The folks in the RainyDayKitchen have set up and tested a lot of different coffee makers during the past year.  But the arrival of the Jura Impressa Z5 was the first time we can remember them actually having to read the instructions before pressing a single button. 

While the setup was quite simple, it was still important to understand all the steps before hitting "brew."  The unit came with a lot of accessories, none of which was needed to set up the unit and brew an espresso.  Today, we'll take a quick tour of the Impressa Z5.  Tomorrow, we'll go through the steps of priming the unit and making that magical first cup.

The top front of the unit is the main control center.  Most of the buttons are self-explanatory.  Click on the images to get a closer look. 

The rear of the unit houses the grinder.  There is also a secondary chute for adding a different kind of coffee for a single cup...perfect for that occasional"decaffeinated" visitor.

Water for brewing is stored in a removable unit on the left side of the machine.  The container has a built-in handle for portability. 

However, we find it easier to fill it using a pitcher rather than take the unit to the tap...less splashing and spilling.  There is a clear water gauge (red arrow) on the side of the container, making it simple to check on the level.

Since the Impressa is an automated espresso maker (beans are ground just before brewing), there is a bin for catching the grounds.  The bin is accessed from the front by pulling out the drip tray.

Friday we'll press the power button for the FirstUse review and a video of the brewing of the first cup.  In the meantime, go check out all the other machines in the Jura line here.

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Still having trouble making the perfect espresso? Well, you can keep honing your skills or spend some cash and get the new Jura Impressa Z5. This unit is for those SERIOUS about their coffee drinks.

This unit arrived late yesterday so all we have done is unpacked it and took a quick look. We will be looking at it a lot closer over the next few weeks. BTW...some of us are heading up to Maine to check out the foliage this holiday weekend. We are thinking of bringing the Impressa with us :-)

Reviews:

1. FirstLook

2. Setup

3. FirstUse

Review Summary:

Initial Impression- Elegant

Usability- Press button, get espresso

Durability- test in progress

Price- $3500

Other Coffee Reviews:

1. Simple Human

2. Tassimo

3. Keurig

4. Capresso Burr Grinder

5. i-Roast2 Coffee Roaster

6. Jura EspressoPro