The Ultimate Jura Maintenance Guide:
How to Clean Any E, S, or Z Series Machine (And Save Money)
Whether you have an E6, E8, or the flagship Z10, the engine requires the same care. I'll show you exactly how to maintain your investment, what you must buy from Jura, and where you can save a fortune with a pro secret.
I'm showing you this process on my Jura E8, but don't worry—the logic is identical for almost the entire modern Jura lineup. If you own a Z10, S8, J8, or even the compact E4, the biology of coffee oils and milk proteins is the same. Your machine is an investment. Treat it like one, and it will last for a decade. Neglect it, and you'll be shipping it off for an expensive service sooner than you think.
1. The "Internal" Engine Clean: The No-Compromise Zone
Here is the hard truth about owning a Jura: You cannot remove the brew group. Unlike a Saeco, Gaggia, or DeLonghi where you can pop the engine out and rinse it in the sink, the Jura brew unit is permanently fixed inside the chassis.
This means the cleaning tablet cycle is your only line of defense against mold and rancid coffee oils. If you skip this, or use cheap generic tablets that don't dissolve at the right rate, you are effectively letting old coffee rot inside your machine.
Jura 3-Phase Cleaning Tablets
These are mandatory. They are engineered to dissolve at specific temperatures during the cleaning cycle to clean, seal, and protect the brew unit mechanism.
Buy on Amazon.ca
Buy on Amazon.com
2. The Water Filter Logic: Protect the Boiler (And The Taste)
Scale is the number one killer of espresso machines. But water quality is also the number one variable in taste. A cup of coffee is 98% water, so if your water contains chlorine, lead, or copper, your $50/lb Geisha beans will taste metallic and flat.
Modern Juras (E8, S8, Z10, J8) use the Claris Smart+ system (the gray filter). Everyone knows about the RFID chip (I.W.S.) that talks to the machine, but few understand the "Plus" technology.
The filter uses a professional "Up-Flow Principle," meaning it filters water exactly as it is pulled into the machine, ensuring freshness for every cup. The "Plus" refers to a capsule of natural ingredients at the bottom of the filter. As water moves naturally in the tank (even when not brewing), it flows through this capsule, stabilizing the water and preventing limescale from forming at the tank's base. It effectively removes flavor killers like chlorine and heavy metals but retains the fluorides and minerals that act as flavor carriers.
Don't cheap out here with non-smart knockoffs or older "Blue" filters. You aren't just protecting the heating element; you are unlocking the full flavor profile of your beans.
Jura Claris Smart+ Filter
The only way to guarantee scale-free water without manual descaling cycles. Essential for any machine with the I.W.S. (Grey Filter) system.
3. The "Milk System" Alternative: The Wallet Saver
Here is where I save you money. Jura wants you to use their "Milk System Cleaner Mini-Tabs." This system requires a special dispenser that drops a dose of many tiny micro-tablets into your container for each clean. They dissolve instantly and work great. They are also expensive per dose.
But here's a secret from the coffee industry: Milk protein is milk protein. It doesn't care if the chemical dissolving it comes from a bottle that says "Jura" or "Urnex."
I strictly use the Urnex Rinza tablets now. Instead of a handful of proprietary micro-tabs, Urnex uses a single larger tablet per cleaning cycle. The chemistry is nearly identical, but the math is undeniable: A bottle of Urnex typically gives you 120 cleaning cycles (120 tablets) for roughly the same price as a Jura bottle that only allows for 30 cleaning cycles (30 doses). That's 4x the value for the exact same result.
The Official Option
Good but proprietary. The dispenser clicks nicely into the cleaning container.
The "Pro Secret"
Urnex Rinza. 120 cleaning cycles vs 30. Massive cost savings. Works on all Jura milk systems.
The "Gotchas": What Jura Doesn't Tell You
I dug through the forums and my own experience to highlight the hidden quirks of owning these machines. Here is the reality:
1. The Mold Risk
Because you can't remove the brew group, humidity gets trapped comfortably inside. If you skip a cleaning cycle, you are literally brewing through old coffee oils. The 3-Phase tablet is not optional; it's a hygiene necessity.
2. The Acid Mistake
Many owners use vinegar or descalers to clean the milk system. This curdles the milk proteins and creates a cheese-like blockage in the nozzle. You MUST use an Alkaline cleaner (like Rinza or the official tabs).
3. The RFID Filter Lock-In
The "Smart" filters use RFID chips (I.W.S.). Older generic filters won't work on modern E8/Z10 machines immediately without tricking the machine (which we don't recommend). You are effectively locked into the ecosystem for water quality.
Final Verdict: Buy This, Skip That
| Maintenance Item | My Recommendation | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Brew Unit Clean | Official Jura 3-Phase | Proprietary fixed brew unit requires exact dissolution timing. Don't risk it. |
| Water Filter | Official Claris Smart+ | Prevents scale and talks to the machine. Essential for boiler health. |
| Milk System Clean | Generic Urnex Rinza | It's just milk protein. Save 75% of the cost for the exact same result. |
Taking care of your Jura doesn't have to break the bank, but you need to be smart about where you cut costs. Protect the engine and boiler with official parts, but save your money on the daily milk cleaning. Happy brewing!