Very straightforward to use, even for a novice espresso person. The video that WholeLatteLove sent to my email with the setup and basic use of the machine was extremely helpful in getting started. The machine itself has been doing a good job, and it will only get better with time as I get used to the specifics and nuances. Having an actual dual boiler means we can pull double shots for several people in a row, and be steaming/frothing milk for lattes, and not run out of pressure or have to wait for the boiler to heat up again. So far, this has been a great machine with lots of potential and a very high build quality. It's very solid and heavy, with a large water reservoir. The grating of the drip tray has some sharp edges, but not so much that you'd cut yourself on ... MoreVery straightforward to use, even for a novice espresso person. The video that WholeLatteLove sent to my email with the setup and basic use of the machine was extremely helpful in getting started. The machine itself has been doing a good job, and it will only get better with time as I get used to the specifics and nuances. Having an actual dual boiler means we can pull double shots for several people in a row, and be steaming/frothing milk for lattes, and not run out of pressure or have to wait for the boiler to heat up again. So far, this has been a great machine with lots of potential and a very high build quality. It's very solid and heavy, with a large water reservoir. The grating of the drip tray has some sharp edges, but not so much that you'd cut yourself on them. So far, I really can't think of anything else to complain about with it. We're enjoying making better espresso at home than we can get in a coffee shop.

A comment on brew temperature stability

I've had this machine five months so this is based on some experience. I had an Expobar Lever heat exchanger for ten years I can compare to. The Expobar gave us great coffee and mostly great service but it was getting on and I was never quite happy with the temperature control. You can read up on this problem online. It is common to all heat exchanger machines even ones with a PID to control the boiler temperature. The reason is the boiler temperature is much higher than the desired brew temperature. With two boilers, you have two different temperatures. So I wanted a dual boiler but not break the bank getting it. Enter the Profitec 300. For the money you are saving, you give up a couple of things mainly the flow control you can get with an E61 and nicer looking ... MoreI've had this machine five months so this is based on some experience. I had an Expobar Lever heat exchanger for ten years I can compare to. The Expobar gave us great coffee and mostly great service but it was getting on and I was never quite happy with the temperature control. You can read up on this problem online. It is common to all heat exchanger machines even ones with a PID to control the boiler temperature. The reason is the boiler temperature is much higher than the desired brew temperature. With two boilers, you have two different temperatures. So I wanted a dual boiler but not break the bank getting it. Enter the Profitec 300. For the money you are saving, you give up a couple of things mainly the flow control you can get with an E61 and nicer looking handles. Not deal breakers for me. However, there was one worry. The brew boiler only holds 11oz much less than the boiler on a heat exchanger. Can it really maintain a steady temperature during brewing? In its review, WLL says they measured no more than one degree variation at the portafilter during brewing. Measurement data is king but does it make sense? An engineering analysis would require lots more information about the details of the system. I just want to point out one thing. The amount of brew water in a heat exchanger machine is not equal to the total amount of water in the big boiler. It is just the water inside the serpentine coil that goes to the brew group. That is the amount of water that the incoming cold water mixes with during brewing. Is that more or less than 11oz? I don't know but, if it is more, it is probably not much more. It is definitely much less than the total water surrounding the coil in the boiler. So I don't have a problem believing the temperature stability result quoted by WLL. One reviewer here complained that the brew boiler temperature monitor showed 5F less immediately after brewing which he believed belied the stability results. However, he forgot to take into account that the system is far from equilibrium during brewing and shortly after brewing. The reading on the monitor at that moment is not the important temperature which is that of the water delivered to the brew group. To analyze stability one needs to measure the portafilter temperature which is what WLL has done.The bottom line is the consistency in the quality of the brewing by the machine. The Profitec 300 is performing as well as or better than the Expobar with the much bigger boiler. And I don't have to worry about temperature control. In addition I have found the shot timer to be a huge help especially when adjusting the grinder.Another advantage of this machine is it saves time, power and water. The tank is large enough to last a long time and you don't use as much water because you don't need the cooling flushes. It heats up quickly and allows you to brew without turning on the steam boiler. I save a lot of electricity by using a separate frothing appliance. Not the best for latte art but I am not into that. I always have the steam boiler if I need to use it. For me, it has steaming power similar to the Expobar, more than enough for the couple of lattes we drink daily.The last consideration that sold me was the statement by WLL of the quality of the components and the ease of repairing by the owner. I went inside the Expobar many times in those ten years. The ease of doing that was a big plus compared to the automatic machines I had had before. I am in Puerto Rico and shipping back and forth to WLL for repair is very expensive. Hopefully I will never have to open it up but I am convinced I can do it if needed.

An excellent machine and excellent service

I have only had this machine for a few days so far and getting used to it. I had a Gaggia Classic before this machine and although I really liked that machine, I found it a pain to do back-to-back milk-based drinks due to temperature changes for the espresso vs milk. It was also pretty time consuming!I was very used to the Gaggia and so it will take some adjusting to the Profitec 300, but I am looking forward to the experience! I also bought a new grinder with this machine so it is all new right now.The machine is surprisingly quick to heat up. I timed it this morning and it was ready to use in about 6-minutes from turning it on.The machine seems very well built and high quality components. Everything I had read online was positive and I wasn't disappointed.I ... MoreI have only had this machine for a few days so far and getting used to it. I had a Gaggia Classic before this machine and although I really liked that machine, I found it a pain to do back-to-back milk-based drinks due to temperature changes for the espresso vs milk. It was also pretty time consuming!I was very used to the Gaggia and so it will take some adjusting to the Profitec 300, but I am looking forward to the experience! I also bought a new grinder with this machine so it is all new right now.The machine is surprisingly quick to heat up. I timed it this morning and it was ready to use in about 6-minutes from turning it on.The machine seems very well built and high quality components. Everything I had read online was positive and I wasn't disappointed.I bought the machine during one of iDrinkCoffee's excellent sales so it was a great deal. I had been thinking about pulling the trigger on a dual boiler for a while and the sale just sealed the deal. I had ordered my Gaggia through iDrinkCoffee as well and both experiences were excellent. I wouldn't hesitate to order from them again in the future!

Glad I took the leap

My husband has been nagging for a double burner machine for a couple of years, but being the keeper of the coffee funds 😆🤣 I didn't see the need, as our older single burner Rancilio has always been, and was still, great at making awesome cappuccino and lattes and more....I finally caved earlier this year and after doing much research I settled on the Profitec Pro 300. The reasons (aside from not putting our coffee fund under water lol) were the reviews and the fact that it was assembled in Germany. The speed and ease of having a double boiler brew up our morning cuppa in record time was huge icing on the cake. And the unique frother attachment makes foaming the milk a breeze. I also can't say enough about IDC.com; ordering was easy, shipment was quick, the ... MoreMy husband has been nagging for a double burner machine for a couple of years, but being the keeper of the coffee funds 😆🤣 I didn't see the need, as our older single burner Rancilio has always been, and was still, great at making awesome cappuccino and lattes and more....I finally caved earlier this year and after doing much research I settled on the Profitec Pro 300. The reasons (aside from not putting our coffee fund under water lol) were the reviews and the fact that it was assembled in Germany. The speed and ease of having a double boiler brew up our morning cuppa in record time was huge icing on the cake. And the unique frother attachment makes foaming the milk a breeze. I also can't say enough about IDC.com; ordering was easy, shipment was quick, the packaging was outstanding (for which I was extremely happy as it had to travel quite a distance to get to our place). They even made the effort to double check with us on our address as it often does not register as a deliverable address and they wanted to ensure it arrived to the correct location. The only very small complaint is that for a high quality machine that was made in Germany (says assembled there?), the finger holes to remove the cover to the drip plate are rough and appear not to have been filed smooth, so care is needed not to be too hasty to shove your finger into them to take the cover off, as you could catch some skin on the rough metal....if your handy with a Dremel tool or metal file, it's a quick fix to sand it smooth.

Great But a Few Suggested Improvements

Overall great machine. Here are just some suggested improvements from my experience.- A way to fill the water reservoir from the front instead of only from the very back of the machine would be very, very, much appreciated. For myself, and I suspect many others, I have the machine sitting on my kitchen counter and underneath the kitchen cabinets. Because of the cabinets I cannot reach the water reservoir to refill without pulling this rather large and heavy machine (that doesn't slide at all) out every time it needs refilling (which is pretty often).- Would love to see the the two large holes on the back reservoir cover that currently allow dust, etc, to fall directly into the water be removed.- Would be great if the shot timer continued to display the shot time ... MoreOverall great machine. Here are just some suggested improvements from my experience.- A way to fill the water reservoir from the front instead of only from the very back of the machine would be very, very, much appreciated. For myself, and I suspect many others, I have the machine sitting on my kitchen counter and underneath the kitchen cabinets. Because of the cabinets I cannot reach the water reservoir to refill without pulling this rather large and heavy machine (that doesn't slide at all) out every time it needs refilling (which is pretty often).- Would love to see the the two large holes on the back reservoir cover that currently allow dust, etc, to fall directly into the water be removed.- Would be great if the shot timer continued to display the shot time for maybe 20 seconds so I have chance to see it. As it is right now the moment you stop your shot the timer resets back to temperature display. So while I pull my shots based on weight, I do like to check after I've stopped the shot how long it took.- Would prefer the machine come with one bottomless portafilter instead of the single spout portafilter. Also with a triple shot basket would be nice.- Would like to see slightly larger knobs for the steam and hot water like any of the knobs on the Profitec 400/500/600/700.

Great Espresso Machine

I was looking for an espresso machine with a quick heat up time, PID, compact footprint and good build quality. The Pro 300 has it all. It’s perfect for a small family and easy to pull consistent delicious espresso shots, especially with the convenience of the shot timer. It has a sufficient steam power and it takes approximately 35 seconds to steams 6 oz of milk. I always purge steam for 3-4 seconds in my cup to make it very warm. Recovery time is quick and in a few seconds pressure in the steam boiler reaches 1.4 bars.I paired the Profitec Pro 300 with the Eureka Silencio grinder and it works great.Pros:5-6 minute heat-up time (room temperature 72F)Very quietFast recovery time between shots/steamingPID becomes a shot timerConsistent shotsCons:Uncovered ... MoreI was looking for an espresso machine with a quick heat up time, PID, compact footprint and good build quality. The Pro 300 has it all. It’s perfect for a small family and easy to pull consistent delicious espresso shots, especially with the convenience of the shot timer. It has a sufficient steam power and it takes approximately 35 seconds to steams 6 oz of milk. I always purge steam for 3-4 seconds in my cup to make it very warm. Recovery time is quick and in a few seconds pressure in the steam boiler reaches 1.4 bars.I paired the Profitec Pro 300 with the Eureka Silencio grinder and it works great.Pros:5-6 minute heat-up time (room temperature 72F)Very quietFast recovery time between shots/steamingPID becomes a shot timerConsistent shotsCons:Uncovered finger holes on the lid of the water reservoirDoes not have low water level warning

Kind of limited

Delivering a dual boiler at this price point has meant a lot of compromises. The main one is that the brew boiler is tiny. Even flushing a little water out to warm the portafilter is something it takes 20 seconds to recover from. The PID isn't well tuned, and that further slows recovery. For these reasons, I suspect that in practice, the temperature isnt much more stable than a good HX design would achieve. The lack of a brew circuit pressure gauge, which is not an expensive part, is kind of baffling. It tends to produce wet pucks, but that could be a skill issue I guess. Finally, the hot water spout isn't situated properly over the drip tray. The water lands on the frame of the tray rather than over the holes, and some will go on the counter. It therefore can't be ... MoreDelivering a dual boiler at this price point has meant a lot of compromises. The main one is that the brew boiler is tiny. Even flushing a little water out to warm the portafilter is something it takes 20 seconds to recover from. The PID isn't well tuned, and that further slows recovery. For these reasons, I suspect that in practice, the temperature isnt much more stable than a good HX design would achieve. The lack of a brew circuit pressure gauge, which is not an expensive part, is kind of baffling. It tends to produce wet pucks, but that could be a skill issue I guess. Finally, the hot water spout isn't situated properly over the drip tray. The water lands on the frame of the tray rather than over the holes, and some will go on the counter. It therefore can't be used for cleaning.It makes good coffee, but is fiddly to use. If I was buying again I'd pick an HX machine, which I suspect can be better executed at this price than a dual boiler can.

New to espresso but talked

New to espresso but talked with some friends and Clive and settled on this machine because:1) dual boiler2) cost3) PIDMain feedback I'd provide is that there seems to be plenty of steam for large milk drinks, and the recovery time is fast enough that (for a newbie at this) I haven't had any problem making multiple drinks. You might have to wait a couple minutes at most, which gives you time to prep for the next shot.I still haven't figured out how the hot water spigot is supposed to work. A bit of hot water comes out and then it's mostly steam. Need to call Clive or do some research.I agonized over grinder options, and was really discouraged with the amount of work it was going to take to clean the Eureka I was looking at (getting the vacuum out regularly ... MoreNew to espresso but talked with some friends and Clive and settled on this machine because:1) dual boiler2) cost3) PIDMain feedback I'd provide is that there seems to be plenty of steam for large milk drinks, and the recovery time is fast enough that (for a newbie at this) I haven't had any problem making multiple drinks. You might have to wait a couple minutes at most, which gives you time to prep for the next shot.I still haven't figured out how the hot water spigot is supposed to work. A bit of hot water comes out and then it's mostly steam. Need to call Clive or do some research.I agonized over grinder options, and was really discouraged with the amount of work it was going to take to clean the Eureka I was looking at (getting the vacuum out regularly seemed intense). Went with another option from another company focused on low/zero retention and single dosing.

Rate of making espresso and

Rate of making espresso and frothing milk at the same time is great. Had a drip coffee machine before this. The Pro300 has changed my coffee game to the level of a legit barista. Would highly recommend. I use the Pro300 with a Specialita grinder. Went through a few kilos of coffee beans trying to fine tunic the recipe. But after a few days of tinkering with the different beans, weights, grind settings, I can safely say I’m drinking the best coffee I’ve ever made.

What an awesome machine!

I had been looking to go from my Jura 5 to a manual machine for a while. After careful consideration and a lot of reading, I ended up with a short list of four candidates, two of them were Profitecs; the 100 and the 300.The 300 was the most expensive of the lot, and was deemed “an overkill” for my needs by a friend who’s really into coffee, mainly because I will only rarely do lattes. So the second boiler, while a great option, was not an absolute requirement, and I probably could use the money saved to get a better grinder. But it looks like it was meant to be - the moment I was ready to order a 100, my friend emailed me. There was a massive sale on the 300!I ordered within 2 minutes and received the machine a few business days later.The Pros:- The machine is ... MoreI had been looking to go from my Jura 5 to a manual machine for a while. After careful consideration and a lot of reading, I ended up with a short list of four candidates, two of them were Profitecs; the 100 and the 300.The 300 was the most expensive of the lot, and was deemed “an overkill” for my needs by a friend who’s really into coffee, mainly because I will only rarely do lattes. So the second boiler, while a great option, was not an absolute requirement, and I probably could use the money saved to get a better grinder. But it looks like it was meant to be - the moment I was ready to order a 100, my friend emailed me. There was a massive sale on the 300!I ordered within 2 minutes and received the machine a few business days later.The Pros:- The machine is stunningly beautiful. I went with stainless, and the look is just splendid on our coffee bar. I also love that it’s wider than the 100.- The machine feels robust and very well made. The switches remind me of Apollo 13 switches, they make a loud “clonk” when toggled and I love this. There’s no plastic anywhere, and no coating that’ll flake off.- The machine takes about 5 minutes to warm up, which is perfect for me. I get up, flip those switches. By the time I’m done with my morning routine and I’ve grounded my beans, the machine is ready.- The steam wand is easy to use and remains warm to the touch after being used, so you can’t burn yourself if you accidentally touch it.- Steaming milk is super easy. That makes me happy that I went with the 300, I can definitely see my latte making going up.- The delivery was fast and the packaging was brilliant - it came on its own mini pallet, which was adorable.- I almost forgot : The coffee is delicious!The cons:- The steam wand is on the left side. It’s not really a con, just something to be aware of if your setup is planned with the idea it would be on the right.- The water dispensed by the machine via the faucet is too hot for americanos. There’s no temperature control for that side (at least I found nothing at this point). We add a bit of cold water or start by dispensing then water before doing all the prep, allowing the temperature to go down.- The machine comes with a single and double portafilter. I immediately purchased a bottomless portafilter that allows more clearance for my taller cups and to place a scale under the cup, also dispenses the shot centrally for my skinnier espresso glasses.With the massive rebate, I essentially got the 300 for the price of the 100. I enjoy the added features, and wouldn’t have regretted paying for them.This is truly an awesome machine.