When espresso machines make a good impression, testing them is the most enjoyable. Our goal is to discover good espresso machines that we can recommend to you, that are a joy to brew, and that produce delicious espresso. The small Profitec Go delivers exactly that. It performed well to very well in our tests, giving us hope for more exciting machines from Profitec .
What do we like best about the Profitec Go? The short heat-up time thanks to the clever Fast Heat control, the low energy consumption, and the proactive communication from the manufacturer from Baden-Württemberg.
The Profitec Go is also available on the market as the Profitec Pro 100 Go.
Contents of this test and article about the Profitec Go
This article is intended as a summary of the Profitec Go. In addition to our detailed video review, we will also publish a review of the espresso machine and a summary. Furthermore, a short video will help anyone who owns an earlier version of a Profitec Go (before 1.06) to follow the quick heat-up protocol.
- Test report (follows or will be added)
- Long video test: https://youtu.be/YZ_bkI1kMUE
- Short video under 10 minutes: https://youtu.be/Qq_e4Bkqk3k
- Fast Heat instructions, see below in the article
Buy Profitec Go
The following specialist retailers sell the Profitec Go, and we recommend purchasing it from them. All offer the option of adjusting the machine's offset.
Germany:
Switzerland:
We search for specialist partners for you who we know offer good work and excellent service, and we maintain close contact with the retailers mentioned. The links are so-called commission links. If you order through one of these links, you won't pay a cent more – however, we receive a small commission, which we invest directly in new test equipment.
We are still looking for competent partners for you in the DACH region.
External data of the Profitec Go
The small and compact Profitec Go measures 38 cm high, 36 cm deep, and 21 cm wide. While its height and depth are comparable to many espresso machines, the Profitec Go is quite slim. It's available in four colors and is positioned by Profitec as a young, modern machine.
The water tank holds 2.65 liters. It's inserted into the machine, and the water is drawn from the bottom. We like this because it eliminates the need for a common hose that has to be awkwardly threaded into the water tank on many cheaper espresso machines.
Due to its narrow width, the Profitec Go's drip tray is also relatively small at 500 milliliters. A vibration pump provides the necessary pressure to constantly pump the brewing water onto the coffee. If the pressure needs to be adjusted, this can be easily done via a screw outside the machine. Profitec has done a great job of solving this problem.
The 400 ml brass kettle achieves an astonishing temperature consistency (see also the chapter on temperature consistency).
While many espresso machines with a Faema E61 brewing group priced above €1,000 lack a display for the brewing time, the small Profitec Go offers this time control. Adding volumetric control to the buttons would be the icing on the cake.
During operation, the Profitec Go reaches a noise level of 64 decibels. When cups are placed on the machine, the noise level increases to 67 decibels during espresso preparation.
Accessories and scope of delivery
The Profitec Go comes with a 58-cup portafilter and two matching sieves for single-cup and double-cup brewing. The portafilter itself isn't as high-quality as other Profitec portafilters, but it serves its purpose. We don't like the relatively wide spouts, which causes the espresso to snake as it flows down.
The included tamper is high-quality and fits flush with the sieve. The slightly flat base causes the tamper to sink completely into the sieve. This makes it difficult to feel at the edge whether the tamper has been inserted properly.
A brush for cleaning the group and a blind sieve are also included.
Temperature measurement and constancy
The Profitec Go exhibits astonishing temperature consistency, as the following WBC protocol demonstrates. The machine maintains the set temperature from shot to shot. This is truly astonishing, even compared to many more expensive espresso machines. Profitec demonstrates how to achieve perfect temperature control with good sensors and controls. This is very impressive! The temperature is consistent not only from shot to shot, but also within the shot. Chapeau!
WBC measurement curve Profitec Go
But we're even more pleased that the Profitec Go, with its newly developed Fast Heat Up protocol, reaches operating temperature in just 7.30 minutes. Profitec has further developed its engineering team in recent years, and this is now evident in these machines. With the Profitec Go, the company from Bammental in Baden-Württemberg is making a real statement and breaking away from the tradition of its own machines. Instead of a slow-heating Faema E61 brewing group, the Profitec GO demonstrates what fast heat-up times can achieve with alternative brewing groups.
To ensure the coffee is hot after just 7:30 minutes, Profitec isn't reinventing the concept, but rather offering a clever logic starting with software version 1.06. Even if steam mode isn't selected, the single-circuit machine aims for a temperature in the 400ml boiler that is actually suitable for steam. This causes the machine to heat toward 140 degrees Celsius, thus exceeding the target temperature for the espresso. After approximately 6:30 minutes, the Profitec Go signals that it is ready to be flushed. The excessive temperature is released through the clamped portafilter, which quickly brings it up to the target temperature. When we then make the first espresso, we are at a target temperature of just under 92 degrees Celsius with a set temperature of 93.
Software version 1.06 is now standard. Those with earlier versions can achieve an equally fast heat-up time with a workaround. We've described how this works further down in the article.
Energy consumption of the Profitec Go
A notable feature of the Profitec Go is its efficient energy consumption. The machine boasts a rapid heat-up time of just 7.5 minutes, which positively impacts power consumption. In fact, after heat-up, the Profitec Go requires only 0.12 kilowatt hours (kWh) to prepare five double espressos.
The measurements we use for our calculations are based on the following assumptions: 18 g of coffee poured in, 45 g of coffee extracted, and an extraction time of 25 ± 1 seconds. This efficiency and precision makes the Profitec Go an outstanding option for coffee lovers looking for an energy-efficient espresso machine.
Fast Heat instructions for espresso machines prior to version 1.06
When you turn on the espresso machine, the Profitec Go displays its software version. Machines with versions older than 1.06 do not automatically perform the accelerated heat-up protocol. However, it can be performed manually.- Set steam temperature (St) to 140°C
- Switch on the machine and switch directly to steam
- As soon as 138°C appears on the display, set a timer to 4:10 min.
- After the timer has expired, turn off the steam and flush through the portafilter for 20 seconds to warm it up and reduce the temperature in the boiler again.
- Get coffee
Milk frothing and single circuit
Frothing milk is always a bit tricky with single-circuit espresso machines. " Single-circuit " means that one boiler has two functions and programs. First, it is heated to a brewing temperature between 92 and 94 degrees Celsius for preparing espresso; second, the boiler must be heated further to froth the milk. With the Profitec Go, we can increase the boiler temperature to 140 degrees Celsius, thus generating hot steam.
- The procedure for preparing cappuccino is as follows:
- Prepare espresso and set aside
- Set to steam mode and heat up
- Drain hot water from steamer to foam directly with steam
- Froth milk and prepare cappuccino
- Turn off steam mode and release steam so that the boiler can return to brewing temperature.
This process is cumbersome. This isn't the fault of the Profitec Go, however, but rather the principle of the single-circuit machine. With the Profitec Go, heating up takes about 40 to 50 seconds. This is a relatively quick heat-up time. The subsequent frothing performance is good, allowing you to froth and roll jugs up to 0.6 liters.
When the temperature is right, foaming is fun.
Conclusion on the Profitec Go
For us, the Profitec Go is definitely one of the best single-circuit espresso machines on the market. Its fast heat-up time, consistent temperature, and high quality are particularly impressive. The steam output is also impressive. Compared to other single-circuit machines, the Profitec Go also scores highly in this regard. The general question remains: what beverages are preferred in a household?
If espresso, Americano, or café crème are your thing, the Profitec Go is a truly compelling espresso machine. If you regularly prepare cappuccino and frequently switch between espresso-based and milk-foam drinks, the single-circuit technology is probably not the first choice.
We're impressed by the Profitec Go. It's a clear indication of the direction Profitec is headed. We're excited to see where the next machines will be developed and look forward to perhaps testing one or two new concepts from the German espresso machine manufacturer in the future.
