La Pavoni Casa Bar PID vs. Profitec GO 2.0 – two compact single-circuit machines compared
The toggle switch clicks, the pressure gauge twitches to life, and the counter gets a little cosier – in the best possible way. Two compact machines, barely wider than a coffee tin, and yet a dense espresso is soon running into the cup. That's exactly what a single-circuit machine is about: not the biggest feature set, but how much machine you can fit into how little space without compromising on espresso.
Two models come up again and again when counter space is tight: the La Pavoni Casa Bar PID from Italy and the Profitec GO 2.0 from Germany. Both are single-circuit machines with PID temperature control, both are actively in our range, and both solve the same task in their own, noticeably different way.
Our opinion on this is just one of many – in the end, what matters is which of the two speaks to you when you're standing in front of it.
Two paths to the same goal: the single-circuit machine
Both machines share the same basic principle. A single boiler supplies both the brewing process and steam generation, so you draw one after the other: first the espresso, then – after a brief switch-over – the milk foam. For one or two cups in a row, that's perfectly manageable day to day, and a single-circuit machine is by no means just for straight espresso drinkers. Anyone who likes making a cappuccino or flat white will get just as far with one.
Temperature control is handled by a PID system on both, set to 92 °C at the factory on the Casa Bar PID and adjustable to taste, and directly visible via an OLED display on the GO 2.0, equally freely adjustable. Physically, this makes a noticeable difference: a PID continuously measures the boiler temperature and adjusts the heating in small increments, rather than simply switching it on and off. The result is a noticeably calmer temperature curve from one shot to the next – important, because even a few degrees decide which of coffee's over 800 aroma compounds dissolve and which stay behind in the basket.
Even so, the two machines feel completely different the moment you put them side by side. That's not a question of better or worse, but of character – much like a car that doesn't get you there any faster, but triggers a particular feeling the moment you get in.
La Pavoni Casa Bar PID – Italian dimensions, chrome-plated brass
The Casa Bar PID comes from La Pavoni, built in Italy, with a boiler and brew unit made entirely of brass, the brew unit additionally chrome-plated. Solid brass holds heat particularly evenly, which is why many traditional Italian machines choose exactly this material. Add to that a 58 mm portafilter, the widely used standard size, which lets you combine tampers, puck screens or bottomless portafilters from virtually any range without any trouble.
From cold, it's ready to pull a shot in around six minutes. The removable 3-litre tank with a level indicator makes refilling straightforward, and the multi-directional cool-touch steam wand stays comfortable to hold on the outside, even once steam has long been flowing through it.
Profitec GO 2.0 – German precision, five colours
The GO 2.0 comes from Profitec, a German manufactory based in Bammental near Heidelberg, hand-built in Germany and Italy. Instead of pure brass, it uses a ring group head – a more compactly built group head that responds faster and, in our own experience, delivers a somewhat more direct, immediate flavour profile than a classic brass brew unit. That's our observation from the showroom, not an absolute truth – in the end, it's your own cup that decides.
The GO 2.0 is ready to use in around 7 minutes in Fast-Heat-Up mode and shows coffee and steam temperature on an OLED display, along with a built-in shot timer. An expansion valve lets you adjust brew pressure to your own taste, an optional pre-infusion provides more even extraction, and automatic group-head cleaning with a guided descaling programme makes day-to-day maintenance easier. And then there's the look: black, yellow, red, light blue or satin – five colours that make clear compactness doesn't automatically mean restraint.
At a glance
| La Pavoni Casa Bar PID | Profitec GO 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Single-circuit machine | Single-circuit machine |
| Group head | Chrome-plated brass | Ring group head |
| Boiler | 0.3 l, brass | 0.3 l, brass |
| Temperature control | PID, 92 °C from factory, adjustable | PID (coffee & steam), OLED display, adjustable |
| Water tank | 3 l, removable, with level indicator | 2.8 l, removable |
| Portafilter | 58 mm | 58 mm |
| Steam wand | Stainless steel, cool-touch, multi-directional | Stainless steel |
| Displays | Pressure gauge, shot timer, temperature display | OLED display with shot timer, pressure gauge |
| Heat-up time | approx. 6 minutes | approx. 7 minutes (Fast-Heat-Up) |
| Power | 1320 W | 1300 W |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 23.5 × 28 × 37 cm | 21 × 36.2 × 38.1 cm |
| Weight | approx. 13.3 kg | 12.9 kg |
| Colours | Black, Stainless steel | Black, Yellow, Red, Light blue, Satin |
| Made in | Italy | Germany |
Which machine is for whom
Anyone who likes classic Italian dimensions, prefers chrome-plated brass as a material, and appreciates a somewhat larger water tank for longer sessions will find a calm, dependable companion in the La Pavoni Casa Bar PID. Anyone who instead wants a ring group head for a more direct response, prefers reading values off an OLED display rather than a plain pressure gauge, and enjoys a colourful, clearly visible machine on the counter is well suited to the Profitec GO 2.0. Neither is explicitly meant only for people with prior experience – the setup stays simple with both, and the PID control handles the precision work in the background.
In the end, the choice is less a technical one than a personal one. Nobody needs either of these two machines. You want one – or you don't. Both answers are perfectly fine.
What else belongs with it
Freshly ground decides everything that happens afterwards in the cup. For anyone who wants an affordable, precise grinder: the Varia VS3 or a hand grinder from Comandante. If you want more grinding power and more control: the Varia VS6 or the Weber Workshops EG-1, both in our Varia Collection and Weber Workshops Collection respectively.
For clean tamping and puck prep, it's worth looking at the Normcore Collection, compact and precise for everyday use. Anyone who wants more tactility and design will find what they're looking for in the Weber Workshops Collection. To get your coffee-to-espresso ratio right (we think in terms of 1:2 as a starting point, never in seconds alone), a scale helps: affordable and reliable from the Normcore Collection, with app and flow-rate display from the Acaia Collection.
Anyone still undecided between a single-circuit machine, a heat exchanger and a dual boiler will find an initial compass, with no obligation at all, in our espresso machine advisor tool.
Frequently asked questions about the La Pavoni Casa Bar PID and Profitec GO 2.0
What's the biggest difference between the two machines?
The brewing system: the Casa Bar PID uses a classic, chrome-plated brass brew unit, while the GO 2.0 uses a compact ring group head. On top of that come different materials and a different display concept – a pressure gauge on the La Pavoni, an OLED display on the Profitec.
Can both machines brew espresso and steam milk at the same time?
No, both are single-circuit machines and work one after the other: first the shot, then the steam. For a cappuccino or flat white at home, that's more than enough for everyday use.
Do I need prior experience to use either of these machines?
No. Both work with PID temperature control, which handles the precision work in the background. The setup stays simple with both, and a personal barista course is included with every machine purchase from us.
What portafilter size do the two machines have?
Both use the widely available 58 mm portafilter. That means common accessories like tampers, puck screens or bottomless portafilters from almost any range will fit.
Can I see both machines before buying?
Yes. At our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zürich Oerlikon (Hagenholzstrasse 50b), you can experience both machines live before making a decision. Buying online remains the fastest route; personal advice on site is available at any time but never required.
How quickly are the two machines ready to use?
The Casa Bar PID takes around six minutes from cold, the GO 2.0 around seven minutes in Fast-Heat-Up mode. Both then hold the temperature steady via their PID control.
You can buy both machines from us online, with delivery within 2 to 4 working days throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein, or see them live at our showrooms in Bern and Zürich Oerlikon. We're happy to answer questions at office@coffeecoachingclub.ch or via coffeecoachingclub.ch, and by phone during business hours too. Financing is available for both machines, and a personal private barista course is included with each.
Roastery tip
Both machines love an espresso that knows how to make the most of their stable temperature control. For most people, we roast Cozy Chocolate and Nutty Delight for exactly that reason – dense, aromatic, with plenty of body and a chocolatey note.
Anyone after maximum body without any acidity should reach for Very Nutty. And for anyone curious about a fruitier experience: Wild Peach shows just how vivid an espresso can taste even from a single-circuit machine – a discovery, not a requirement. Our recommendation is just one of many; whichever bean tastes good to you is the right one.
