Comparing the Jura Z8 vs Saeco Xelsis: which one is better? My short answer is that the former is the overall winner, but the latter is formidable as well!
Is the Jura Z8 the world’s best super-automatic espresso machine? I can’t confirm this. But I’m sure this costly machine is worth every penny. This one justifies its high price tag with the brand’s most advanced features, offering cafe-quality espresso for those who prioritize coffee quality over cost.
The Saeco Xelsis, on the other hand, is a wallet-friendly yet formidable option. It even has a few characteristics that the winner lacks, such as a wide range of grind settings and the ability to brew two cups of milk-based drinks at once.
Jura Z8 Vs Saeco Xelsis: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2023-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Jura Z8 Vs Saeco Xelsis: Differences
The Jura Z8 knocks out the Saeco Xelsis with a score of 3-2. This result is hardly surprising, given the age-old adage that you get what you pay for. But the runner-up is also worth considering for good reasons.
Coffee Flavour
Winner: Jura Z8
Built-in Grinder
The Jura Z8 is equipped with the AromaG3 grinder, a professional steel conical burr grinder known for its remarkable speed and performance. This version is quoted as being twice as swift as its predecessors, and its key contribution is the delivery of a 12.2% increase in aroma – this is achieved by consistently high grind quality, resulting in a greater share of fine particles.
In addition, the Aroma G3 grinder also earns some brownie points for those who like to start their brewing cycle early in the morning thanks to its quiet operation. I found its noise levels range from 55 to 60 dB, which you might experience in a quiet office environment, such as a library with soft-spoken people. That said, it’s quiet enough not to become an unintentional alarm clock for your entire family.
The Saeco Xelsis, on the other hand, boasts a premium grinder made from 100% ceramic. Unlike its stainless steel equivalents, this ceramic grinder does not overheat during operation. This is an essential factor since excessive heat can burn the coffee grounds and yield subpar espressos. It might not top the durability charts, but the manufacturer advertises its ability to deliver consistent coffee grounds for a staggering 20,000 cups without experiencing wear over time. Assuming your family consumes four espressos a day, that calculates to a lifespan of at least 13 years! That is great and awesome!
As for grind settings, an espresso machine should provide a range of options, enabling you to tailor your coffee’s fineness to be most compatible with your go-to drink. Six is the industry standard, and it’s a straightforward correlation – the higher the number of grind settings on your machine, the better. As a rule of thumb, the finer the grind, the more robust the flavor, while a coarser setting results in a milder brew.
The Jura Z8 has 6 grind settings, whereas the Saeco Xelsis offers 12. I initially expected to receive more than 6 settings from the first one, considering its outrageous price tag. But anyway, it was a breeze for me to find the grind size that best suited my recipe. Shifting between grind settings is a cinch with a turn of a knob atop the machine, but just do it when the grinder is in operation, or you risk jamming it.
Heating System
Both the Jura Z8 vs Saeco Xelsis have a dual boiler system – this is a big selling point. I have tried countless espresso machines, but the ones with such a heating system can be counted on one finger.
Two boilers mean the machine can brew espresso and steam milk at the same time, meaning your morning milk-based beverage is prepared at lightning speed. In addition, this ensures both espresso and milk are at the perfect temperature, a prerequisite for a delicious cappuccino.
These machines are even faster with thermoblock technology. Unlike a traditional boiler, the thermoblock boiler only heats the amount of water needed for brewing espresso or steaming milk. So your wait for the first cup of caffeinated joy is measured in mere seconds rather than lengthy minutes.
Brewing System
After grinding, both machines moisten the coffee grounds with a little hot water for a short time. This allows the grounds to “bloom,” maximizing flavor and aroma extraction. This process is called “pre infusion” and is now a standard feature in most super-automatic espresso machines. For Jura models exclusively, it involves something called the Intelligent Pre-Brew Aroma System, or I.P.B.A.S. for short.
Then the extraction process will take place at a pressure of 15 bars. But wait, what is this? Modern espresso machines, unlike their drip counterparts, use pressure to extract coffee rather than relying on gravity alone. A bar is a unit of pressure, with 9 bars being the minimum recommended pressure for extracting espresso.
The Jura Z8 has a one-of-a-kind extraction process called the Pulse Extraction Process (PEP). Unlike the pre-infusion process, this technology is exclusive to Jura. So, what makes it special? Rather than sustaining constant pressure and water flow, it propels heated water through the coffee grounds in short, intermittent bursts – or, as Jura calls them, “pulses.” It results in a much silkier espresso with a rich crema!
Milk Frothing System
Both are equipped with an automatic frothing milk system instead of a manual steam wand. This means you don’t need to practice creating foam for your favorite milk-based drinks – just hit the button, hold on for a few seconds, and voila! But coffee purists typically give pops to wand-equipped machines, which give them greater control over the frothing process.
The Z8 features “Fine Foam” technology, which I believe will win the hearts of all foam enthusiasts. But, to be honest, my feelings toward its milk system oscillate between admiration and irritation.
Let’s start with what I love. This smart system allowed me to create any type of steamed milk I needed for my favorites. Just choose the pre-programmed beverage, and it will take care of the rest. In addition, it allows fine-tuning the amount of milk/milk foam in seconds (instead of oz or ml), the temperature of milk/milk foam (10 levels), and the interval (exclusively for latte macchiatos), enabling the creation of a beautifully stratified beverage.
But its system requires connecting the machine to a milk container via an external milk pipe, which takes up extra space. Also, I didn’t find any milk jugs included in the box. Considering the Jura Z8 is an expensive investment, it seems a bit unfair to me that Jura still requires a separate purchase of something to hold the milk, such as a simple glass pitcher or a cool control unit.
The Saeco Xelsis, on the other hand, comes with a high-quality milk pitcher as part of the package. This is great, given that some manufacturers levy steep prices for their machines while neglecting to include a milk container. I’m sure you can guess whom I’m referring to, right?
The icing on the cake is the LatteDuo technology, which foams milk twice to reduce the size of the bubbles. It ensures you get nothing but smooth, velvety foam that’s on par with professional barista-level and is right for cappuccinos and lattes. The amount of milk foam can also be adjusted arbitrarily.
After dispensing the milk foam into your cup, the Saeco Xelsis initiates an automatic cleaning cycle to cleanse the milk system. This auto-clean feature is certainly a boon for hygiene, but I wish for a slight delay in its commencement just to allow me a bit more time to remove my cup.
Design & Usability
Winner: Saeco Xelsis
Dimensions, Footprint, & Weight
| Jura Z8 | Saeco Xelsis | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 12.6 x 15 x 17.7 inches | 11.1 x 15.5 x 19.3 inches |
| Weight | 29.5 lbs | 25.8 lbs |
While visual appeal may not be the key consideration when pondering an espresso machine, it’s a delight to own something that satisfies both your flavor and sight preferences.
The Jura Z8 is a beautiful-facade machine with a flawless finish and a high-resolution touchscreen. This one comes in three color options: Aluminum, Diamond black, and chrome. – regardless of your pick, you’re guaranteed to have a machine that will draw the attention of any visitor to your kitchen.
On the flip side, the Saeco Xelsis boasts an attractive box-shaped design with a stainless steel body, giving it a solid and durable feel. It also keeps up with the smartphone age with a large touch glass interface that is very intuitive and easy to use.
These machines may not qualify as colossal, but they won’t exactly nestle into a corner. That’s not a big deal since such beautiful machines are worthy of a distinguished place in your kitchen. Just note that these beasts are on the heavy side.
Pre-programmed Coffee Options
| Jura Z8 | Saeco Xelsis |
|---|---|
| Ristretto Espresso Coffee Cappuccino Caffè latte Caffè Barista Lungo Barista Macchiato Latte macchiato Flat white Portion of milk foam Portion of milk Pot of coffee Hot water Hot water for green tea Hot water for black tea | Coffee Espresso Ristretto Espresso lungo Americano Flat white Latte macchiato Cappuccino Caffe latte Cafe au lait Cortado Milk froth Warm milk Hot water |
Both have a long list of one-touch drinks, which is more than enough to satisfy the caffeine cravings of an extended family or large group. But while the Jura Z8 can only brew two cups of coffee drinks simultaneously, the Saeco Xelsis takes the lead with the ability to prepare two milk-based drinks in one go. Personally, I found the Saeco Xelsis to be the most cost-effective model possessing this noteworthy attribute. Some Jura machines can do the same thing, such as the Giga 6 or the Giga W3, but they are exorbitantly expensive.
You can also customize some specifications of each one-touch drink via a swipe of the finger, just like how you adjust the bass and treble on your tunes via an audio equalizer.
The Jura Z8 offers 10 levels of coffee strength, 3 brewing temperatures, and 10 milk/milk foam temperatures, as well as the ability to fine-tune the volume of coffee and milk/milk foam. In a similar vein, the Saeco Xelsis comes with 5 coffee strength levels, 3 brewing temperatures, and the flexibility to fine-tune the quantity of coffee/milk foam, the coffee flavor, and the cup volume. There are tons of customizable settings for you to play around with and experiment with!
Discovering the ideal recipe to satiate your taste buds isn’t a task that can be accomplished in a day. So, an unannounced alteration to these settings could certainly ignite your fury, and I wholeheartedly empathize with that. But don’t worry – both the Jura Z8 vs Saeco Xelsis have some features to preserve your hard-earned recipes.
The Jura Z8 enables you to replicate preset drinks, carry out necessary customizations, save the variants, and rename them (you can use your name for simple future recognition). Likewise, the Saeco Xelsis has a “user profile” feature that allows you to save up to six different recipes of the same preset.
Before switching to another section, I’d like to say that these machines have a bypass dose chute that allows you to use your favorite pre-ground coffee. This nifty feature becomes a lifesaver when your stash of whole beans runs out and you need a hastily prepared drink before stepping out of the house.
Spout & Cup Clearance
| Jura Z8 | Saeco Xelsis | |
|---|---|---|
| Spout Type | Dual | Dual |
| Cup Clearance | 3.2-6 inches | 3-6 inches |
As you can see, their dual coffee dispensing spout can be adjusted vertically and can be lifted up to 6 inches to fit large cups, such as travel ones. The gap between the Jura Z8’s two spigots is also adaptable, ranging from 0.8–1.97 inches, to cater to thick-rimmed cups. Its illuminated cup feature is a small but welcome addition as well.
As mentioned earlier, what the Saeco Xelsis has in its favor is the ability to prepare two milk-based drinks at the same time since it sports a dual milk spout as well. Just press the “X2” button to double your favorite option, and everything will be all set.
Water Reservoir & Bean Hopper
| Jura Z8 | Saeco Xelsis | |
|---|---|---|
| Water Reservoir | 2.4 liter | 1.7 liter |
| Bean Hopper | 0.29 liter | 0.35 liter |
The Jura Z8’s water reservoir is significantly larger than the Saeco Xelsis’s one. But unless you or other members of your family have a particularly high coffee consumption rate, refilling them once a day should suffice. Their water tanks also have room for filters: The Jura Z8 uses a Clearyl Smart filter cartridge, whereas the Saeco Xelsis goes with an AquaClean filter.
These filters are designed to remove impurities from the water, which are the main culprits of scale build-up inside the machine and bitter-tasting espressos. Using them will spare you from descaling the machine regularly but will result in a recurring fee. I don’t know about you, but I’m willing to pay for this privilege.
Their bean containers are top-loading and feature airtight lids to prevent your precious coffee beans from getting exposed to the air. That way, they can preserve the aroma of the beans until they’re ready to be utilized.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Tie
I know that cleaning and maintaining an espresso machine is something everyone wants to avoid, but these tasks are vital to ensuring the machine’s optimal performance over time. The encouraging news is that these fully automatic machines will handle the cleaning, rinsing, and descaling all on their own! That way, they give you more time to enjoy your delicious decaffeinated drinks.
Of course, there are some simple manual tasks that should be done regularly, ideally on a daily basis, including emptying the drip tray, discarding the used coffee grounds, rinsing and refilling the water tank, and wiping the casing to maintain its cleanliness.
It’s worth noting that the Jura Z8 has a built-in brew group, while the Saeco Xelsis comes with a detachable one. So you will need to clean and lubricate the latter manually instead of relying on an automatic cycle. This leads to an extra manual maintenance task, but I don’t consider it a bad thing at all. I even consider it the best way to extend an espresso machine’s brew group’s longevity.
Descaling both the Jura Z8 vs Saeco Xelsis is fully automatic and requires a dedicated descaling solution/tablet – Philips descaler for the Saeco Xelsis and Jura’s cleaning tablet for the Jura Z8. The screen will notify you when descaling is required, and the use of a filter will diminish the frequency of this maintenance task.
Deep cleaning their milk frothing system relies on an automatic program as well. The machine’s display will prompt you when the time is right and provide a step-by-step guide. What could be more effortless?
Utilities & Other Features
Winner: Jura Z8
Remote Control
Pause for a moment and count how many household appliances you can control from a distance. Are there air conditioners, fridges, TVs, vacuum cleaners – quite a few? Add the Jura Z8 to that list as well since this super-automatic espresso machine can also be operated via your smartphone or tablet.
Just position a cup under the coffee dispensing spout the night before, and you can commence your first brewing cycle the next day without even leaving your bed. But to do that, you need a Jura’s Smart Connect on hand to connect it to the user-friendly J.O.E app, which is totally free to download and use.
Energy Saving Mode
Both the Jura Z8 and the Saeco Xelsis have inbuilt power-saving functionalities, with the Z8 featuring an Energy Save Mode and the Xelsis equipped with a Stand-by mode. These features help decrease electricity usage and subsequently reduce your monthly power costs. The Jura Z8 is ahead of the game with an automatic switch-off mode which automatically shuts down the machine after an adjustable interval.
Quick Rundown Of Jura Z8
- RANGE OF BEVERAGES: 21 Specialty drink options
- SIMPLE TO USE: Intuitive operation using 4.3" Touchscreen or App
- CONVENIENT: One-Touch, Americano function for long coffees
- TECHNOLOGY: Flavorful ristretto and espresso with P.E.P technology
- GRINDER: AromaG3 grinder is 2X faster than previous models
Last update on 2023-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Saeco Xelsis
- With Philips Saeco Xelsis easily make up to 15 coffee varieties from common Espresso and Capuccino to specialty coffees like Flat White or Americano. Simply swipe the touchscreen to select the drink and customize it with our intuitive Coffee Equalizer.Filter type:Reusable.Power consumption stand-by : 0.5W, Drip tray capacity : 500 ml
- 15 Coffee Varieties at Your Fingertips: Explore the world of coffee - Espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, and a range of specialty drinks
- Personalized Preferences: Everyone’s custom coffee favorites can be saved in up to 6 user profiles for instant selection. Personalize each profile down to the finest detail
- LatteDuo Milk System: Prepare and enjoy single or double serving of any coffee recipe with one touch, including Cappuccino or Latte Macchiato
- Double Thermo Blocks: Dedicated for both brewing and steaming offer accurate temperature controls for every drink in your recipe book
Last update on 2023-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References:
- Jura Z8: https://au.jura.com/en/homeproducts/factory-service-machines/Z8-Alu-INT-15305-S1/Specifications#tabs
- Saeco Xelsis: https://saeco.com/xelsis/
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.