Jura Coffee Machines FAQ

How do I set up my Jura coffee machine for the best tasting coffee?

Step 1 – The grinder. Generally you do not have to adjust the grinder from the factory setting. If after you have done all the settings you feel the coffee is still not strong enough, you can adjust the grinder one setting finer. NB: when adjusting the grinder finer, the grinder must be busy grinding to avoid jamming. Start making an espresso, and as soon as the machine starts grinding, adjust the grinder. Never adjust more than one click at a time — make a cup of coffee before the next adjustment.

Step 2 – Adjusting the coffee strength and volume. We have found that a brew ratio of 1:4 works best on Jura coffee machines. Most Jura machines, excluding the ENA 4, can grind a maximum of 16g of coffee beans on the highest setting. At maximum strength this means approximately 80ml of coffee in your cup. At half strength the machine grinds approximately 8g of coffee, giving you approximately 30ml in your cup. These measurements are before adding water or milk.

Note: if you use a large cup (bigger than 250–300ml) and find the coffee isn't strong enough, don't increase the amount of coffee — rather add another espresso shot. Increasing the coffee amount will over-extract the coffee and cause undesirable flavours.

Step 3 – Setting the temperature. Most South African clients prefer their coffee very hot. Jura machines are designed to provide milk-based coffees at the correct temperature, ready to drink. We recommend setting all coffees with milk to the highest temperature setting available, unless you enjoy your cappuccinos and lattes ready to drink at a lower temperature. If the beverage still isn't hot enough, we recommend rinsing your cup with boiling water before preparing your beverage, or investing in a Jura cup warmer that keeps cups at a perfect 55°C.

 

Why is my coffee suddenly not as hot as it always was?

The most common reason is a dirty milk frother. The milk frother has small orifices that can get blocked with milk — once one is blocked, partially or completely, the steam used to froth and heat the milk can't do its job, leaving the milk cold with little or no froth.

First, run a milk system cleaning cycle using Jura Milk System Cleaner mini tabs. If the problem persists, dismantle the frother and soak it in a warm milk cleaner solution for an hour or two to soften deposits. Clean all parts thoroughly, ensure every orifice is clear, and reassemble carefully, making sure all parts are correctly and securely positioned.

Why is my cup not as full as usual when making coffee with milk?

There are two likely causes. First, check whether you've changed your brand of milk — different brands froth differently. Second, the milk frother may be partially blocked; if this is the case you'll also notice the beverage isn't as hot as usual (see "Why is my coffee suddenly not as hot as it always was?" above for the fix).

Why won't my drip tray go in all the way?

This normally happens when power was interrupted while the drip tray was out. No need to panic — remove the coffee grounds container, insert the drip tray, and switch on the machine. You'll hear the machine cycling; once it goes quiet, remove the drip tray, replace the coffee grounds container, then replace the drip tray.

My coffee is weak — what should I check?

Assuming you're using your usual, fresh coffee, first check that the settings haven't been changed. If the settings are correct, the grinder burrs may be worn — try adjusting the grinder to a finer setting (see the grinder step in "How do I set up my Jura coffee machine for the best tasting coffee?" above). If this doesn't solve it, take your Jura machine to the nearest authorised Jura Service Centre.

Why do I still get an "Empty drip tray" message after emptying it?

Most Jura drip trays have two metal contacts at the back. When full, these contacts are connected by the water in the tray. When emptying it, make sure both contacts are completely dry — top and bottom — before replacing the drip tray. If they're still wet when reinserted, the machine will think the tray is still full.


To fix this: remove the drip tray, dry the contacts thoroughly, and let the machine stand for a few hours so the contacts inside the machine can dry out too. Reinsert the drip tray. If the message persists, repeat the process.

 

How long does a Jura filter last?

That is a question we get very often. The life of the filter depends on a number of things:

  1. The amount of water that passes through the filter.

  2. How many rinses the machine does.

  3. Time.

1. Water capacity — The stated capacity of each filter is based on very soft water, i.e. your machine's water hardness setting is at 1. If the water is harder than this, the lifespan of the filter will reduce substantially.

  • Standard Claris filters — 50 litres

  • Pro Smart filters — 200 litres

  • Maxi filters — 750 litres

2. How many rinses does the filter last — the short answer is 180 rinses before the machine will ask for a new filter. The machine rinses automatically on startup and on shutting down. The machine also has a setting that will rinse it automatically in between cups of coffee made. If your machine is set, as an example, to switch off after an hour of inactivity and you switch the machine on 4 times per day, that will result in 8 rinses. This means your filter will last approximately 22 days in this case!

3. Time — Your machine will request a new filter after 2 months regardless of how many cups you have made or how many rinses the machine did.

How do I make my filter last longer?

  1. Do not set your machine to switch off after short periods of inactivity. When the machine is on standby it uses very little electricity — rather leave it on and switch it off when you are done. If you press and hold the on/off switch, the machine will switch off without rinsing.

  2. Set your water hardness to 1 unless you are using borehole water or you are in an area with high calcium content.

  3. Do not draw hot water from the machine — rather boil water in your kettle.

Do you have any questions we haven't answered? Drop us an email at info@heavenlycoffees.com