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Profitec GO Espresso Machine

Out of the BoxProfitec GO

The Profitec Go arrives in a mix of environmentally friendly packaging, and too much polystyrene. They are so close to achieving fully sustainable packaging but not quite there yetl. Manufacturers must take full responsibility for eliminating unsustainable materials, and I hope Profitec makes that shift soon.

The machine is packed in a plain brown cardboard box, which is a positive step. The accessories also come in a cardboard box, but polystyrene is still used to hold the machine in place, which is disappointing. Even worse, polystyrene cutouts appear inside the accessories box.

Included with the machine are:

• A metal, low-profile 58mm tamper
• Single, double, and blind filter baskets
• A double-spouted Profitec portafilter (ours has the upgraded wood handle from WLL)
• A cleaning brush
• A product manual
• A plastic tube (included by WLL for third-party in-reservoir filters)

Notably missing is a water filtration system, which is expected at this price. Other common extras, such as a steam pitcher and additional cleaning tools, are also absent.

Profitec offers the Go in a range of colours. Our sample unit, officially Red but more sockeye salmon to my Pacific Northwest eye, is bold and striking. This shade suits nearly any kitchen, from sleek Scandinavian white to the rustic charm of a log cabin, making it a versatile and stylish choice.

From top down, let’s go through the Profitec Go.

A few notable things stand out right away. The metal reservoir lid, though nicely finished, has an odd fit; I’m still unsure if I’ve placed it correctly. It slides front to back over the Go’s adjustable OPV valve screw, another key feature on top. The lid also shifts slightly when the pump runs. Beneath it, a 2.8-litre plastic reservoir sits, though surprisingly, the Go doesn’t include a water filter. You’ll need to buy an aftermarket one separately.

The cup warmer area is spacious, larger than the Rancilio Silvia’s, with a polished metal finish. On the right side, near the reservoir, sits the OPV valve adjustment, allowing users to tweak grouphead pressure, even while the machine operates.

When the Go was launched, the live-adjustable OPV was rare. Since then, more machines, including the $500 MiCoffee Apex V2, have adopted this feature, but the Go remains a standout in its class.

I have mixed feelings about the buttons. They are metal and not exactly cheap, but they feel somewhat flimsy. I prefer mechanical rocker switches on semi-automatic, non-volumetric machines like this.

The front panel is… pretty basic. The Go is not a volumetric machine, so there’s only three push buttons up front: a brew button, a steam activation button, and a power button. The machine’s steam knob is also on the right side of the front panel.

I’m hot and cold on the buttons. On one hand, they are not “cheap” per se. On the other hand, they transmit a certain “cheapness” and seem a bit anemic in their action. I prefer mechanical rocker switches on these types of semi-automatic, non-volumetric espresso machines.

Moving down the machine, you reach the operations area: the grouphead, portafilter, drip tray, pressure gauge, and PID controls.

The pressure gauge is large and easy to read, but as a left-hander, I find it harder to view from that angle. This is due to its placement deep in the backsplash panel, partially hidden by the boiler’s overhang.

The grouphead and portafilter use ECM’s standard 58mm non-E61 design: heavy, solid, and built for heat retention. The Go includes a stock (and pricey) spouted Profitec portafilter. If you want a chopped portafilter (which you likely will, as I’ll explain later), avoid Profitec’s version: it’s overpriced. ECM’s versions, as well as third-party models, offer more affordable alternatives.

Profitec adjusted the spout design for the Go, using a shorter pitch, direct double-spout instead of the offset, deeper pitch design found on their other machines. This likely compensates for the machine’s low cup clearance.

The grouphead attaches directly to the Go’s 400ml brass boiler, which sits right above it. This setup allows for fast heat-up and stable operating temperatures. As expected in this price range, the Go includes a three-way solenoid valve, which immediately releases pressure after a shot. Excess water dumps into the drip tray, hidden behind the backsplash.

The PID controls, made by the house of Gicar, are functional but not intuitive. You need to read the manual to understand them. Italian manufacturers still struggle with digital UI and could learn a lot from the Asian market in this regard. The display shows a shot timer when the pump is running, which is a nice touch.

The steam wand system on the Go is well designed for this price point. It features a two-hole tip mounted on a ball joint, allowing full rotation and precise angling. However, it is not a cool-touch wand, though it includes a silicone sleeve for safer handling when hot.

The drip tray and cover feel premium, adding to the machine’s professional aesthetic. The tray is deep and well-finished, with polished edges and holes that allow water to flow smoothly. It keeps operation clean and efficient. Unfortunately, the tray rattles when the pump runs, exposing some design flaws we’ll cover later on in this First Look.

A major drawback is the low cup clearance. With just 7.75 cm (3”) between the portafilter spouts and tray, it is nearly as short as a Gaggia Classic. Fitting larger cups is difficult, and using an espresso scale is even trickier.

The back of the machine is a mix of “looks great!” and “why did they do that?”. The colour-matched back panel features a stencilled Profitec logo, which looks classy, especially from a distance. However, the company chose shiny bolts to connect the side panels to the back, which feels out of place against the otherwise sleek aesthetic.

That aside, the Profitec Go feels premium throughout. The unboxing experience reinforces this impression, with high-quality materials and solid construction. The fit and finish are excellent, except for the sliding reservoir lid, which feels a bit loose. Any concerns so far stem from design and UI choices rather than build quality; at least until I powered it up.

One issue worth mentioning early (I usually save this for the Usage section) is vibration and noise. If Profitec cut costs anywhere, it was in pump dampening, insulation, and isolation. This became obvious during first warm-up and boiler fill. The pump is loud, causing noticeable rattling throughout the machine. The drip tray vibrates, and the reservoir lid slides back and forth.

This problem seems common in European-made machines under $1,500. I sometimes wonder if manufacturers test them in loud factories where excessive noise seems normal. Regardless, pump noise and vibration remain a weak point, and the Profitec Go is no exception.

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Using theProfitec GO

The Profitec Go, only on market for 2 years, already has been upgraded with faster heat-up technology, reportedly heating in under six minutes. Our older test unit reached ready status in about eight minutes. However, that does not mean it is fully prepared for brewing. The grouphead and portafilter need another ten minutes to warm up, though running a few blank shots speeds this up.

Switching from brewing to steaming is quick. The longest transition time I recorded was about 50 seconds. Profitec recommends two steam purges with a ten-second break between them, bringing the total transition time to about 80 seconds.

Moving from steaming back to brewing is even faster. With steam wand purges, I dropped the machine from 270°F steam mode to 201°F brew mode in about 15 seconds. While I prefer brew shots before steaming, this machine performs best when steaming first. The live temperature display on the PID makes transitions easier.

Machine Noise

The Go is quite noisy, one of its biggest drawbacks. Years ago, I tested the Solis SL70, a $400 machine, and was impressed by how quiet it was. Solis added vibration dampening around the pump and used flexible connections to reduce noise. The $1300 Profitec Go could learn lessons from that machine and others.

The pump causes rattling from the drip tray, reservoir lid, and other parts. Many internal connections and water paths are metal rather than plastic, which reduces plastic use but amplifies noise.

No Hot Water

A major drawback of the Profitec Go is the lack of a hot water function. If I were buying the machine today, this would be a dealbreaker. Some may not mind, but many will.

Hot water delivery is useful for preheating cups, making americanos, brewing tea, and cleaning. Nearly every espresso machine over $600 has hot water delivery, making its absence on the Profitec even more surprising. It’s worth noting the Go’s closest competitor, the Lelit Victoria, includes this feature.

There is a janky workaround. If you place a blind filter basket in the portafilter, insert it, activate the shot button, and open the steam wand knob, hot water is redirected through the wand. It works but is unnecessarily complicated. Purchasing a second portafilter helps a bit, since you can keep the blind filter in one.

Programming and Brewing

Programming on the Profitec Go is complex enough that it could warrant its own article. We will cover this in the Full Review, but feel free to ask questions in the comments if you’re curious.

Brewing espresso is straightforward, and the adjustable OPV valve helps fine-tune extraction. Water flow is quite high, and we will measure that in the full review. Recovery times are adequate unless you experiment with the brewing trick below. The PID shows a steep drop after a shot, but the boiler usually cycles back to brewing temperatures within 10-15 seconds.

Cup clearance is an issue, especially when using a scale. Even our smallest scales barely fit under the spouts with an espresso cup. Forget about using cappuccino-sized cups with a scale; they simply will not fit.

Steaming Performance

Just to touch on this a bit more, the steam performance overall on this machine is really good. The boiler, especially after the two proscribed purges of water, keeps up well for steaming milk and the power level of the steam is enough that you have a lot of good control over the production of microfoam. In this image below, you can see we created enough foam for a proper cappuccino, but still were able to pour a perfectly formed heart.

A Brewing Trick

We are saving the full walk-throughs for our Full Review, but here is a trick for low-pressure preinfusion and controllable pressure profiling. This method also works on cheaper machines like the Gaggia Classic Pro.

When you press the brew button, some water flows through the steam wand if the steam knob is open. You can use this to your advantage. At the start of the shot, open the steam knob to redirect water, keeping pressure in the portafilter low (monitor the pressure gauge for this). After about 10 seconds, close the knob to let pressure ramp up to 9 bar or whatever the OPV valve is set to. Around 20 to 25 seconds in, slowly open the steam knob to bleed off pressure, controlling shot pressure for a smooth finish. Place a milk pitcher under the wand to catch the bypass water.

This trick provides excellent control over pressure during extraction. If you enjoy experimenting with shots, it is worth trying.

Overall, the Profitec Go is a solid machine with strong performance in heat-up time and steaming transitions. However, its noise level, cup clearance, and lack of hot water delivery may be dealbreakers for some. Keep these factors in mind when deciding if it is the right fit for you.

Profitec GOComparable Products

The Profitec Go most directly competes with the Lelit Victoria, a machine we’ve reviewed on CoffeeGeek that costs about $300 less. While the Lelit outshines the Go in many areas (check out our First Look for details), the Profitec has some advantages over it.

For one, the Go comes in a wider range of colours, which many users love. You can even upgrade its look with wood accents from Whole Latte Love, adding a personal touch. The overall fit, finish, and quality of the internal parts also seem to edge out the Lelit model. Even though it lacks a built-in water filter, its water reservoir system is better designed than what you find on the Lelit.

Another contender worth mentioning is the Breville Dual Boiler. Here, your choice may come down to preference: do you value a machine made in China (but designed and engineered by one of the world’s top espresso machine manufacturers), or would you rather have a machine hand made in Europe? If the latter matters most to you, then the Go is the clear choice.

On paper and in practice, the Dual Boiler does have some strong points. It brews and steams simultaneously thanks to its dual boiler design. It also offers a solid preinfusion system, excellent recovery times, built-in water filtration, a pressure gauge, and a dedicated hot water tap. Plus, it uses a well-honed 58mm portafilter system with plenty of aftermarket accessories. Although it’s about $100 more than the Go, it sometimes goes on sale for much less.

Overall, the Profitec Go is more serviceable, features commercial-grade internal parts, and – being made in Germany – promises lasting durability with proper maintenance.

Lastly, Ascaso makes some machines that compete directly with the Profitec Go. We do not have any experience with these machines, so I cannot provide direct comparisons at this time.

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ConclusionProfitec GO

The Profitec Go represents a thoughtful evolution of the classic single-boiler espresso machine, addressing many of the shortcomings often associated with the Rancilio Silvia. While retaining a familiar aesthetic, it introduces modern upgrades such as PID temperature control, a larger boiler, an externally adjustable OPV valve, and an improved drip tray. These refinements enhance the user experience, providing greater control, consistency, and convenience.

That said, the Go does come with some compromises. The most notable is the lack of a dedicated hot water function; a surprising omission at this price point. This could be a dealbreaker for those who frequently make americanos or need hot water for tea or rinsing. Noise is another issue, with vibrations from the pump and rattling components detracting from the otherwise premium feel. Additionally, the limited cup clearance may frustrate users who prefer larger cups or rely on an espresso scale in their workflow.

Despite these drawbacks, the Go offers compelling features that set it apart. Its sturdy, metal-heavy build exudes quality, while the multi-directional steam wand, shot timer, and quick transitions between brewing and steaming make operation smooth. The large pressure gauge, adjustable OPV, and deep drip tray further contribute to its appeal.

Ultimately, the Profitec Go is a well-built, modernized single-boiler machine with European craftsmanship and commercial-grade components that suggest long-term durability. Competing with models like the Lelit Victoria and even the Breville Dual Boiler, it presents an intriguing option for home baristas, though potential buyers must weigh its quirks against their priorities.

When we publish our full review, we’ll take an even deeper dive into these aspects and deliver a final verdict on the machine.

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