Jura Impressa Z9 One Touch Espresso Machine

I used to use a Solis 5000 Digital coffee maker, and after more than 15 years it was time for a replacement. I wanted another fully-automatic machine with the craftsmanship and reliability of my previous machine, so I did a lot of research before selecting the Jura Impressa Z9. If I were allowed one word to describe the Impressa Z9, it would be "amazing". This is a fully-automatic machine, which means it automatically grinds the beans, tamps them, pre-infuses the puck, brews the coffee and dumps the grounds into the waste bin. For milk-based coffee drinks, the machine steams the milk for you. There is a dial control that produces steam, hot milk or froth, depending on the setting. Froth has an excellent texture and is perfect every time. The bean container is located under a cover on top of the machine. The container has a lid which helps keep beans fresh. It's little things like that which make this a quality machine. There is a bypass doser which allows you to brew decaf or flavored coffee. The bypass doser requires pre-ground beans. The only problem I had with the machine was finding the power switch. I had to read the documentation twice before I found it hidden next to the power cord. It does help a bit to switch the power on before trying to use the machine! 8^) The machine rinses itself when it shuts down. After steaming milk, the machine prompts you to start a rinse cycle that removes milk residue. The rinse cycles keep the machine clean, so cleaning is only necessary every few months. One of the things I hated about the Solis was cleaning. I had to disassemble the machine, clean everything, reassemble and rinse with a cleaning tablet every few days. The milk frothier was so difficult to keep clean that I stopped using it. I am ecstatic that these problems are all things of the past. The machine comes with a welcome packet that includes cleaning tablets and milk remover. Cleaning supplies are expensive, so not having to use them frequently is a clear advantage. The front panel (as well as all functions of the coffee maker) is programmable, so you can select your favorite drinks with a button push. This is the only machine I have found that produces a perfect Latte Macchiato. Along with coffee drinks, the machine can produce hot water and steamed milk. The default settings work well, so you may not need to change programming. You do have full control of the volume, temperature, etc. for each coffee drink. This machine has 2 boilers so there is no delay while waiting for a single boiler to heat up and produce steam. Jura recommends daily basic maintenance, which involves filling the water reservoir and dumping the waste bin. The design is very simple--there is a water tank on the left side of the machine which you remove and fill. There is a pull-out tray that you pull forward to access the waste bin and overflow tray. It's a quick 3-minute job to complete daily maintenance. Calcification inside the boiler is a serious concern for all coffee machines that produce steam. Jura provides a filter that allows you to use tap water. The filter removes calcium and other impurities and is good for 2 months. The machine will prompt you for replacement when it is due. I use reverse osmosis (RO) water, so the filter is unnecessary. If you are unable to use decalcified water or a filter, the machine will prompt you for regular decalcification. This is important, since ignoring calcium content will quickly damage the boilers. Milk is stored in an insulated container that keeps milk cold for 8 hours. I expected a refrigerated milk container, but it was a misunderstanding on my part. A refrigerated container is available, but after using the insulated container, I am happy. If there is any milk left in the container, I store it in the refrigerator. This machine is very expensive, but you get what you pay for. I am very happy with this machine and would buy again.