PROFITEC PRO 300 REVIEW: THE BEST AFFORDABLE DOUBLE BOILER?

The Profitec Pro 300 is a dual boiler espresso machine with a compact footprint and an affordable price tag. Is there a catch?

The Profitec Pro 300 is ideal if you’re ready to upgrade to a dual boiler but aren’t sure you have the space or budget. With this little machine, you don’t need to drop thousands of dollars or carve out a dedicated espresso nook in your kitchen. It’s as small as most compact heat exchanger espresso machines and priced even lower!

It almost sounds too good to be true, so I spent a few weeks testing the Pro 300 to see if it delivered on its promises. In this review, I’ll detail everything I learned. Read on to find out if this semi-automatic espresso machine is right for you.

A Full Review of the Profitec Pro 300

The Profitec Pro 300 is one of the brand’s least expensive and most compact models, despitebbeing a double boiler with PID temperature control. If you’re low on cash but high on specialty coffee, that alone should make you stand up and take notice!

In this article, I’ll describe my experience with this machine and contextualize it with its biggest competitors – the Rancilio Silvia Pro and the Lelit Elizabeth – to help guide your decision. Let’s get into it.

How I Rated It

• Brewing Capacity
• User Friendliness
• Milk Frothing
• Build Quality
• Value For Money

4

• see on whole latte love

The Important Details

The Profitec Pro 300 is a dual-boiler semi-automatic espresso machine with a vibration pump. Both boilers are stainless steel with an insulating wrap to improve energy efficiency and temperature stability.

I like stainless steel boilers for their combination of durability and excellent thermal properties – a definite step up, in my opinion, from the Elizabeth’s brass coffee boiler.

The boilers are relatively small, with a 0.3 L brew boiler and 0.7 L steam boiler, but that’s what keeps this machine compact and affordable. Even so, I could prepare four or five drinks back to back before giving it time to recover, which is plenty for the average home user.

PID Temperature Control

A cost-saving feature of this machine is that only the coffee boiler has a PID controller, while the steam boiler uses a pressure stat – as opposed to dual PIDs. I think this is a smart compromise, as the brew temperature is much more important.

The more you get into specialty coffee, the more you realize the value of brew temperature stability when it comes to getting the best out of your coffee beans (1).

In testing, I found the Pro 300 delivered hot water within 1 degree Fahrenheit of the set temperature (2). For reference, both the Silvia Pro and the Elizabeth have the same size brew boiler with a PID controller.

Saturated Ring Brew Group

Rather than the classic E61 group head, the Pro 300 uses a heavy, chrome-plated brass saturated ring brew group (3). As much as I love the tradition of the E61, the modern ring group provides excellent temperature stability, and you won’t have a super-heated nose of metal protruding from the front of your espresso machine just waiting to scald unsuspecting users.

It still measures the industry standard 58 mm. So you won’t have any trouble tracking down accessories like tampers and funnels.

You get a single-spout and double-spout portafilter and accompanying non-pressurized filter baskets. If this is your first upgrade to a prosumer machine, make sure you pair it with an appropriate espresso grinder for the best results.

How long does it take for the Profitec Pro 300 to heat up?

A big advantage of these machines with small boilers is their fast heat-up time. I found the Pro 300 was ready to go in as little as ten minutes, though waiting 15 or 20 minutes for better temperature stability is never a bad idea. In comparison, Profitec’s bigger dual boiler machines, like the Profitec Pro 600 and Pro 700, take upwards of 30 minutes.

No Pre-Infusion

My biggest disappointment in testing this machine was that there was no option for either a manual or automatic pre-infusion stage. Pre-infusion, in my experience, is the easiest way for the home barista to improve espresso shot quality and consistency (4). For comparison, the Lelit Elizabeth has a pre-infusion option; the Silvia Pro does not.

Using The Profitec Pro 300

Using this dual boiler is very straightforward, certainly more so than the heat exchanger espresso machines you’ll likely find at a comparable price.

There are two switches under the PID display, one for power and one for the steam boiler. I always appreciate being able to turn the steam boiler on and off independently, which speeds heat-up time and reduces energy use when I’m not making milk-based drinks. A third switch near the top of the machine is for pulling shots. Indicator lights tell you when the power is on or the boilers are heating.

You might not think this is a big deal, but you’ll be surprised how much it improves your workflow. When you’re not brewing, the display indicates boiler temp.

A pressure gauge lets you monitor the pressure in the steam boiler. I’m always happy to see any kind of gauge on an espresso machine, but personally, I find that knowing the brew pressure is more useful.

All these features — the timer, the pressure gauge, the PID — were once reserved for only the most expensive models. So it is wonderful to see them trickling down throughout the product line. It seems the gap between the top and bottom of the line is shrinking, making this an ideal time for consumers.

Water Reservoir

The Pro 300 isn’t plumbable to a water line thanks to its vibration pump, but its 3 liter water tank is one of the biggest in its class, so you won’t need to refill it too often. Likewise, the stainless steel drip tray has a large 32 ounce capacity. In comparison, the Elizabeth has a 2.5 liter tank, and the Silvia Pro’s measures just 2 liters.

Cleaning And Maintenance

Cleaning and maintaining the Profitec 300 is virtually identical to any prosumer espresso machine. With these machines, the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is particularly true.

Always use filtered water in the water tank to avoid the build-up of limescale, as descaling this type of coffee machine is a serious task best left to professionals (5). Backflush with hot water regularly using the included blind portafilter disc, and backflush using a cleaning product as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. Always rinse your portafilter right away and be sure to wipe down and purge the steam wand after each use.

None of these tasks is particularly arduous, and they will save you a ton of money and frustration in the long run.

I found the beautiful mirror finish of this model tended to show dirt, dust, and scratches. So keep a microfiber cloth handy to wipe any splatters and keep it looking its best.

Quality Steam But Low Capacity

The major concession you’re making when buying the Pro 300 versus a larger model is the size of the steam boiler, which is 0.7 liters. For reference, the Profitec Pro 600 has a 1 L steam boiler, and Profitec’s biggest model, the Pro 700, has a 2 L steam boiler.

The steam power is still a substantial step up from your average appliance-grade machine; it just can’t compete with commercial machines. It’ll take a bit longer to steam milk for your cappuccino, and you’ll have to wait for it to recover after making a series of drinks in a row.

The steam wand is excellent, with a double-wall no-burn design and fully articulated ball joint. It comes with a 2-hole steam tip, but you could swap in a 3 or 4-hole tip if you have a need for speed. It’s an easy and inexpensive adjustment.

There is a separate tap for hot water, something you don’t always find on smaller models. Both steam and hot water wand are operated with knobs rather than joysticks, so you get a little more tactile control, but it’s harder to achieve a quick burst of steam.

An Undeniably High-Quality Build

Profitec machines are known for their exceptional quality, and the Profitec Pro 300 is no exception, despite its low price tag. Profitec is the sister company to ECM, brands that combine impeccable German engineering with Italian tradition. Both the internal and external features of the Pro 300 showcase the result.

The exterior casing is a sheet of stainless steel polished to a mirror finish. It’s a classic and elegant look, though it lacks some of the fancy finishing touches of the higher-end models. The knobs are a simple black resin but can easily be upgraded to wood accents for a different aesthetic.

The Profitec Pro 300 is a relatively compact machine, particularly by dual boiler standards, measuring 10 inches wide by 15 inches high by 16 inches deep. These dimensions are nearly identical to the Silvia Pro and just slightly larger than the Elizabeth, which you might need to factor in if counter space is at a premium.

The interior is thoughtfully engineered and packed with premium components, like a top-of-the-line Gicar PID controller and copper and braided stainless lines for all pressurized plumbing. Vented steam is carefully redirected outside the machine to avoid damaging any internal electronics, and the pump has been mounted to minimize noise and vibrations.

All this attention to detail is a hallmark of the Profitec brand, and it’s in this level of quality construction that it tends to distinguish itself from the competition.

Where is the Profitec Pro 300 made?

The Profitec Pro 300 is made in Milan, Italy, along with the brand’s other entry-level model, the single boiler Profitec Go. The larger machines are made in Germany.

Is The Profitec Pro 300 A Good Value?

The Profitec Pro 300 dual boiler is priced well under $2000, which is excellent value, in my opinion. This could easily be an end-game machine, particularly for straight espresso or Americano lovers. Big double boilers are easily $2500-plus.

Compared to the direct competition, it’s about $150 less than the Rancilio Silvia Pro X and about $20 more than the Lelit Elizabeth. While the Elizabeth packs in a few more features, I think the Pro 300 offers superior quality and engineering.

Don’t Buy the Profitec Pro 300 If…

• You need more capacity: The Profitec Pro 300 can whip up four or five lattes in a row before it needs a break. But if you plan on making more than that regularly, you will be better served by something able to handle more volume. I’d suggest the Profitec Pro 500 if you don’t mind a heat exchanger machine or the Profitec Pro 600 if you want to stick with a double boiler.

• You want more automation: The Breville Dual Boiler is the perfect home espresso machine for anyone who wants all the bells and whistles, including automatic operation, on a reasonable budget. The only trade-off is the build quality isn’t quite on par with the established prosumer brands.

• You prefer a more traditional feel: The Pro 300 has a rather modern, minimalist design. An interesting (though far more expensive) alternative for the old-school espresso lover is the Profitec 800, an iconic lever machine. Or consider the Profitec Pro 600 or 700 if you favor the classic E61 group – which also adds the option of flow control (6).

The Verdict

The Profitec Pro 300 espresso machine is a great option if you want to make the transition to a dual boiler but don’t have the space or budget for one of the fancier models. It is impressively compact and affordable while still offering valuable features like PID temperature control, a pressure gauge, and an automatic shot timer.

It exceeded my expectations, delivering delicious espresso shots and frothy milk drinks on par with its more expensive big brothers. As long as you don’t need to capacity for a ton of back-to-back drinks, this machine will meet your needs and offer incredible value.

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