Jura designs their machines to last about 10 years. As we are the official service center for Jura in British Columbia, all Jura machines that need service such as repairs or check ups come to us. Although we tell people that 10 years is the average lifespan of a Jura machine, it is not uncommon for us to receive one that is 15 years old. This is a guide on how to make your Jura machine last. There are a few aspects that are within your control. Keep in mind there is a 2 year warranty and in years 3, 4 and 5 of your Jura, there is a flat fee of $295 which includes parts, service and labour. This does not mean it is a good idea to simply forget about all the maintenance that is recommended for your machine as what can happen is that the machine will be able to handle a few years of misuse before it starts to wear out.
1. Select the right machine for you: The most simple way to guarantee your machine’s longevity is selecting the right machine for you. The more coffee the machine will be making on a daily basis, the bigger the machine should be. A bigger machine normally means there is a bigger bean hopper, drip tray, dreg drawer and water tank so in general it is a lot less tedious. The most important aspect of a bigger Jura, is actually the size of the brew unit. A bigger brew unit is more suitable for making more drinks as it is more durable and has no issue repeatedly pulling strong shots. The biggest reason we see our customers losing money is because they need to replace the brew unit which at the end costs over $300 with labour. Not taking care of your machine could easily mean replacing the brew unit every 3 years until you eventually spend the money on a new machine. This route is just not necessary.
2. Descaling: The next step would be to invest in Jura accessories. One factor that will decrease the performance of your Jura is the build up of limescale over time. The heating up of water will produce limescale that settles on the interior of the pipes. When this happens you may start to notice that your machine seems to be working harder, but also slower. The build up of limescale will also affect the taste of your espresso of course. To prevent buildup of limescale there are two things you should do to be extra cautious. The first step would be to use the Claris water filter that is included with any Jura machine, but if you want to go the extra mile in caring for your Jura you can also descale the machine with the Jura Descaling tablets. Some people would consider doing both a bit overkill, but another benefit of the claris smart filter, aside from preventing limescale buildup, is it can remove the taste of chlorine.
3. Milk System Cleaner: Another Jura accessory that makes your espresso experience smoother is the Jura milk system cleaner. Using this as a preventative measure does not improve the interior of the machine, but focuses on the milk system of the Jura. It is essential to use the milk system cleaner frequently, not only for sanitation and health reasons, but also so the milk system does not clog. One of the first signs that might be saying your frother is clogged is when milk foam quality has decreased. Another option is to immediately rinse the frother bit and milk tube after making your milk drinks with cold water. Using hot water is not the best as it can cause the milk to leave fat deposits within the tube.
4. Mold: In our service department, there have been times where we have customers who have followed the cleaning steps but they underestimate the effect of cleaning the grounds drawer well. To only empty the grounds drawer and drip tray and not give it a good wash every once in a while can create mold as you will notice some grounds remain in the drawer even after you dump it. Having those grounds stuck to the corners along with all the moisture can allow for mold to form after about 2 weeks. Though it may seem harmless, what we have noticed is the mold can spread towards the interior of the machine and once it gets to the brew unit it is not healthy and the brew unit’s ability will diminish quickly. The simple fix for this is to wash the drawers well once a week.
5. Cleaning Tablets: The main component of keeping your machine’s interior clean and problem free is the use of Jura’s phosphate-free cleaning tablets. They call it the 2 phase cleaning tablets because they clean AND protect the interior components of the unit.
- Phase I, cleaning: The special formula effectively loosens the coffee fat and particles in the brewing unit and sieve. Water heated to 80 °C thoroughly rinses these components on the inside and outside.
- Phase II, protection: Special active ingredients seal the surfaces of the corresponding components and protect them from coffee residue and fat in the long term.
