Philips 5500 LatteGo vs Jura E8 Espresso Machines
Updated · Price Drop Radar
Bottom line
For most homes the Philips 5500 LatteGo is the better buy. It costs far less, its tube-free milk carafe goes in the dishwasher, and its brew group comes out for rinsing. The Jura E8 is faster drink after drink and Tom's Guide found its coffee the best of the Jura machines it tried, but it costs much more, ships without a milk container and needs Jura cleaning supplies and a new milk pipe every few months.
Philips 5500 LatteGo
Jura E8
Side by side
| Spec | Philips 5500 LatteGo | Jura E8 |
|---|---|---|
| Drinks [1][3] | 20 hot and iced presets | 17 specialties |
| Grinder [2][3] | Ceramic flat burrs, 12 settings | P.A.G.2 grinder, 7 settings |
| Grinder noise (measured) [2][5] | 61 dB | 67.5 dB |
| Pump [2][3] | 15 bar | 15 bar |
| Milk system [2][3][4] | LatteGo carafe, no tubes, dishwasher-safe | Milk pipe draws from a container; no container included; automatic milk-system cleaning |
| Brew unit [2][5] | Removable; rinse under the tap | Fixed; cleaned by the machine with Jura tablets |
| Water tank [2][3] | 1.8 L (60.9 oz) | 1.9 L (64 oz) |
| Bean container [2][3] | 280 g (9.9 oz) | 280 g (9.9 oz) |
| Display [1][2][3] | Color display with touch buttons, 4 user profiles | 3.5-inch color display with buttons |
| Weight [2][3] | 17.6 lb | 22.1 lb |
Philips 5500 LatteGo
- Tube-free milk carafe goes in the dishwasher
- Removable brew group you can rinse
- Quieter grinder in Coffeeness's measurements
- Much lower price
- "Iced" drinks are brewed hot and poured over ice
- Small water tank and bean hopper for a big household
Jura E8
- Makes drinks back to back quickly (3 in about 90 seconds in Tom's Guide's test)
- Tom's Guide rated its coffee the best of the Jura machines it tried
- Cleans its milk system automatically
- Costs far more
- No milk container in the box
- Jura recommends a new milk pipe every 3 months
- Uses a lot of water: Tom's Guide refilled about every 8 drinks
Which one is right for you
| If you are | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most households who want lattes and cappuccinos at home | Philips 5500 LatteGo | Lower price, dishwasher-safe milk carafe, removable brew group |
| Busy home or office making many drinks in a row | Jura E8 | Fast back-to-back drinks |
| Want the least cleaning hassle | Philips 5500 LatteGo | No milk tubes to replace |
| Want a quieter machine | Philips 5500 LatteGo | 61 dB vs 67.5 dB grinder in Coffeeness's measurements |
What to look for
Milk cleanup
Why it matters: Milk residue is the part of a bean-to-cup machine that turns into a chore.
How to check: See whether the milk path comes apart and goes in the dishwasher, or runs through a tube.
Watch out: Tom's Guide calls the Jura's silicone milk pipe impossible to clean inside; Jura says to replace it every 3 months. The Philips LatteGo has no tubes.
Brew unit access
Why it matters: A removable brew unit lets you rinse old coffee out yourself. A fixed one relies on the machine's cleaning cycles.
How to check: Look for 'removable brew group' in the specs.
Watch out: Coffeeness notes the Philips brew group must be removed and rinsed regularly. The Jura's is fixed and cleaned with Jura tablets.
Running costs
Why it matters: Filters, tablets and milk cleaner add up over years of ownership.
How to check: Price the brand's cleaning tablets, milk cleaner and water filters before you buy.
Watch out: Tom's Guide puts Jura's refills at $25 to $70 each, plus $55 for a milk pipe.
Iced drinks
Why it matters: Several machines now advertise iced coffee.
How to check: Read the manual's instructions, not the box.
Watch out: Coffeeness quotes the Philips manual: the coffee is prepared with warm water, so brew it over ice cubes.
Traps and timing
- The Philips 5500's iced drinks use hot coffee. Coffeeness criticizes the marketing because the manual says to brew over ice.
- The Jura E8 doesn't come with a milk container. Tom's Guide says Jura's carafe costs about $90 extra, and the Wi-Fi adapter for Jura's app is about $70.
- There is more than one version of the E8. Coffeeness reviewed the updated North American model; this listing is model 15646. Check the model number on any third-party or used listing.
- Reviewers disagree on the Jura's value: Tom's Guide calls the US price hard to justify, while Coffeeness says the updated E8 is 'by no means overpriced'.
Before you check out
- Decide how many milk drinks a day you'll make.
- Price the cleaning supplies and filters for the brand you pick.
- Budget for a milk container if you buy the Jura.
- Check the model number on the listing: EP5544 or Jura 15646.
- Compare the live Amazon prices; the gap between these two is large.
How we put this together
We don't test espresso machines in a lab. We compared the makers' published specs, the Amazon listings and independent reviews, all listed under Sources, and where they disagree we say so. Prices come from Amazon and are refreshed by our system throughout the day.
Price Drop Radar earns a commission on qualifying Amazon purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. That never decides which product we recommend.
Quick answers
Is the Jura E8 worth the extra cost over the Philips 5500?
Only if speed, build and Jura's coffee matter more to you than price. Tom's Guide liked the coffee but called the US price hard to justify; Coffeeness thought the updated E8 was good value. For most people the Philips does the same drinks for much less.
Does the Philips 5500 make real iced coffee?
It brews hot coffee for its iced drinks. The manual says to brew over ice cubes.
Does the Jura E8 come with a milk container?
No. It draws milk through a pipe from a container you supply; Tom's Guide says Jura's carafe is about $90.
Which is quieter?
The Philips. Coffeeness measured its grinder at 61 dB and the Jura E8's at 67.5 dB.
Sources
- Series 5500 fully automatic espresso machine (EP5544/90 variant), Philips
- Philips 5500 LatteGo review (EP5544/94), Coffeeness
- E8 Chrome (15646) product page, JURA
- Jura E8 review, Tom's Guide
- Jura E8 coffee machine review, Coffeeness