For espresso enthusiasts looking to upgrade to a prosumer-grade espresso machine, the Lelit Victoria and Profitec Pro 300 are two popular options worth considering.
Both offer excellent temperature stability, premium construction, and customizable controls to help you brew café-quality espresso at home. But which one is right for you?
In this detailed comparison guide, we’ll examine the key specs, features, strengths, and weaknesses of the Lelit Victoria and Profitec Pro 300 to help you decide which premium espresso machine best fits your needs and budget.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Lelit Victoria | Profitec Pro 300 |
| Boilers | Dual stainless steel (1.3L steam, 0.6L brew) | Dual stainless steel (1.5L steam, 0.5L brew) |
| Brew Temperature Control | PID | PID |
| Brew Temperature Range | 190-205°F | 195-205°F |
| Pump Pressure | 9 bars | 10 bars |
| Portafilter | 58mm with pressure gauge | 58mm with pressure gauge |
| Pre-Infusion | Yes | Yes |
| Volumetric Dosing | Yes | Yes |
| Display | 3.5” color display | 2.4” display |
| Exterior | Polished steel | Polished or matte black steel |
| Dimensions | 11.6 x 14.2 x 15.7 in | 13 x 15 x 15 in |
| Weight | 71.7 lb | 65 lb |
| Included Accessories | Single & double shot filters, tamper, backflush disc | Single & double shot filters, tamper, backflush disc, water filter |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Key Takeaways:
- The Victoria has a bigger 600mL brew boiler while the Pro 300’s is 500mL
- Victoria has a 3.5” full color display vs. 2.4” on the Pro 300
- Pro 300 has dedicated control knobs while Victoria uses a digital display
- Victoria has a 9 bar pump compared to 10 bar for the Pro 300
- Victoria has a shot timer but Pro 300 does not
- Pro 300 comes with a water filter while Victoria does not
Overview of the Lelit Victoria
The Lelit Victoria is an e61 group head espresso machine manufactured in Italy. It features a stainless steel body construction and copper boiler to provide rapid heat up times and excellent temperature stability.
Key features and specs:
- Dual stainless steel boilers (1.3L steam, 600mL brew)
- Copper heating elements for fast heating
- E61 group head for temperature stability
- PID temperature control system
- 2.5 liter water reservoir
- 58mm portafilter with pressure gauge
- Volumetric dispensing for precise dosing
- Pre-infusion brewing capability
- 3.5” full color display
The Victoria’s powerful 1,600 watt heating system and PID control allows you to adjust the brew boiler temperature between 190-205°F. The machine comes with a commercial-style 58mm chrome-plated brass portafilter and offers volumetric dosing for one or two shots at the touch of a button.
Overview of the Profitec Pro 300
The Profitec Pro 300 is another dual boiler espresso machine made in Germany. It shares many similarities with the Victoria but also has some unique features.
Key features and specs:
- Dual stainless boilers (1.5L steam, 500mL brew)
- E61 group head
- PID controlled brew boiler (195-205°F)
- 2 liter removable water tank
- 58mm portafilter with pressure gauge
- Pre-infusion and volumetric dosing
- 2.4” display
- Rotary pump with bypass valve
The Pro 300 comes equipped with commercial 58mm portafilters and a rotating pump with bypass valve for quiet brewing. The PID controlled brew boiler allows you to adjust temperature within a 195-205°F range. It also has pre-infusion and volumetric dosing capabilities.
Key Differences Between Lelit Victoria And Profitec Pro 300
- Build Quality
Both the Victoria and Pro 300 feature stainless steel housing and copper-lined boilers. They are both built to last in busy coffee shops and home kitchens.
The Victoria may have a slight edge in build quality thanks to its use of thicker 3mm steel panels versus the 1.5mm steel on the Pro 300. Both come with a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
- Temperature Stability
The E61 group heads used on both machines promote excellent temperature stability. This allows you to pull shot after shot while maintaining a consistent brew temperature.
The Victoria does have a slightly larger 600mL brew boiler compared to the 500mL boiler on the Pro 300. In theory, the extra boiler capacity could allow it to recover temperature more quickly under heavy use. But both machines offer excellent temperature control thanks to PID systems and copper heating elements.
- Customization and Controls
The Lelit Victoria uses a bright 3.5” full color display while the Pro 300 has a more basic 2.4” screen. The Victoria’s interface is generally easier to navigate and program. But the Pro 300 does offer some intuitive rotary knobs for quickly adjusting boiler temperatures on the fly.
Both allow you to digitally program brew temperature, pre-infusion times, and volumetric dosing. The Victoria adds a nice extra touch with a shot timer so you can track extraction times.
Overall, the Victoria provides more customization options and its display is easier to read.
- Ease of Use
While the Victoria has more customizable settings, the Pro 300 is simpler to operate on a daily basis. Its dedicated knobs make it easy to change temperatures and activate the steam wand without diving into submenus.
The Pro 300 is also a bit quieter thanks to its rotary pump and bypass valve.
For beginners, the more intuitive controls of the Pro 300 may be preferred. But the Victoria isn’t difficult to use by any means. And experienced baristas will appreciate the wider array of programming options.
- Brew Performance
Both the Lelit Victoria and Profitec Pro 300 are capable of brewing coffee shop quality espresso with excellent crema and rich flavor.
The digital PID controllers allow you to precisely adjust temperature to optimize extraction. And features like pre-infusion and volumetric dosing give you control over shot variables.
When it comes to pump pressure, the Victoria operates at 9 bars while the Pro 300 pumps at 10 bars. Some users believe the higher pressure helps improve extraction and crema on the Pro 300.
But the 1 bar difference is small and both offer fantastic brewing capabilities.
- Steaming Performance
With powerful 1,600 and 1,500 watt heating elements respectively, the Victoria and Pro 300 both offer fast heat up times and strong steam pressure.
The Pro 300 generates dry steam a little more quickly thanks to its slightly smaller boiler capacity. But the Victoria still only takes about 3 minutes to be steaming ready.
Both can steam milk for multiple drinks back to back once up to temperature.
- Ease of Maintenance
Both machines feature E61 group heads that should be backflushed regularly to keep clean. They both make this process straightforward. The side-mounted water tanks are easy to access and remove for cleaning.
One small advantage of the Pro 300 is that it comes with a water reservoir filter. The Victoria does not include a filter so you’ll need to purchase one separately if you want to filter incoming water.
Watch a cool demo of Pro 300!
Descaling is recommended every 2-3 months on both machines. Overall maintenance is very similar and neither machine is at a real advantage here.
- Aesthetics
The Victoria and Pro 300 share attractive stainless steel housing with chrome accents. The Pro 300 comes in either a polished steel or matte black finish. The Victoria is only available in a polished steel look.
Both have a modern commercial style that looks great on a kitchen countertop. If anything, the Victoria looks a bit more elegant with its rounded edges and full color display. But aesthetic preference will come down to individual taste.
- Cost Comparison
The Lelit Victoria typically retails for around $1,900 while the Profitec Pro 300 has an MSRP of $2,250. However, both can be found on sale periodically for $300-500 less than retail pricing.
Given its slightly lower price point, the Victoria offers better value for the money overall. But pricing can vary so be sure to compare current prices before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The key differences between the Lelit Victoria and Mara are:
1. Victoria has dual stainless steel boilers while Mara has a single boiler
2. Victoria has a 3.5” color display vs 2.4” on the Mara
3. Victoria has dedicated steam and hot water wands, Mara uses a single wand
4. Victoria offers volumetric dosing, Mara does not
5. Victoria is an e61 group, Mara uses a proprietary group
6. Victoria is PID controlled, Mara has a pressure-stat system
The Lelit Glenda is another popular dual boiler model. The main differences compared to the Victoria are:
1. Victoria has a 600mL brew boiler while Glenda’s is 300mL
2. Glenda uses a joystick style steam valve, Victoria has a knob
3. Glenda has a pressure gauge on the group, Victoria’s is on the portafilter
4. Glenda has a classic e61 styling, Victoria looks more modern
The Lelit Victoria has a width of 11.6 inches, depth of 14.2 inches, and height of 15.7 inches. It weighs in at 71.7 pounds.
So it has a relatively compact footprint that takes up minimal counter space while still holding dual boilers and 2.5 liter water reservoir. The size makes it ideal for home kitchen use.
Final Verdict
For most home baristas, the Lelit Victoria presents the best overall value and feature set in this price range. The larger boiler, customizable settings, full color display, and slightly lower price give it an edge.
However, the Profitec Pro 300 remains an excellent choice if you prioritize simplicity and ease of use. Its straightforward controls and fast heat up time appeal to beginners. And it still offers commercial-level performance.
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with either of these exceptional prosumer espresso machines. Pick the Lelit Victoria if you want more customization and technology in a beautiful package.
Go with the Profitec Pro 300 if you want time-tested German engineering in a simple, durable package. Use this comparison as a guide and choose the one that best fits your brewing needs and budget.