. Then the milk foam and espresso will be dispensed in the same spot, and you really don’t need to move your cup during the whole process. I found the Jura E6 to produce thicker, creamy microfoam, more like one for cappuccinos instead of lattes.
I was irritated by the fact that this one didn’t come with anything to hold the milk, which is a widespread issue for all the Jura models. So from now until they change their ways, you will have to use one of yours or purchase their glass container. Or if you can splurge more, consider their cool control unit, which is a mini-fridge designed to keep milk at a steady 4°C. My other gripe is that there was a loud cloud of steam initially escaping from the frother, and a bit of water ended up in the brewed espresso, causing it to be diluted.
Now is the time for the Breville Barista Touch’s steam wand. Of course, it requires more manual effort than pressing a button, but it will give you much more control over how much foam is produced and the milk’s temperature. And better still, it provides an opportunity to unleash your craft and creativity with milk foam art, helping you elevate your latte artistry and raise a few eyebrows. It’s a good idea to start with a “heart” or “leaf” milk foam.
It’s also easier to use than manual steam wands. Fill the included stainless steel jug with milk, put it in place, and press a few buttons. Then the steam wand will do the magic.
There are 10 milk temperatures, from 110 to 170 °F, with 10° increments. I recommend a temperature of 140, but you should try and fail to find the best flavor yourself. You can toggle between eight milk textures as well, ranging from airy froth for cappuccinos to creamy foam for lattes. There are also four types of milk to choose from, including dairy, almond, oat, and soy.
This one would be perfect if it could tell how much milk to use for each type of milk-based beverage. The stainless steel jug has etched minimum and maximum lines, but it doesn’t clearly demarcate the correct quantity for a latte or a cappuccino. So some experimentation is necessary to discover the ideal proportions for your specific recipe.
Design & Usability
Winner: Jura E6
Dimensions, Footprint, and Weight
| Jura E6 | Breville Barista Touch | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 11 × 13.8 × 17.6 inches | 12.5 x 12.7 x 16.0 inches |
| Weight | 20 lbs | 26.8 lbs |
The Breville Barista Touch is built to last with a durable metal casing that’s easy to clean, and there is no element on it that feels “cheap” or “fragile.” Like most of Breville’s machines, this one has a slightly vintage look but has a touch of modernity with an upgraded touchscreen display, making it the first Breville espresso machine to have a touchscreen.
If you prefer the spaceship style, the Jura E6 will captivate you at first sight with a classy, sophisticated design with curved lines and a high-tech TFT display. I’m particularly fond of this non-touch display since it eliminates the nuisance of fingerprint marks, a pet peeve of mine with touchscreens.
They are on the small end of the size spectrum, so they shouldn’t take up much space. However, they aren’t certainly lightweight, and you’ll need to be a gym guy to lift each of them comfortably. But once the machine is on your countertop, you’ll probably never have to do it again.
Pre-programmed Coffee Options
| Jura E6 | Breville Barista Touch |
|---|---|
| Espresso Coffee Caffè Barista Americano Macchiato Cappuccino Cappuccino Extra Shot Portion of milk foam Hot water 2 × Espresso 2 × Coffee | Espresso Latte Flat White Cappuccino Americano Hot Chocolate Tea Milk |
Their preset drinks are on the short side and are only suitable for home use. So if you’re after something for a larger setting, you’ll need an espresso machine with a longer menu. The Breville Barista Touch requires steaming milk and pouring it by hand. So initially, when you can’t pour it correctly, you may get only an espresso with hot milk.
Your options aren’t limited by pre-programmed settings. The Jura E6 offers a range of settings for each preset, including the coffee/foam volume, 2 coffee temperature settings, and up to 10 coffee strength settings – There’s no way to adjust the milk temperature.
On the other hand, Barista Touch has 8 brewing/steaming temperatures and eight milk textures. It also incorporates a digital PID temperature control, diligently tracking and managing the temperature at the group head to guarantee steady performance during the brewing process.
The Barista Touch technically has a user profile feature. I say technically since this one doesn’t actually have this feature, but it works similarly. Rather than saving “profiles,” the Barista Touch can save up to eight drink recipes. If you live with a lot of coffee fanatics, I think you’ll love this.
The Jura E6 sports a bypass dose chute, allowing you to use pre-ground coffee rather than whole beans. It’s your best friend whenever your coffee bean stock runs out and you need a quick shot before leaving home. And as mentioned above, you can also use pre-ground coffee with the Breville Barista Touch with the pressurized basket.
Spout & Cup Clearance
| Jura E6 | Breville Barista Touch | |
|---|---|---|
| Spout Type | Dual | Dual |
| Cup Clearance | 2.6–4.4 inches | Fixed at 4 inches |
These machines can brew two cups of espresso at once or an extra strong shot. The Jura E6’s dual coffee spout can be adjusted vertically, while the Barista Touch’s cup clearance is fixed at 4 inches. It’s not a big deal, but I like that the espresso dispenser can be lowered to preserve the nice crema. And it would be better if their cup height could be raised higher to fit mammoth-sized cups. You can remove the Barista Touch’s drip tray, but this isn’t really an option.
One of the big cons of the Jura E6 is that hot water and milk come out of one spout, resulting in frequently changing spouts. This issue is also more serious than it seems. The milk spigot may retain milk residue, leading to a potential cross-contamination problem or triggering allergic responses in people with lactose intolerance. No good at all, right?
Water Reservoir & Bean Hopper
| Jura E6 | Breville Barista Touch | |
|---|---|---|
| Water Reservoir | 1.9 liter | 2 liter |
| Bean Hopper | 0.29 liter | 0.24 liter |
In terms of water tank capacity, the Jura E6 and the Breville Barista Touch are on par with each other – Their tanks are sized such that they don’t contribute to an overly bulky or heavy machine, yet they aren’t so small as to necessitate frequent refills. A minor drawback is that they don’t have a water level indicator, meaning they don’t tell you when they are running out of water. Instead, they just stop brewing, requiring you to check whether there’s sufficient water left.
These machines can also contain water filters: The Jura E6 uses a CLEARYL smart water filter, while the Breville Barista Touch is compatible with a Breville water filter. Unless you are using distilled or pre-filtered water, I highly recommend using them to minimize the descaling of the machine.
Their bean hoppers are top loading, which you need to keep in mind when deciding to put your machine underneath something like a cabinet or shelf. Equipped with airtight lids, they ensure that the beans maintain their fresh aroma over extended periods.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Tie
It’s indisputable that many home baristas find the task of maintaining and cleaning an espresso machine less than exciting. However, I believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the simplicity of maintaining both the Jura E6 and Breville Barista Touch, given that the most labor-intensive processes are automated.
Let’s start with descaling the machine. I’d love to see a smile on your face, so I’ll reveal that the process is automatic on both, and you will need Breville espresso descaling tabs or Jura cleaning tablets for this. Moreover, these espresso machines have a better memory than you, me, or anyone else among us – They will alert you when it’s time to run an automatic descaling cycle.
Regarding cleaning the milk system, the Jura E6 also relies on an automatic cleaning program and a Jura milk system cleaner. As for the Breville Barista Touch, just wipe down its steam wand and initiate a steam flush to eliminate any residual milk after every use.
Anyway, not all of the maintenance tasks are automated. You will need to empty the drip tray/coffee grounds tray, clean the portafilter/frother under the tap, and wipe the machine’s exterior (using a damp cloth and a gentle cleaner), among others. It’s essential to keep the machine’s parts away from the dishwasher, as this could lead to a sooner-than-expected machine replacement.
Utilities & Other Features
Winner: Jura E6
Remote Control
If you buy a Jura Smart Connect and plug it into the Jura E6, you can control it from your smartphone/tablet via the JOE app. This includes selecting specialty coffees, adjusting necessary settings, and sending orders remotely from your couch or bed. This app is also compatible with an iWatch, and, better yet, you can assign Siri shortcuts to your favorite drinks – this is a boon for the visually impaired.
Artificial Intelligence
After a while of use, when you first turn on the Jura E6, you’ll be greeted by your favorites. Through a self-learning algorithm, this one can remember your drinking habits and display your favorite drinks on its start screen, ensuring you always have access to your preferred pick-me-up quickly.
Auto-Off Mode
Both the Jura E6 vs Breville Barista Touch come equipped with an automatic shut-off mode, although they operate differently. With the Jura E6, you have the flexibility to adjust the shut-off interval, whereas the Breville Barista Touch follows a fixed pattern, turning off automatically after 30 minutes.
Quick Rundown Of Jura E6
- Makes 6 specialty drinks including: cappuccino, Coffee, two coffees, Espresso, two Espresso, milk foam
- Controls make it easy to find, customize and brew your favorite drinks
- Pulse extraction process brews Coffee with a full, rich bouquet and delicious flavor
- Eight Coffee strength levels allow you to fine tune each drink
- Fast, quiet G3 grinder creates 60 percent less Leftover ground Coffee
Last update on 2023-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Breville Barista Touch
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
Last update on 2023-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References
- Jura E6: https://us.jura.com/en/homeproducts/machines/E6-Piano-White-NAC-15559
- Breville Barista Touch: https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes880.html
I’m Floyd J. Alcock, an experienced barista with a deep love for coffee. I curate personalized coffee experiences, guiding customers through diverse flavor profiles and suggesting ideal brewing methods. My extensive knowledge of espresso machines enables me to recommend the best equipment to match specific needs and budgets. Sharing my expertise and passion with coffee enthusiasts brings immense satisfaction. I look forward to continuing my journey of coffee discovery with every customer I serve, fostering connections over a shared love for this magical beverage.