If you wonder which espresso machine is better between Saeco Xelsis vs Jura Ena 8, let me give you a quick answer: Saeco Xelsis.
Saeco Xelsis is equipped with a 54.1oz water tank that can serve homeowners a large amount of coffee per day. The espresso and milk foam quality is excellent as well. Also, the cleaning cycles leave a good impression on me since they are super-automatic and convenient. I highly recommend this model if you drink coffee regularly.
As for Jura ENA 8, I applaud its espresso quality and compact design that will fit almost all kitchen stands. However, despite making a good milk foam texture, the machine isn’t versatile enough to satisfy users who enjoy making creative changes to the recipes. I will elaborate on the details below.
Saeco Xelsis vs Jura Ena 8: Specs & Features Comparison Chart
Last update on 2024-04-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Saeco Xelsis vs Jura Ena 8: Differences
Saeco Xelsis wins 4 to 1 against Jura Ena 8 thanks to its high-quality espressos and coffees, nice additional features, advanced cleaning cycles and so on. I will tell you how these machines have worked for me so far below.
Coffee Flavor: Tie
+Grinder
Saeco Xelsis uses a flat ceramic burr grinder, and Jura Ena 8 uses an Aroma G3 grinder, a conical burr grinder designed by Jura and has 6 grind settings. After testing these machines, I haven’t noticed any error in their operation. So far, I have gotten smooth and even ground most of the time, judging by the used puck.
But, I want to highlight that this might not be the case in the long run. Most devices work great initially since they are new and in their best shape. But the flat grinder on Xelsis might suffer more jams in the future. I’m not saying that this will happen for sure, but speaking from my experience, flat grinders tend to keep behind smaller grains of coffee ground if they are broken somewhere. Avoid oily beans to keep the grinders safe and “healthy”.
+Dosing + tamping
The dosing and tamping process is 100% automatic, so I don’t have to interfere with the brewing process.
Saeco Xelsis uses 7-10g of freshly ground coffee for the recipes, while Ena 8 uses 5 to 16g.
Flavor-wise, with Saeco’s machine, I get a smoother and more mellow espresso. To achieve a more potent espresso, I adjust the coffee strength to 4th or 5th levels, the highest levels. The crema also is thick and creamy. Overall, the drinks are impressive.
With Jura Ena 8, I get a more robust flavor, so this model is more suitable for strong-coffee drinkers. However, my drinks come out slightly more bitter from time to time than what I prefer.
+Heating system
The pair uses Thermoblock to heat water, and to my expectation, they work pretty quickly in the priming step. I usually leave them on 5-10 minutes before brewing to ensure a good result temperature and hot drink temperature I get.
Milk System: Saeco Xelsis
There are “contradicting” points that I want to make here.
About Saeco Xelsis, it definitely has a more elaborate milk system. I can change the amount of milk foam that goes into each drink. In terms of foam quality, Saeco Xelsis delivers an airy, velvety and dry foam for cappuccino, and for a macchiato, I notice a thicker and creamier milk texture. In shorts, the milk foam quality is excellent.
But, the operation isn’t very smooth. Before and after the milk comes out, the dispenser shoots short and strong bursts of steamed water, which looks quite messy. This is one detail that I don’t find attractive.
Jura Ena 8, on the other hand, is simple and smooth all the way. It can make an airy and dry foam that cappuccinos and lattes need. But, that’s all the machine can deliver. I don’t notice much diversity in the foam texture. So in terms of foam quality, Ena 8 performs slightly not as good as Xelsis.
Utilities: Saeco Xelsis
Saeco Xelsis has more one-touch beverages, more options for adjusting coffee aroma and milk texture, and a bigger water tank. Overall, I find it more convenient, especially when I have guests over and I can brew for a larger crowd.
The used puck container has a large capacity. So I don’t have to dump it out as often as with Jura Ena 8. This is not a big difference, but if you brew daily and brew a lot, there is no doubt that a larger container is more convenient.
Cleaning & Maintain: Saeco Xelsis
There is nothing better than having an espresso machine that helps you clean, and both the Jura ENA8 and the Saeco Xelsis offer convenient cleaning cycles.
For Saeco Xelsis, it definitely has more cleaning cycles that help clean from briefly to thoroughly. What impresses me is the HydieSteam function, which rinses the entire brew path and milk tube with high-pressure hot steam. The process is rapid and easy, which is ideal for daily cleaning.
It also has a total cleaning cycle that lasts about 20 minutes. This helps clear the entire machine, from grinder to spout, to ensure that the quality of beverages is top-notch each time. From my experience, I suggest using a special cleaning solution since it helps rinse out old coffee smell better.
As for Jura Ena 8, its cleaning cycles are more straightforward. You can see a red sign that tells when the machine needs some cleaning on the screen. It has one process for deep cleaning and one cycle for the milk system.
After testing both, I suggest using the milk system cleaning cycle daily and the complete cycle twice a week. The drinks taste better that way, and it doesn’t take much time either. We can avoid mold development by cleaning the device more often.
Design & Material: Jura Ena 8
Material-wise, these devices combine stainless steel and plastic to ensure a durable yet more lightweight feel.
However, I prefer the design of Jura Ena 8 since it has a compact footprint that fits most surfaces. The water tank also has a nice touch to it since it’s 100% transparent and has a diamond-cut pattern. The water tank is located at the side, so it’s effortless to access it for refilling. Overall, I like Ena 8’s design.
Nevertheless, since Saeco Xelsis has a bigger water reservoir unit and a bulkier design, it’s easy to tell that it’s suitable for large families or users who drink a lot of coffee daily.
Saeco Xelsis vs Jura Ena 8: Similarities
Saeco Xelsis vs Jura Ena 8 isn’t just about differences. I want to highlight some conveniente similarities, which I think will simplify and assist your brewing experience in the long run.
Automatic switch-off
These devices are designed to shut off automatically in a certain amount of time to save energy, and we can adjust the waiting time. After 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour to 9 hours, these machines turn off without requiring extra attention.
Carafe to froth milk
Saeco Xelsis and Jura Ena 8 froths milk using an internal system connected to an external carafe through a flexible tube. You don’t have to buy a professional carafe either. It’s possible to use any jug or mug to store whatever amount of milk that you like, and these espresso makers work with the recipes and suck up milk, froth it, and dispense it smoothly.
Quick Rundown of Saeco Xelsis
- With Philips Saeco Xelsis easily make up to 15 coffee varieties from common Espresso and Capuccino to specialty coffees like Flat White or Americano. Simply swipe the touchscreen to select the drink and customize it with our intuitive Coffee Equalizer.Filter type:Reusable.Power consumption stand-by : 0.5W, Drip tray capacity : 500 ml
- 15 Coffee Varieties at Your Fingertips: Explore the world of coffee - Espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, and a range of specialty drinks
- Personalized Preferences: Everyone’s custom coffee favorites can be saved in up to 6 user profiles for instant selection. Personalize each profile down to the finest detail
- LatteDuo Milk System: Prepare and enjoy single or double serving of any coffee recipe with one touch, including Cappuccino or Latte Macchiato
- Double Thermo Blocks: Dedicated for both brewing and steaming offer accurate temperature controls for every drink in your recipe book
Last update on 2024-04-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of Jura ENA 8
No products found.
Product Videos
Related Articles to Saeco Xelsis
- Saeco Xelsis Vs Philips 5400: Which One Is Better?
- Saeco Xelsis Vs Philips 3200: Honest Review Of 2 Intuitive And Potent Espresso Machines After 2 Months Of Testing
- Jura J6 Vs Saeco Xelsis: Does The Price Decides A Potent Espresso Machine? Honest Review After 4 Months Of Using
- Jura E6 Vs Saeco Xelsis: Reviewing 2 Super-Automatic Espresso Machines For Home Use
- Jura Z6 Vs Saeco Xelsis: Which Espresso Machine Serves More Delicious Beverages For Larger Crowds?
- Jura Z8 Vs Saeco Xelsis: My Complete And Honest Review On 2 Expensive Super-Automatic Espresso Machines
- Saeco Xelsis Vs Jura E8: Which High-End Model Is More Intuitive And Brews Better Coffee?
- Gaggia Accademia vs Saeco Xelsis: Evaluating 4 Key Differences For Home Coffee Drinkers & Espresso Lovers
- Gaggia Babila vs Saeco Xelsis: Which Is The Easiest Super-Automatic Espresso Machine To Use With A Built-In Grinder?
- Saeco Xelsis Vs Gaggia Cadorna Prestige: Which One To Choose?
- Delonghi Eletta Vs Saeco Xelsis: Which One Is Better?
- Saeco Xelsis vs Jura S8: 9 Differences That Help You Decide Between The Two Automatic Espresso Machines
- Breville Oracle Touch Vs Saeco Xelsis: Which One Is Better?
Related Articles to Jura Ena 8
- Jura Z8 vs ENA 8 Review: What To Consider For Every Espresso Drinker – This Jura Bean-To-Cup Espresso Maker Is Worth Every Penny
- Jura ENA 8 Vs Z6: A Head-To-Head Comparison
- Jura Ena 8 Vs S8: Features and Performance Compared
- Jura ENA 8 vs Micro 90 Comparison Review: You’ll Love This Bean-To-Cup Espresso Machine If You Want Delicious Espresso Drinks At Home
- Jura ENA 8 vs J6 Review: Looking For Features That Produce Delicious Espresso With The Help Of Super-Automatic Espresso Makers
- Jura E8 Vs Ena 8: Which Jura Super-Automatic Machine Is Better?
- Jura E6 vs ENA 8 Comparison Review: Which Is The Next Fully Automated & Programmable Espresso Drink For You?
- Jura D6 vs ENA 8: Comparison Review The Ultimate Bean-To-Cup Espresso Machine That Brews Espresso According To Your Personal Taste
- Gaggia Cadorna Prestige vs Jura ENA 8: Which Automatic Espresso Machine Makes More Delicious Customizable Drinks?
- DeLonghi Dinamica Plus vs Jura ENA 8: Comparing The Two Equally Crafty Espresso Machines For A More User-Friendly Brewing Experience
- Jura A1 Vs Ena 8: Detailed Comparison Of Two Jura Super-Automatic Machines
References:
- Saeco Xelsis: https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/SM7684_04/xelsis-super-automatic-espresso-machine
- Jura Ena 8: https://us.jura.com/en/homeproducts/machines/ENA-8-Metropolitan-Black-NA-15281/Specifications#tabs
Felix Hendricks is a skilled barista with over 12 years of experience. He excels in crafting coffee and has a strong foundation in coffee machine mechanics. Felix holds a Coffee Machine Maintenance Certification from the Coffee Equipment Technical Institute, showcasing his ability to diagnose and repair coffee machines. He’s also worked as a quality control specialist, selecting premium coffee beans for optimal flavor. Felix has a diverse work history, including stints at renowned coffee spots like Café Euphoria & Starbucks. His expertise in both brewing and machine maintenance makes him a respected figure in the coffee industry.