PROFITEC PRO 500 PID ESPRESSO MACHINE REVIEW: SOMETHING SPECIAL

The Profitec Pro 500 PID is one of the brand’s best sellers for a good reason.

Profitec makes some of the best prosumer espresso makers, pairing German engineering with Italian tradition to deliver top-notch machines. The Pro 500 is their mid-level heat-exchanger model – long one of the most popular on the market. And several updates in recent years have made it even better! 

In this review, I’ll walk you through what to expect from the Profitec Pro 500 PID based on my experience with this machine. Find out if it’s the right choice to satisfy your craving for great espresso.

A Full Review Of The Profitec Pro 500 Espresso Machine

The past few years have seen Profitec update much of its prosumer line, phasing out many of the “Pro” machines in favor of eye-catching new models with names like Go, Drive, and Move. So the fact that the Pro 500 is still around is a testament to its enduring appeal.

Having spent some time with this machine over the past few weeks, I can see why – a crowd-pleasing combination of features, quality, and pricing. Read on for the details.

How I Rated It

• Brewing Capability
• Use Friendliness
• Milk Frothing
• Build Quality
• Value For Money

4.4

• see on whole latte love

A Good Machine Getting Better All The Time

The Profitec Pro 500 has long been the brand’s most popular heat exchanger (HX) espresso machine. As of 2018, it got a significant upgrade with the addition of a PID. 

Small updates followed in 2022, adding considerably to ease of use for the home barista. The PID display was made more accessible, and a shot timer was added. The pressure gauges were relocated and given a fresh new black background, making them easier to monitor during extraction (and, in my opinion, a nicer aesthetic).

A heat-exchange boiler allows you to pull shots and steam milk at the same time by having a separate region within the boiler for lower-temperature brew water. It offers performance similar to a dual boiler but with a smaller footprint and at a lower cost. The downside is that heat exchangers tend to have slightly inferior temperature control (1). 

The 2L stainless steel boiler is long-lasting, and it’s jacketed with an efficient insulating sleeve. The vibratory pump is reasonably quiet, though not as silent as the more expensive rotary pump models.

Two pressure gauges

The Pro 500 has dual pressure gauges, a feature I always appreciate. Many machines report only brew pressure or steam pressure, but I consider it very valuable to know both. 

The boiler gauge measures steam power, and you will see the pressure increase as you increase the PID temperature. The brew gauge becomes useful only as you pull a shot, providing important feedback about the puck quality and extraction.

What does a PID add to a heat exchanger machine?

The addition of the PID has two advantages. First, you can set a specific temperature, which can be helpful when tailoring the brew temperature to a particular coffee or adjusting the steam pressure (2). 

You still won’t have the temperature accuracy of a double boiler with a PID because of how a heat exchanger operates. You’re setting the temperature of the boiler, not the brew water temperature directly.

Second, a PID improves temperature stability. It fluctuates ten times less than the alternative, a pressure stat. This is important for ensuring consistency from one shot to another.

A redesigned E61 brew group

Along with adding the PID in 2018, Profitec re-engineered the E61 group head of the Pro 500 to improve the efficiency of the thermosiphon. This combination gives this espresso machine such excellent temperature control that you don’t need to perform the cooling flushes commonly used to manage the temperature in an HX machine. 

I still think it’s worth understanding how and why to use cooling flushes. They provide a much faster, if less precise, way to adjust temperature, which can be helpful when making back-to-back drinks.

Does the Profitec Pro 500 have pre-infusion?

The Pro 500 doesn’t have automatic or programmable pre-infusion. You can perform mechanical preinfusion with an E61 group if the machine is plumbed directly to a water line, but if you’re drawing from a reservoir, pre-infusion is minimal. 

However, any E61 group can be retrofitted with a flow control device, which allows precise control of the brew pressure during extraction, including pre-infusion (3). This is worth looking into if you’re interested, as many distributors will install the valve at no extra cost when you buy.

The Pro 500 User Experience

Heat exchanger machines typically have a bit of a learning curve because the temperature you set in the boiler is not the brew temperature at the group. It takes time and experience to master that discrepancy, though the user manual offers some guidance. 

Using the Pro 500 is more straightforward than many comparable models. The PID and refined group mean you aren’t required to use cooling flushes to manage the brew temperature – though, as I said earlier, I still think it’s a worthwhile skill.

How long does the Profitec 500 take to heat up?

The 500 has a powerful 1400W heating element, so it heats up faster than most in its class. In my tests, it took about 10 minutes to hit brewing temperature, but I’d recommend giving it at least 15 or 20 minutes to properly stabilize and heat the portafilter (4).

Pulling a shot of espresso at home

This is a semi-automatic espresso machine, so you won’t be programming shots like in an automatic machine. Brewing espresso is a hands-on process requiring your attention.

Step one is to prepare the portafilter. This is where most of the nuance lies and where the most experience is required. 

Insert the portafilter into the machine, and lift the lever on the size of the brew group to start the pump. The shot timer will start counting up automatically. It should take between 25 and 30 seconds to pull a shot. Stop the pump by lowering the lever.

Ideally, you’re looking for a 2:1 yield. So if you weighed out an 18-gram dose of coffee, you should get a delicious 36-gram double shot in about 30 seconds.

Other user-friendly features

The entire top surface of the machine is a passively heated cup warmer, thanks to the heating element below. I like its ample space, but the downside is that you need to remove the cups to access the water reservoir.

The water tank is quite large, at 3 liters, so it’s unlikely you’ll need to refill it daily. An automatic sensor is triggered if the water gets too low, so you don’t need to worry about damaging the machine by running it dry. 

The drip tray is also a good size, at 32 ounces, which is particularly handy on an HX machine like this. If you opt to use cooling flushes, you’ll find it fills quickly.

Cleaning and maintenance needs

The famed Profitec German engineering is very evident inside this espresso machine. The Pro 500 is one of the easiest machines in its class to service, thanks to the well-designed and straightforward internal layout. 

Cleaning the Pro 500 is on par with any other prosumer machine. Backflush regularly with the included backflushing disc, and keep some microfibre cloths on hand to keep surfaces clean and dry. Use filtered water with your machine so you don’t have to worry about descaling.

No Shortage Of Steam Power

The Profitec Pro 500’s 2-liter steam boiler yields remarkable steam pressure, especially if you crank up the temp on the PID. 

Personally, I like to keep the pressure around 1.3 bar, which allows me to steam 6 ounces of milk for a latte in under 30 seconds – perfect timing while pulling a shot. But you can hit 2 bars of pressure if you want.

In testing, I maintained 1 bar of pressure for 5 minutes of consecutive steaming, a rare feat. It also recovers remarkably quickly, so you’ll have no problem making back-to-back lattes.

The steam and hot water wands are no-burn models with a silicone internal tube. This spares you the potential of a nasty scalding and makes the wand easier to clean after use.

The wand is capped with a nicely balanced two-hole tip, which is important to achieve the proper milk froth.

You control the steam and hot water wands with upgraded spring-loaded knobs, which I found responsive and durable.

Italian Design, German Engineering

Like all the best Profitec espresso machines, the engineering quality is evident in this model. It’s as durable as it is beautiful. In many ways, it resembles its big brother, the double-boiler Profitec Pro 700.

It features a one-piece steel frame wrapped in a polished stainless casing with smooth edges rather than sharp corners. I’m a big fan of the new black gauges, which pair nicely with the black steam and hot water knobs and the handles of the portafilter and E61 lever.

The 2022 update also moved the digital PID controller to the front of the machine, whereas previous editions had it hidden behind the drip tray. I know some reviewers have complained that putting it out front mars the traditional look, but personally, I prefer the ease of access – not to mention the shot timer. And I don’t mind the slightly more high-tech aesthetic.

The accessories are equally well-made. The Pro 500 includes a hefty steel tamper, two commercial grade 58 mm portafilters (a single spout and a double spout), and matching single and double baskets.

Where are Profitec machines made?

The Pro 500, and most of the rest of the line, is made in Heidelberg, Germany. The more entry-level Profitec Go and Pro 300 models are made in Milan, Italy. All Profitec espresso machines are handmade.

The Best Heat Exchange Machine Under $2000?

I always find it hard to rate a machine’s value for money, as it depends strongly on your priorities. But I don’t think it would be a stretch to say the Profitec Pro 500 is one of the best espresso machines under $2000. 

An apt comparison would be the Rocket Espresso Cronometro Type V. It’s a heat exchange machine like the Pro 500 PID with an E61 group, stainless steel casing, PID, shot timer, vibration pump, dual manometers, and a slightly smaller at 1.8 L boiler. It costs $400 more.

Do Not Buy the Profitec Pro 500 PID If…

• Temperature accuracy is a priority: If you love experimenting with different specialty coffees, the better temperature accuracy of a dual boiler is essential for dialing in the perfect extraction. Take a look at the Pro 300. It’s a small dual boiler that’s less expensive, though the trade-off is poorer milk steaming. Or keep the frothing capability and pay a tad more for the higher-end Profitec Pro 600.

• You want more manual control: If you like the heat exchanger but want the hands-on feel and pressure profile that can only come from a manual lever machine, take a look at the innovative Profitec Pro 800. It combines modern technology, like a vibratory pump, with traditional manual extraction. Read our Profitec Pro 800 review to learn more.

• You don’t brew milky drinks: If lattes and cappuccinos aren’t your things, you can save a lot of money and hassle by opting for a single boiler dual-use machine. Check out the Classika from Profitec’s sister company, ECM. Like all ECM machines, it’s known for its outstanding build quality.

The Verdict

The Profitec Pro 500 was one of the most popular heat exchanger espresso machines on the market even before its latest upgrades, and now it’s even better! 

The PID adds top-notch temperature control to a machine that already impressed with its delicious espresso shots, above-average steam power, and exceptional build quality. Unless you have your heart set on a dual boiler, there is no reason not to recommend this home espresso machine.

see on whole latte love