Every super-automatic machine has a brew unit: the mechanism that receives the ground coffee, compresses it, passes water through, and ejects the puck. It is the busiest part of the machine and the one that accumulates oil.
Removable
De’Longhi, Philips, Melitta, Siemens, Miele and most of the market. Two tabs, pull, rinse under the faucet, push back — ten seconds, once a week.
The benefit is not only cleanliness but inspectability. When a machine starts behaving oddly, you can look at the part that does the work. Nine times out of ten the answer is visible.
Sealed
JURA is the best-known example. The unit is inside and cannot be reached by the owner. Cleaning happens by pushing a tablet through the machine on a cycle.
That works, and it works well for years. What it cannot do is let you see anything, and when the unit eventually needs attention the machine goes to a workshop — a bill that is a meaningful fraction of the machine’s value.
Why JURA does it
Not laziness. A sealed unit can be more tightly engineered, better sealed against pressure, and integrated more closely with the rest of the hydraulics, which is the case JURA makes for it. It is a real engineering trade, not a cost-saving.
How to choose
If you want a machine you never open, and you accept a possible workshop bill in year seven, a sealed unit is a defensible choice.
If you want to own the machine for a decade and fix it yourself, buy a removable unit. That is the trade, stated plainly.
What people want to know
How often should I rinse a removable brew unit?
Weekly under a warm faucet, no detergent, and let it dry before refitting. Monthly, add a proper brew-unit cleaning tablet.
Do cleaning tablets really work on sealed units?
Yes, and for a long time. They are a genuine detergent cycle rather than a token gesture. What they cannot do is remove a mechanical fault or let you verify the result.
Last reviewed 30 October 2026