If you’re looking for a machine that’s all about the coffee (no milk-based beverages here!), then you should check out Jura’s ENA 1 and A1 models. Noted for their simplicity and unique slanted design, users will have no problem producing a steaming shot of espresso, coffee, or ristretto on their Jura machine. But which of these two entry-level coffee machines should you get? Read our comparison of the Jura ENA 1 and A1 to find out!
Jura ENA 1
37-ounce Reservoir
The first thing you should know about both of these super-automatic coffee machines is that they come with a rather tiny water tank that only holds onto 37 ounces of water at a time. These machines would be ideal in 1- or 2-person homes or small offices, but if you need to make tons of coffee to satiate your caffeine addiction, you can fill the tank at the machine to immediately begin the brewing process.
In addition, both of these machines use an intelligent CLEARYL filter with a built-in RFID chip that not only removes hard minerals from the tank but also alerts the user as to when the filter needs to be changed. If you use and replace the filter regularly, you will never have to descale the machine.
Bean-to-Cup Machines
Both of these units are one-button espresso machines that produces flavorful beverages with a single press of a button, starting from the whole-bean grinding with multi-level settings and ending at customizable coffee ground extraction. Both of them also feature a 1-scoop pre-ground doser, typically for pouring decaf coffee grounds.
3 Adjustable Drink Options
Without a steam wand, both of these machines have a very limited library of coffee selections. What they can make are aromatic, delicious shots of espresso, ristretto, and straight-up long coffee. The minimalistic control panel on top allows you to adjust the strength of the coffee as well as size based on your glass or mug. It will save any of the adjustments made for future use.
Auto Energy-Saving Mode
The ENA 1 has an automatic energy-saving mode that keeps electricity costs down. Features of this mode include the patented Zero-Energy Switch that puts the machine on standby mode where it uses less than 0.1W of power, as well as auto-shutoff after a certain period of inactivity. This is standard in Jura’s fine line of automatic machines.
Jura A1
Aroma G3 Grinder
Even though both of these machines come with bean hoppers (the A1’s is larger by 3 grams) and a built-in bean grinder, the Aroma G3 Grinder found on the Jura 15148 A1 Super Automatic Coffee Machine is significantly better than the ENA 1’s Aroma+. With several grind sizes available to you, the grinder supports the P.E.P. brewing system (more on this in a bit) to produce a perfectly balanced shot of espresso with perfect extraction time and pressure.
Pulse Extraction Process
The Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P) pushes steaming-hot water through the tamped coffee grounds in short, rapid bursts in order to optimize extraction times. This is a highly efficient system that not only completes the brewing process in no time but also creates the perfect aroma and a more defined layer of crema for short specialty drinks.
Height-Adjustable Brew Group
The nonremovable brew groups on both of these machines can be lifted up and down to support shot glasses and large mugs of up to 5.5 inches in height. To make the best use of the tallest height setting, be sure to set adjust the cup size to as many fluid ounces as the mug can handle (up to 8 ounces). Want to fill a thermal tumbler for espresso on the go? The ENA 1 and A1 got you covered.
Configurable Auto-Shutoff Timer
The ENA 1 has a timer set to 30 minutes of inactivity before automatically hitting the kill switch. The A1 does it a bit differently. The default setting is at 30 minutes, but you can configure the shutoff timer to up to 2 hours if you don’t want to wait on the machine to start up after lengthy idling periods.
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Jura ENA 1 vs. A1: Which Super-Automatic Coffee Machine Should I Get?
The clear winner, in our opinion, is the Jura A1. Thanks to the P.E.P. system built into the A1, you can expect thicker layers of crema for heightened levels of aroma balance. The Aroma 3 Grinder on the A1 also has more grind size options to suit your ideal flavor profile.
In every other regard, the two are hand and hand. The most important thing to remember about both the Jura ENA 1 and A1 is that they produce espressos with a single touch of a button at your preferred strength level.
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Last Update: 2024-04-17 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API