JURA vs Smeg Filter Coffee Machines

JURA and Smeg take very different approaches to coffee at home. JURA's machines here run from the E8 at £1,295 to the S8 at £1,395 in silver, the piano black S8 at £1,695 and the Z10 15360 at £2,132. Smeg offers retro-styled machines at lower prices: the DCF02GRUK and DCF02CRU drip filter machines at £199 each, the ECF02WHUK espresso machine with frother at £319, and the BCC13WHMUK bean to cup with milk system at £649.

Smeg's specification is simpler, but it fits its niche. The ECF02WHUK has a built-in milk frother, 1350W power and 12-bar pressure, and makes two drinks at once. The BCC13WHMUK adds a 1.4-litre capacity, 19-bar pressure, thermoblock technology and a built-in grinder with a milk system. The drip filter models have five cups, a 40-minute stay-warm feature and an aroma function. JURA's edge is its Pulse Extraction Process on the E8 and Z10, its 4.3-inch display and Ultimate Milk Foam on the S8, and automatic grinder adjustment on the Z10.

JURA suits daily coffee drinkers who want café-style drinks from fresh beans and will invest in a premium machine. Smeg suits people who want a retro piece for the worktop, a simple drip filter for a family morning brew, or a middle-ground bean to cup with milk at £649. The Smeg BCC13WHMUK is £646 cheaper than the E8, so a Smeg bean-to-cup can suit someone who wants fresh-bean drinks without the JURA price. A £199 Smeg drip filter costs a fraction of the E8.

Bottom line: choose JURA if you want a premium bean-to-cup machine with Pulse Extraction and fine drink control from £1,295; choose Smeg if you want retro styling, a five-cup drip filter at £199, or a built-in grinder and milk system at £649.