Sometimes, life is all about choices. You can live with a subpar coffee machine or go big with a product that matches or even exceeds what is available at your local coffee shop. Recently, I had the chance to test out the Jura J8 Twin, a beast of a coffee machine that gives you plenty of choices about how to make your blend. Of the coffee machines I’ve tested, this model takes the top prize in terms of coffee options.
It’s all possible because, as the name implies, the Jura J8 Twin has two grinders that can be customized independently. One example of how this works is that you can fill the left grinder with a rich caffeine-based dark roast and fill the right grinder with a decaf blend.
I prefer “real” coffee and skip decaf, so for me having two grinders meant I could mix and match different blends of coffee, or choose the one I wanted with a quick button press. The machine lets you set a default blend but you can also select customizations each time you make a cup.
For the first few weeks of testing, I set the machine to make a lighter roast that blended two different beans. The machine grinds and brews in only a few seconds. It was wonderful to be able to experiment with different whole beans during this period. Later during my testing, I experimented with grinding levels to make a thicker brew.
I will say, the Jura J8 Twin really impressed me with how much flexibility you had. Visitors in my house could brew a cup that was much thicker and heavier while I stuck to my lighter approach. Jura says there are 31 different brews you can make including an espresso, a latte, and everything in between. A soft foam function also lets you add syrup as a sweetener.
This model has an expansive touchscreen display that measures 6.7-inches so you can easily set the default brews you like. The screen’s graphical icons are well-designed and help you quickly find your desired drink.
As usual, the real test of a coffee machine like this comes down to taste. I found the flexibility really improved the experience for me, because I could make a very light roast blend in the morning when I wasn’t in the mood for something so rich and frothy. In the evening, I’d make one cup that was much richer for a nice and textured drink.
Every cup I made compared favorably with all of the coffee shops in my area, including Caribou and Starbucks. Because there are so many ways to adjust the grinders, it took me a week or so to find the exact blend I liked, but then I could make that brew instantly every time.
Of course, this kind of flexibility means accepting the price tag, which is $3,499. I see a machine like this as lasting for years and easily replacing a coffee shop, so if you drink a cup every day, it becomes a simple math equation. A $3 cup of coffee every day adds up to about $1,000 annually. I tend to drink a few cups a day, so this is a machine that pays for itself in short order.
The setup was a breeze, and the customizations mean you can find the exact drink you like. It’s a fun exercise to go through, taste testing with friends. In the end, the Jura J8 Twin was the best coffee machine I’ve ever tested and, as usual, will require a moment of silence when I send back my demo machine.