Jura-Capresso is the Rolls Royce of espresso machines. A perfect example is the Impressa F8 13345, a completely automatic machine that takes espresso brewing to a new dimension.

The Impressa F8 consists of an ultra-sophisticated base with all of the components built in. There are no separate filters, sieves, measuring tools or tampers to deal with. You simply add water to the removable 64-ounce reservoir and add coffee beans to the integrated conical burr grinder, and the machine does the rest. The Impressa F8 grinds the beans, measures, tamps and brews a perfect cup of espresso coffee, all at the touch of a button.

The Impressa's many exceptional features include an 18-BAR pump with stainless-steel-lined thermoblock for quick heating that requires almost no recovery time between cups, a professional solid-steel conical burr grinder with six settings, a dual frothing wand for quick steaming or frothing of milk and a CLEARYL water filtration system to remove chlorine, lead and other contaminants from tap water prior to brewing. A separate ground-coffee funnel also lets you substitute flavored coffee to your particular tastes.

The Impressa F8 has a state-of-the-art control panel with four preset functions, as well as the option to customize any of the functions as you see fit. There are soft-touch buttons for one-cup or two-cup espresso brewing and steaming/frothing, and a rinse button initiates an internal cleansing cycle. The user-friendly LED readout practically walks you through each step with clear, helpful commands. There are also two dial controls, one that toggles between brewing and steaming, and another that allows you to adjust the cup size (1 ounce to 8 ounces), coffee strength (mild, normal or strong) and aroma (standard or robust). It takes just a few minutes to set up the Impressa F8 and familiarize yourself with the operating instructions, and Jura-Capresso even includes a DVD that provides step-by-step details on how to use the Impressa F8. If you've never used a super-automatic machine before, you'll want to acquaint yourself with the unit's many features.

We were thoroughly impressed with the unique two-step brewing system, which delivered an exquisite cup of espresso, complete with a thick layer of foamy crema. Made from beans that were ground just seconds earlier, the taste of the espresso was top-notch. The two-step pressure-brew process begins by pre-wetting the grounds for optimal flavor extraction, then after a pause, it finishes with a high-pressure brew cycle. The entire process takes about 30 seconds for a single shot and 40 seconds for a double shot. The coffee emerges hot (165 degrees to 170 degrees Fahrenheit) and flavorful. To achieve the hottest brew, you'll need to pre-warm your cup.

For cappuccino lovers, the Impressa F8 also has a dual frothing wand. This is the only component of the machine that is not automatic. To froth or steam milk, press the steam button to raise the machine's internal temperature, then turn the control dial to the steam setting. The unit is preprogrammed to deliver 60 seconds of steam, but it can be adjusted to steam from 3 seconds to 120 seconds. The Impressa F8 also comes with the unique frothXpress System, which can be used with a separate milk container to siphon and automatically froth milk and then dispense it directly into your cup.

The Impressa F8 is rather large, measuring 11 inches wide by 17-1/10 inches deep and standing 13-3/5 inches high. However, you won't mind looking at it, as the matt-silver plating and black symmetrical styling gives it a beautiful appearance. You'll pay a premium price for this unit, but with all of its programmable features, the Jura-Capresso Impressa F8 truly is a coffee lover's dream machine.


Pros:  Fully automatic, programmable settings, dual frothing wand incorporates the FrothXpress system
Cons:  Large base requires deep counter space, expensive

Warranty
6 months, limited for non-household use; 1 year, limited for household use