Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
T3
T3
Technology
Lizzie Wilmot

Jura unveils first-ever 'premium economy' coffee machine, but why is it so expensive?

JURA C8.

If you've noticed the best bean to cup coffee machines becoming increasingly expensive, you're not the only one. A lot of models, such as the Sage Oracle Touch and KitchenAid KF8, are still the best part of a grand, which let's face it, is a lot of money. 

You're probably wondering why I've decided to start my Wednesday moaning about the rising costs of coffee machines. Well, Jura has just unveiled a 'premium economy' coffee machine, describing it as offering 'maximum performance and premium style' in a compact format. 

At first glance, the Jura C8 certainly looks like an impressive machine, but I want to dig deeper to see if it truly justifies its hefty price tag. 

(Image credit: Jura)

First of all, let's take a look at this 'premium economy' tagline. It's clear that the Swiss brand is positioning its new coffee machine as a small notch above budget options, but with a price tag of nearly £900, it's an unusual approach to go with. The cheapest machine in our best bean to cup coffee machine  buying guide is the Breville Barista Max+, retailing at just under £330. The Jura C8 remains a lot more expensive than this, so I'd be inclined to categorise it as a premium choice more than anything. 

The Jura C8 offers a streamlined menu of the four most popular classics: coffee, espresso, cappuccino and latte macchiato. The De'Longhi Eletta Explore can make over 50 hot and cold coffee recipes, so I'm not too impressed by this. The C8 also lacks a touchscreen, another feature that a lot of similarly priced machines have. 

Don't get me wrong, the C8 does have a few handy features. There's Pulse Extraction Process to ensure every espresso is served to a barista standard, and Fine Foam Technology helps produce a lovely smooth foam for cappuccinos and latte macchiatos.  There's also a Professional Aroma Grinder, allowing you to optimise your flavour and extraction preferences. 

Jura itself describes the C8 as a 'minimalist approach' to coffee brewing. There's of course nothing wrong with this, and a lot of consumers will prefer this over something more tech-focused. However, its price doesn't quite reflect this, and I would've been happier to see it on the lower end of the scale. 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.