Not sure if the first reviewer is misdirecting his dissatisfaction. Sounds like the spending of the vacation money was the real problem. Because this machine is perfect, and I have nothing bad to say about it. Other than that it does look a little Spartan, but only in a minor way.
It brews an wonderfull espresso, with thick, golden, foamy crema. It brews it absolutely perfectly, and consistently everytime. Overall the functionality of this machine is superb, and very customizable. Each button can be programmed to YOUR specifications, so easily a monkey could do it. The cup warmer is genious, the clean-up is easier than ANY drip maker I have used/owned. Overall the machine is also very quiet.
The 'Foofy' drinks (as I like to call them) are top notch! My wife prefers the lattes, Chai teas,etc. The frother on this machine has it's own dedicated thermoblock boiler, so there is no lag time, and the froth is excellent. Micro-bubbles as good as any Barista. Water filtering system is great, easy to activate, grinds, tamps beans which is excellent. Also has a chute for already ground coffee, good for Decaf, or flavored.
I guess you could complain about the plastic on the outside, but this does not bother me at all. and frankly seems easier to keep clean, which is a concern since milk etc splatters on the machine when you froth. Also keeps the machine lighter and enables you to move it without breaking your neck.
The ONLY difference between this machine and the S9A is the following:
Exterior look, S7A has black accents, S9A has the same plastic accents, but in silver.
S9A comes with the Frother X-Press, which quite honestly is useless unless you are entertaining and brewing several milk drinks at once. Anyway, frothing in the cup is fun.
The cup warmer on the S9A has stainless tray, whereas the S7A is plastic.
Otherwise, the functionality and insides of the machines is the same. And this is where both of these machines shine, on their functionality. They brew excellent, hot, delicious, rich, coffee in less than 60 seconds. They are tried and true, well-reviewed models.
If you are in the market, don't think twice about a Jura, the quality is fantastic, and end result brew is second to only a Semi-Auto.
My wife and I purchased an Jura S7 Avantgarde for each other last Christmas. Due to its high cost, and a few reviews relating faulty machines, we did opt to buy from a company with a lifetime "no questions asked" return policy. Also note that this is the same machine as the S9 for about 300.00 less. We have found the the black color is much easier to keep looking clean.
In the past year, we have used the machine multiple times daily. When we first started using it, I was disappointed in the quality of the coffee it made. I was thinking about returning it because for 2K, I expected excellent taste. However, after reviewing the instructions more throughly, and trying different combinations, I was able to make drinks up to my expectations. If you think that you can buy this machine as a no-brainer expresso maker, you may be disappointed. However, if you are willing to experiment a bit, you will find that this Jura is capable of making excellent expresso, lattes, cafe americano, as well as some of the best pressure brewed coffee you've ever had. If you are a die-hard expresso purist, you probably aren't reading this review, but if you are, I will say that while this machine will come close to the best espresso machines, you will note a difference. For the vast majority of people, the convenience and multiple capabilities of this product are worth it.
Since the machine is completely programmable, you can vary the combinations of water temperature, water quantity, grind setting, powder quantity, expressing time, etc. Once you have discovered the correct combination for your favorite drink, it truly becomes a "one button" machine. (for that drink) I have found that the grind setting has a significant impact on the taste of the coffee, so if you are experiencing problems, start there. Also, while the instructions suggest using a finer grind for ligher beans, I have found that a coarser grind is better. Don't forget that your water will affect the taste of the drink, so try using some R/O water for your experiments.
Pros: Small size fits under cabinets Programmable Easy care Excellent capabilities Simple use after initial set-up
Cons: High cost of maintenence products. Initial Investment Bit noisy during cleaning cycles Learning Curve
Update December 2010:
As much as I hate to say it, we ended up getting rid of our Jura. After sending it back for repair a couple of times, I still could not get the grinder to make a fine grind without which you cannot make espresso. I have replaced it with a Saeco Syntia, and am getting a much better cup of coffee for about 1/2 the price.
Buy Jura-Capresso 13289 Impressa S7 Avantgarde Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center Now
After much research, we purchased this machine as certified pre-brewed. We knew we wanted a Jura, and our budget only went so far. Instead of a new lower end machine we spent our allotted amount on a CPB S7 avantgarde. It arrived in only 48 hours, with Saturday delivery.
We wanted a machine with Xpress froth, and the double boiler so we wouldn't have to wait between frothing and brewing or vice versa. The menu display and buttons are very clear and intuitive, the machine is easy to clean, and best of all, whether it's crema coffee or espresso, all have come out wonderfullly. We are picky about our coffee drinks and this machine has been flawless in executing them. FrothXpress makes excellent steamed milk and creamy fine froth. The siphoning feature is brilliant.
As for being factory reconditioned, the machine was either hardly used or wonderfully refurbished, because it has not a scratch on it and in every detail appreared to be brand new. The included DVD is very clear.
Five stars for the S7a, which seems to be identical to the S9 except for color and one-touch cappucino though the S7 is essentially a 1 touch machine with a separate step for frothed milk.
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I'll keep this review simple... the S7 AG my wife and I got about 3 years ago has worked flawlessly. I clean it on a regular basis, which I have also heard is key not only for the sake of better tasting coffee, but also for the life and performance of the machine.
We make shots almost every day and I guess we've made upwards of 2,000 drinks, and still it runs well. Prior to the Jura, I went through THREE Francis!Francis! machines (even the cool stainless version). In each case, the pump just didn't have the strength to push through proper espresso grounds (pods were OK), and I prefer fresh-ground flavor. Since the Jura has a self-contained, and yet full-automated system it was the only machine on the market at the time that made sense to me.
Apart from the cost, it is a great machine that pulls a perfect shot every time. Until recently, it was the most expensive appliance we had in the kitchen...
Enjoy
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I've now owned the Jura Capresso S7 superautomatic espresso machine for several years, so I've had plenty of time to get to know the unit. As far as superautos go, it makes excellent espresso. Now do understand that the superautomatics are a compromise. You will likely never pour "The Crema of the Gods" that you *might* see every now and then with a quality manual machine. But this unit will give you very good shots with great consistency.
Frothing milk is also a weak spot of many superautomatics, and the S7 is no exception. It simply doesn't have the horsepower of a quality manual machine to put out that super-dense froth replete with microbubbles. I've tried to froth both manually and also with the optional frother and I get the same so-so results.
On the plus side, there are greater customization options than I've seen on any other superauto that I've used. You can control the temperature of water, the quantity of coffee, the quantity of coffee, the fineness of the grind and so on. The unit is very easy to clean, but be sure to wipe off the shower-like head with a damp paper cloth. There are many machines that are a major pain to clean, and the Jura-Capresso units really stand out as you merely drop in a cleaning tablet and follow the instructions. As a side note, the Jura-Capresso branded tablets are fairly pricey. Instead, I recommend the Ornex Cafiza tablets which are much, much cheaper and seem to do the exact same job.
So it it worth a couple of grand? That's a very subjective question. Frankly, probably not. However, it is a quality machine that will last you a very long time. I do recommend it, despite the high price and a few aforementioned shortcomings.
Very disappointed in this. I bought the 3 cup version and it worked perfectly, but 3 cups is one big cappuccino for me. I ordered the 12 cup because I used one while staying in the Dominican Republic. It was great. Enough coffee for me and my husband, with enough left over for an iced coffee in the afternoon.
