Saeco Xelsis vs Jura Ena 8: This may be bad news for Jura lovers, but the Saeco Xelsis is the overall winner despite being significantly cheaper.
The Saeco Xelsis is a mid-range espresso machine that has the characteristics of high-end models. This one features a dual boiler system, a long list of pre-programmed drinks, the ability to make two cups of milk-based drinks at once, and more. About the quality of the espresso? I could say it’s on par with what I would expect from a skilled barista.
The Jura Ena 8 is also an aesthetically pleasing “bean-to-cup” machine at an affordable price. It’s also equipped with some of the company’s best technology to deliver delicious, round-tasting caffeinated beverages, such as the Pre-Brew Aroma System and Pulse Extraction Process.
Saeco Xelsis vs Jura Ena 8: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2023-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Saeco Xelsis vs Jura Ena 8: Differences
The Saeco Xelsis wins against the Jura Ena 8 with a score of 3-2. This close victory signifies that both are top-notch machines in the mid-range segment.
Coffee Flavour
Winner: Saeco Xelsis
Built-in Grinder
Like other advanced Jura espresso machines, the Jura Ena 8 boasts a new built-in Aroma G3 grinder. This stainless steel conical burr grinder is a welcome addition since it is renowned for its speed and consistency. In layman’s terms, it will give you a greater espresso in a shorter amount of time.
Moreover, the Aroma G3 grinder operates very quietly. Unlike low-cost grinders that emit a loud, irksome sound, this one’s noise levels only range from 55-60 dB. So even if you decide to whip up an espresso at sunrise, you won’t disrupt the tranquil slumber of others in your home.
On the other hand, the Saeco Xelsis features a patented ceramic flat burr grinder. All that I can say about this material is that it is durable and, on top of that, it stays cool all the time. This means it won’t accidentally burn the grounds, and you won’t end up with bitter espresso. In addition, it is claimed to be durable enough to serve at least 20,000 cups of espresso – we’ll have to watch and wait!
The Jura Ena 8 has 7 grind settings, which is more than the industry average of 6. But rather than rotating a knob to switch between settings as with its siblings, you’ll need to twist an outer trim on the bean hopper’s mouth. Meanwhile, the Saeco Xelsis blew my mind with 12 settings, giving me a broad spectrum to play around with the coffee’s fineness. Bear in mind to avoid using oil beans and changing the grind size when the grinder is idle – just like we can only shift gears on the bike while it’s running.
Heating System
The Jura ENA 8 has a single boiler heating system, which implies that this one can’t brew espresso and steam milk at the same time. Rather, it must carry out each process consecutively, with a necessary waiting period in between for the water to heat to the proper temperature. Contrarily, the Saeco Xelsis has two boilers, so its brew group can extract the coffee while its frothing milk does its job concurrently. This results in this machine being able to prepare milk-based beverages with greater speed.
The icing on the cake is that both use Thermoblock technology, which can heat water up to the right temperature in about 20 seconds. Amazing, but how can it do that?
The key is that, rather than boiling a large quantity of water, the thermoblock only heats the exact volume of water needed to brew espresso or steam milk. So you don’t have to wait till the cow comes home to get your cherished caffeine fix to kick-start your day. As an extra bonus, your new brewing cycle never begins with stale water.
Brewing System
After the grinder does its job, the coffee grounds are temporarily kept in an extraction chamber, where a brief pre-infusion occurs prior to extraction. This process essentially involves moistening the coffee grounds with a small amount of water, allowing them to bloom. That way, it promotes an even extraction and the flavor and aroma of the resulting espresso.
The pre-infusion process is commonly found in most super-automatic espresso machines. If you’ve ever done some research on Jura and its products, you’ve probably heard something called an Intelligent Pre-Brew Aroma System (or I.P.B.A.S.). That is it!
Then the extraction process in both will take place at a pressure of 15 bars, while the minimum pressure required to pull an espresso is 8-9 bars. “Bars” refers to the unit of measurement used to measure the pressure that forces water through the coffee grounds during the extraction process. The Jura Ena 8, like most Jura models, has a unique extraction process called “P.E.P.” or Pulse Extraction Process.
Now, I understand that you may be fed up with the way Jura names its features and technologies, but trust me, this process is truly a great invention. Instead of maintaining a steady pressure and flow of water, the pulse extraction process pulses heated water through the coffee grounds in short bursts, ensuring every espresso shot is robust and bursting with fantastic flavors. Well done, Jura engineers!
Milk Frothing System
Who can resist the soft, creamy milk froth on top of a cup of cappuccino? Certainly, not me! The thing is that gone are the days when you had to venture out to the local café to savor that delightful froth. With the help of these super-automatic machines, you can make it yourself right in your own kitchen with your own hands without any intricate barista skills. It sounds like a fantasy, doesn’t it? But that’s what the Saeco Xelsis vs Jura Ena 8 really do with their automatic frothing milk systems.
To begin with, I must commend Saeco for their inclusion of a milk container in the package – one thing that, although it seems obvious, turns out to be surprisingly rare in the realm of espresso machines. I found that some brands that are notorious for overvaluing their products have never done this. You guessed it, Jura is a case in point!
Setting up the milk system was a breeze for me, and I found it produced milk powder with a smooth, velvety foam, which is typically only found in a coffee shop. It appears the LatteDuo technology, which double froths the milk to minimize the bubble size, really does the trick. The amount of milk (in ml) can also be fine-tuned with a swipe of a finger, but you can’t adjust the temperature or texture of the milk foam.
My sole complaint is that the Saeco Xelsis’s milk system initiates a steam flush to clean its milk system almost instantly after preparing a milk-infused beverage. This is not a big deal, but it would be better if it waited a few seconds longer.
As for the Jura Ena 8, concocting drinks with milk foam is still a single-button process, and you won’t have to move your cup during the process. It comes with a tube that is used to attach it to the milk frother and a milk container. You can use anything that can hold milk that you have on hand or complete the aesthetic of the machine by spending extra bucks on a Jura glass container or refrigerated cool controller. There’s not much space for experimentation here because the only thing that can be tweaked is the volume of milk foam (in sec instead of ml).
The Jura Ena 8 created a creamy, feather-light foam that suits my taste. For brewing a latte macchiato, you can adjust the interval to let the milk foam settle before the espresso is dispensed. The result? A tasty drink that not only satisfies the palate but also offers a visually captivating layered appearance!
Design & Usability
Winner: Saeco Xelsis
Dimensions, Footprint, & Weight
| Saeco Xelsis | Jura Ena 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 11.1 x 15.5 x 19.3 inches | 10.7 x 12.7 x 17.5 inches |
| Weight | 25.8 lbs | 20.7 lbs |
The Saeco Xelsis is an elegant espresso machine finished with a gleaming stainless steel casing, giving it a durable and long-lasting feel. Its cube-like machine also keeps pace with the tech-savvy era with a generously sized glass touch screen that is akin to an oversized smartphone. Honestly, I have a love-hate relationship with touchscreens: I love the modern look and ease they offer, but the fingerprints that are inevitably left on them are a minor annoyance.
The Jura Ena 8 also has a simple, elegant design, which I’m pretty sure will coordinate well with any kitchen. What caught my eye first was its crystal-like water reservoir, which I realized was plastic in hindsight – this is a good thing since it certainly won’t break if I invisibly drop it. This one is equipped with an easy-to-use and intuitive high-resolution TFT screen.
The Saeco Xelsis is considerably bulkier than its competitor, and you will struggle to find a home for it if you have limited countertop space. This one is also on the heavy side, but consider unboxing and putting it in the position of being almost a once-in-a-lifetime task, so it isn’t a big con.
Pre-programmed Coffee Options
| Saeco Xelsis | Jura Ena 8 |
|---|---|
| Coffee Espresso Ristretto Espresso lungo Americano Flat white Latte macchiato Cappuccino Caffe latte Cafe au lait Cortado Milk froth Warm milk Hot water | Ristretto Espresso Coffee Espresso Doppio Macchiato Cappuccino Flat White Latte Macchiato Portion of Milk Foam Hot Water |
The Saeco Xelsis notably surpasses the Jura Ena 8 in delivering a variety of one-touch drinks and further impresses with its ability to craft two cups of milk-based drinks at once. Frankly, it’s the only machine I’ve encountered in the sub-2000 super-automatic espresso market that offers such a valuable feature.
The Jura Ena 8 permits modifications to its preset drinks by offering 10 coffee strength levels and 3 brew temperatures, along with an adjustable amount of coffee and milk. Meanwhile, the Saeco Xelsis also takes the lead with a high degree of customization, with 5 levels of coffee strength and 3 brew temperatures, as well as the ability to tweak cup volume, coffee flavor, and milk foam amount. It even enables you to decide whether to add coffee or milk first.
Better yet, the Saeco Xelsis has a user profile feature that allows up to six different recipes of the same pre-programmed beverage to be saved. This feature is welcome for a model with such a wide range of customizable settings, especially considering your household includes multiple individuals who relish the same caffeinated brew.
Last but not least, both the Saeco Xelsis vs Jura Ena 8 have a bypass doser, which facilitates the use of pre-ground coffee whenever you run out of whole beans. This nifty feature also allows you to treat your caffeine-intolerant guests with something to quench their thirst.
Spout & Cup Clearance
| Saeco Xelsis | Jura Ena 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Spout Type | Dual | Single |
| Cup Clearance | 3-6 inches | 2.2–5 inches |
The Saeco Xelsis’s butterfly-shaped spout can be lifted up to 6 inches to fit some kinds of tall mugs, such as latte macchiato glasses or travel mugs. Meanwhile, the Ena 8’s spigot can be lowered very low, which is especially beneficial for making short shots like espresso to preserve the delightful crema.
And as I mentioned earlier, while the Jura Ena 8 can only brew one by one, the Saeco Xelsis machine can prepare two cups of caffeinated beverages simultaneously, including milk-based ones. Indeed, the Jura models I’ve encountered that offer this same feature are prohibitively expensive. It’s my sincere hope that we’ll see this feature incorporated into lower-cost models in the not-too-distant future.
Water Reservoir & Bean Hopper
| Saeco Xelsis | Jura Ena 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Water Reservoir | 1.7 liter | 1.1 liter |
| Bean Hopper | 0.35 liter | 0.13 liter |
Considering these “bean-to-cup” machines are designed with home use in mind, their water reservoirs are not exactly too small. Unless there are some coffee aficionados in your family, who treat coffee as their sole hydration source, a single refill of fresh water at the end of the day should suffice.
They also come with filters to remove impurities from the water, which is especially highly recommended if you are not using distilled water – an AquaClean filter for the Saeco Xelsis and a Clearyl Smart water filter for the Jura Ena 8. While using the filters incurs a continuous expense, the benefits they deliver – reducing machine descaling and ensuring the exquisite taste of espressos – undeniably justify the cost.
The Saeco Xelsis vs Jura Ena 8’s bean containers are on top and can hold 340 and 125 grams of whole beans, respectively. As long as you ensure to close them with their airtight lids all the time, the aroma of the beans will be preserved for a long time.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Tie
The maintenance and cleaning of espresso machines is the elephant in the room, but it’s a must-have to ensure they can reward you with tons of delicious espressos in the long run.
All you need to do to descale these super-automatic machines is just push the button and perform some straightforward tasks whenever they prompt you (via their displays). Bear in mind to always use the descaler that the manufacturer recommends: Philips descaler for the Saeco Xelsis and Jura’s cleaning tab for the Jura Ena 8. And if you want to keep the descaling task off your plate for a good length of time, just use the filter.
The deep cleaning of their milk systems also relies on automatic cleaning cycles and dedicated cleaners – Philips milk circuit cleaner for the Saeco Xelsis and Jura milk system cleaner for the Jura Ena 8. Their coffee dispensing spouts are also removable and can be disassembled into many smaller pieces for deep rinsing under the tap.
Unlike the Jura Ena 8’s built-in brew group, the Saeco Xelsis has a detachable one that needs to be washed and lubricated manually. That means you have an extra task to do periodically. But, in my mind, it’s the best way to maintain a brew group instead of relying on an automatic cleaning cycle.
Don’t forget some tasks that need to be done manually every day, including discarding the coffee grounds, emptying the drip tray, washing and refilling the water reservoir, and wiping down the machine’s outer surface.
Utilities & Other Features
Winner: Jura Ena 8
Remote Control
If you’re a tech-savvy coffee aficionado, you’ll be glad the Jura Ena 8 can be connected to your smartphone via the Jura Operating Experience (J.O.E.) app. This lets you kick off the brewing cycle from a distance and make all the necessary adjustments if you want – a feature that feels as though it’s been lifted straight from a sci-fi flick. If you have an iWatch, you can even just tap your wrist to brew your favorite drink. But to do that, you need to buy a Jura’s Smart Connect separately.
Energy Saving Mode
Regarding cutting power consumption and saving the environment (and your wallet, of course), the Jura Ena 8 features an Energy Save mode, while the Saeco Xelsis has a Stand-by mode. The former can also automatically turn off after an adjustable interval (15 mins, 30 mins, or 1–9 hours).
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 2023-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Jura Ena 8
- COMPACT ONE TOUCH: Prepare 10 barista quality specialties including espresso doppio, cappuccino, flat white and latte macchiato at the touch of a button
- PERFECT ESPRESSO: Ultimate coffee quality thanks to JURA's exclusive Pulse Extraction Process
- CONICAL BURR GRINDER: Fast and precise AromaG3 grinder grinds whole beans to the optimum fineness
- ECO FRIENDLY: JURA is always freshly ground, not capsuled - fresh taste with very limited waste - single serve machine
- CAPACITY: 37 ounce cylindrical-shape, easy-grip water tank, 4.4 ounce bean container, optional pre-ground chute
Last update on 2023-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Product Video
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References:
- Saeco Xelsis: https://saeco.com/xelsis/
- Jura Ena 8: https://www.jura-ena.com/
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.