Saeco and Jura are two big names in the game, as are their Xelsis and E8 models. Since their initial releases back in 2015, both models have received some improved versions (around the year 2019). But, whichever version you pick, their quality hasn’t been compromised at all—which makes our discussion straightforward.
Thanks to the many intriguing features of both of these models, we’ve been able to present a concise comparison for you all. Before diving into broader discussions, we’ll take you right into the comparison table below. You can glance through this table and immediately paint the picture so that the later parts of the Saeco Xelsis vs. Jura E8 comparison become easier and quicker for you to absorb.
Saeco Xelsis VS. Jura E8: Comparison Tables
Dissimilarities
Category | Jura E8 | Saeco Xelsis |
---|---|---|
Interface | Color Touchscreen & Buttons | Touchscreen |
Used Coffee Grounds Container | 16 servings | 14 servings |
Casing | Plastic | Plastic & Steel |
Bean Hopper (oz.) | 10 | 16 |
Water Tank (oz.) | 64 | 57.5 |
User Profiles | N/A | 8 |
Grinder Settings | 10 | 12 |
Coffee Strengths | 10 | 5 |
Drinks | 17 | 15 |
Adjustable Spout Height (in) | 6.6 – 11.2 | 3 – 6 |
Dimension (W x D x H) (in) | 11 x 17.6 x 13.8 | 11.1 x 19.2 x 15.4 |
Brew Group | Fixed | Removable |
Milk Frothing System | HP3 Cappuccinatore | Latte Perfetto Technology w/ Milk Carafe |
Grinder Type & Material | Conical Burr & Stainless Steel | Flat Burr & Ceramic |
Water Filter | CLEARYL | AquaClean |
Hot Milk | No | Yes |
Hot Water Temperature Levels | 3 | N/A |
Weight (lbs.) | 22 | 23.5 |
Similarities
Category | Jura E8 | Saeco Xelsis |
---|---|---|
Boiler | Single Thermoblock | Single Thermoblock |
Pump Pressure | 15-bar | 15-bar |
Energy Saving Modes | Yes | Yes |
Pre-Ground Powder Chute | Yes | Yes |
Adjustable Brew Temperature | 3 | 3 |
Warranty | 2 Years | 2 Years |
Hot Water | Yes | Yes |
2-Cup Function | Yes | Yes |
Key Differences Between The Xelsis And The E8
Construction
The E8 model is not only lighter but also more space-friendly compared to the Saeco Xelsis. If you’re short on space, the E8 will be more suited for such circumstances than the Xelsis because of its dimension. But the Xelsis has a better exterior, as Saeco used both plastic and stainless steel to make the body. Jura used only plastic on the E8’s exterior. The Xelsis also has a front-accessible water tank, which is not the case with the Jura E8. But if you like a sizeable water capacity in your espresso machine, you’d have to go with Jura, as it has a 64 oz. tank as opposed to Xelsis’s 57.5 oz. water tank.
Grinder And Bean Hopper
The Jura E8 and Saeco Xelsis don’t fail to deliver quality coffee grounds. Both machines do well to preserve maximum flavor and aroma with their grinders. The Xelsis uses a flat ceramic burr, while the E8 uses a noiseless stainless steel-made conical burr grinder. Even though they work equally smoothly and ceramic-made burrs are so popular, conical burrs tend to be more consistent and durable in the long run. So, the E8 is slightly ahead of Xelsis in this regard. But, Xelsis may have the final laugh here as it offers 12 grinder settings against E8’s 10 settings. Furthermore, Xelsis offers a larger bean hopper than the Jura E8.
Dosing And Tamping
Saeco Xelsis is quick to dose but not as quick as the Jura E8. The Xelsis uses 7–10 g of ground beans per dose, while the E8 uses 5–16 g of ground beans per dose – meaning, you’ll have more coffee-strength varieties with the Jura E8. And it shows anyway, as the E8 offers 10 different coffee strength levels compared to just 5 strength levels of Xelsis.
Flavor-wise, both machines perform greatly at extracting robust and fresh flavors from the coffee grounds. But the E8 offers broader possibilities with a whopping 17 specialty recipes. Saeco is not far behind in this regard either, offering 15 specialty recipes. The Jura E8 also offers a cheeky one-touch Americano function as well.
Milk System
Both the Jura E8 and the Saeco Xelsis use an external milk carafe and connect it to the milk spout with a milk tube. The E8 uses HP3 and automatic cappuccinatore technology to steam and froth the milk. The Xelsis uses its very own Latte Perfetto technology to do the same. Both of these systems froth milk with adjustability. The Saeco system comes with a 20 oz. milk carafe, whereas the Jura machine doesn’t come with one – you’d have to buy the Jura Cooler for that.
The Xelsis can produce a relatively nice foam quality with an airy texture. However, the whole operation can be messy. But, the Jura E8 delivers a smooth, top-notch, and velvety milky foam texture with ease. It’s definitely superb for all the milky recipes it offers.
Special Features
Both models offer a satisfying level of customization, such as water temperature, coffee strength, and milk texture. But Saeco has an advantage over the Jura E8 when it comes to saving up all the customizations. The Jura E8 doesn’t offer a separate user profile, but Xelsis does, in fact, 8 of them. So, a house full of drinkers should prefer the Xelsis. The E8 has a color touchscreen user interface just like the Xelsis. But the E8 has 6 buttons, whereas the Xelsis has none. If you like full-frontal screen experiences, Xelsis will win your heart for sure.
Cleaning And Maintenance
It’s good to say that both the Jura E8 and Saeco Xelsis have auto rinsing, cleaning, and descaling features. The difference is in their water filters. Saeco has a Philips-made AquaClean water filter and Jura uses its own CLEARYL water filter. While AquaClean filtration excels in keeping the limescale buildup to a minimum, the CLEARYL filter achieves 98% water softening and filtration. Jura E8 also provides a larger used coffee grounds container compared to Xelsis.
One of the gripes we had with the Jura E8 is that its group head is fixed and thus solely relies upon the machine’s ability to self-rinse and clean. The Xelsis doesn’t have that headache at all. Yes, it has all the same automated cleaning options, but it still provides a detachable group head – which we obviously liked!
What Are The Similarities?
Even though these machines are made by completely different manufacturers, they share some similarities as well. We’ve enlisted those for your perusal below.
- One of the most important similarities between the two machines is the presence of pre-infusion technology. The pre-infusion ensures the extraction of maximum flavor from the brew. It takes the freshly ground beans from the coffee grinder and correctly tamps them. Then pre-soak the grind in multi-layers before extraction
- Both of these super-automatic espresso machines come with a single Thermoblock heating technology. That’s why they have similar performance numbers
- Both Jura and Philips devices come with all the energy-saving modes. Their auto shut-off function, zero-energy mode, and programmable switch-off time allow users to cut down on energy consumption and prolong the lifespan of the machine
- Even though Jura makes better milk foam, when it comes to pure espresso shot quality, both machines are flawless. They do a phenomenal job of extracting authentic flavor notes and aromas from the grounds
- Saeco Xelsis and Jura E8 machines both offer a wider range of customization capabilities—indicating the fact that these machines are not for greenhorns. If you’re moderately experienced with automatic machines, these machines are the perfect level-uppers for you!
- Both of these models have a pre-ground coffee powder chute, which is a great addition for decaf lovers. Also, for your lazy days, just open up the chute and put in 1 or 2 scoops of your favorite pre-ground coffee
Saeco Xelsis: Overview
Saeco, an Italian brand owned by Philips, is known for its manual, super-automatic, and capsule espresso machines. Saeco is also the world’s first company to make the “bean-to-cup” automatic espresso brewing system. The Xelsis is one of their most celebrated super-automatic machines, made for baristas who love all the bells and whistles in their home espresso maker.
And it doesn’t disappoint at all – starting with the large touchscreen user interface display in the front. You can do all the customizations through this smart interface. Ample grinder settings drink recipes, strength levels, and easy milk systems—Saeco made sure that none of this was overlooked! Saeco went the extra mile by adding 8 user profiles to save all of these customizations as well.
Cleaning and maintenance are simple too! The combination of AquaClean filtration combined with automated rinsing, cleaning, and descaling features made this machine a breeze of an experience. On top of that, Saeco Xelsis can auto-clean its milk system as well.
The inclusion of a ceramic grinder, auto tamping and dosing, pre-infusion, and fine foam technology— all bring out the finest aroma and flavor in each cup of coffee brewed with this machine.
It does have some negative points, though, as the grinder is fairly noisy and the machine takes 5–10 minutes of heat-up time compared to its close competitors.
Recommended Read: Comprehensive review of Saeco Xelsis.
Jura E8: Overview
The Jura E8 is Jura’s most popular super-automatic espresso machine. It has consistent brewing quality, a robust yet minimalistic design, and the very best Jura features. If you’re looking for a sizeable yet wise expenditure, the E8 is the perfect “big boy league” espresso machine for you.
The E8 has a color touchscreen display up front with six buttons as well. The automation is smooth and easy to execute. Ten grinder settings, 17 drink recipes, 3 hot water temperatures, 10 brew strength levels, and a larger water tank – an irresistible set of combinations.
Jura’s fine foam technology makes one of the best-quality milk froths, hands down! From latte to flat white, you name it—all recipes can be produced with ease with its HP3 Cappuccinatore milk system. Much like the Saeco, it also self-rinses the milk system after each session automatically.
The E8 went very big on one-touch functionalities. We’ve mentioned that all the maintenance and cleaning cycles are done automatically, but it also offers a one-touch Americano button as well.
Just like the Saeco Xelsis, it has an energy-saving mode, zero energy mode, and auto switch-off functions. The E8 is also easy to fit into small spaces. It also comes with super-convenient automated cleaning, rinsing, and descaling functions. Similar to Xelsis, the E8 auto-rinses its milk system after each use.
Unlike the Xelsis, the E8’s grinder is a quiet one. It’d be a perfect roundup if the E8 had a removable brew group.
Recommended Read: Comprehensive review of Jura E8.
FAQs
Where are Saeco machines made?
Philips Saeco S.P.A., simply known as Saeco, is an Italian espresso machine manufacturer. It’s based in Gaggio Montano near Bologna, including its factories.
Where is Jura HQ situated?
Even though it has multiple factories and assembly centers around the world, the Jura headquarters is still in Niederbuchsiten, Switzerland.
Is the Jura E8 espresso machine made in Switzerland?
No, the Jura E8 is made in Jura’s factory in Portugal.
Can the Xelsis be hooked up directly to a water line?
No, the Saeco Xelsis can’t be directly connected to a water line.
Do I need smart filters if I’m using filtered water?
We’re not sure about it. But, we can safely state that Jura’s CLEARYL filter and Saeco’s AquaClean smart filters not only clean the water but also soften the water to avoid all the limescale problems. So, our advice would be to not take any chances.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Jura E8 is ahead of the Saeco Xelsis in many key aspects. It offers strong milk-based espresso, more compactness, larger storage, and more drink customizations. The grinder is quiet as well! As for the Xelsis, we really enjoyed the grinding levels, many user profiles, its sleek design, and the good milk froth quality. However, it takes more time to pre-heat and extract compared to the E8. The Jura E8 is more expensive than the Xelsis, but it offers excellent value for money thanks to its excellent espresso and the milk frothing quality, as well as a variety of automated Jura features.