Lelit Victoria vs Profitec Go vs Nuova Simonelli Oscar II: Which Compact Machine?

Quick Verdict: Our Pick

Between the two entry machines, the Lelit Victoria is the better buy for most people. It gives you programmable pre-infusion and a dedicated hot water tap, neither of which the Profitec Go has, on a full 58 mm commercial portafilter.

The Profitec Go wins on hardware. A larger 0.4 litre eco brass boiler, a 2.8 litre reservoir, a no burn steam wand and considerably more mass at 12.9 kg against 9.2 kg.

Our step up pick is the Nuova Simonelli Oscar II, and we want to be straight about why. It is not a price peer. It costs meaningfully more than either of these. What it buys you is a heat exchanger, so you stop waiting between brewing and steaming, on genuine commercial parts.

Customers rate the Nuova Simonelli Oscar II 4.3 out of 5 across 6 reviews.

Introduction

The Victoria and the Go are the two machines people compare when they want a proper 58 mm portafilter and PID control without spending prosumer money. They are closely matched and the choice comes down to a handful of features.

Both are single boilers, which means one boiler does brewing and steaming in turn. You pull a shot, wait for the boiler to climb to steam temperature, steam your milk, then wait for it to cool back down before the next shot.

That wait is the defining limitation of this class, and it is why we have put a third machine in the comparison. The Oscar II is a heat exchanger, and it is the machine most people in this search end up buying within two years anyway.

At a Glance

The two entry machines have PID and the Oscar II does not, which is a genuine point in their favour. What the Oscar II has instead is a boiler four to seven times the size and the ability to brew and steam simultaneously.

Full Specification Comparison

The Nuova Simonelli figures come from the live Pro Coffee Gear product page. The Lelit and Profitec figures come from a published side by side specification for the two machines. Where a figure is not published, we have said so rather than guessed.

Head to Head

Build and boiler

Winner: Nuova Simonelli Oscar II, then the Profitec Go. The Oscar II is built on Nuova Simonelli's commercial parts, with a professional sized group head and a 2 litre copper boiler, and it weighs 40 lb.

Between the two entry machines, the Go has the larger boiler at 0.4 litres and considerably more mass at 12.9 kg. More brass and more water means a more stable machine when you push it.

The Victoria is the lightest here at 9.2 kg with a 0.3 litre boiler. That makes it easy to move and easy to place, but it recovers more slowly under repeated use.

Performance in the cup

Winner: Lelit Victoria among the entry pair, Oscar II overall. The Victoria's programmable pre-infusion is the difference maker at this price, because a gentle start to the shot evens out an imperfect puck.

The Go has no pre-infusion, which for an entry machine where grind consistency is often the weak link is a real omission. Its larger boiler partly compensates by holding brew temperature better.

The Oscar II gives up PID, and we will not skate over that. What it offers instead is a large thermosiphon fed commercial group that stays put shot after shot, which for most people matters more than degree level adjustment.

Milk drinks and the waiting problem

Winner: Nuova Simonelli Oscar II, and this is the whole argument. Both single boilers make you wait. Pull a shot, wait for steam temperature, steam the milk, then wait again to brew.

For one cappuccino that is a minor annoyance. For two people on a weekday morning it is genuinely irritating, and it is the single most common reason people replace an entry machine within a couple of years.

The Oscar II's heat exchanger removes the wait entirely. Its extra long articulated steam arm and push pull lever also make milk texturing easier on the wrists, which sounds trivial until you do it every day.

Ease of use and workflow

Winner: Lelit Victoria, narrowly. The hot water tap is the quiet win here. Being able to draw hot water for a tea or to warm a cup without pulling brew water is genuinely useful, and the Go does not have one.

The Go answers with a no burn steam wand, which the Victoria lacks. If children are around, or you are simply careless in the mornings, that is worth weighing.

The Oscar II adds timed dosage, so you program a shot length by holding the button, and it repeats it. That is not PID, but it is real repeatability.

Value for money

Winner: Lelit Victoria at the entry, Oscar II over time. The Victoria packs PID, pre-infusion and a hot water tap into the lowest price here, which is a lot of feature for the money.

The Go is fairly priced and better built, so if the missing pre-infusion does not bother you it is a reasonable call.

The Oscar II costs meaningfully more, and we would rather say that plainly than bury it. It is worth it only if you make milk drinks often enough that a heat exchanger changes your day. If you drink straight espresso, buy the Victoria and spend the difference on a grinder.

Who Each Machine Is For

The Lelit Victoria buyer wants the most features at the lowest entry price, and drinks mostly espresso or one milk drink at a time. They value pre-infusion and a hot water tap over sheer build.

The Profitec Go buyer wants the sturdier of the two entry machines, with the bigger boiler and the safer steam wand. They will live without pre-infusion for a machine that feels more planted.

The Nuova Simonelli Oscar II buyer makes several milk drinks a day, or makes them for other people, and has decided the waiting is not worth it. They want commercial parts and a boiler that keeps up, and they have accepted the price step.

Best For: Which One Is Right for You

• Best entry machine overall: Lelit Victoria. PID, programmable pre-infusion and a hot water tap at the lowest price here.

• Best built of the entry pair: Profitec Go. A 0.4 litre eco brass boiler, a 2.8 litre reservoir and a no burn steam wand.

• Best for milk drinks: Nuova Simonelli Oscar II. A 2 litre heat exchanger means brewing and steaming at the same time, with no waiting.

• Best for straight espresso on a budget: Lelit Victoria. Pre-infusion helps most where grind consistency is still improving.

• Best for households making drinks for several people: Nuova Simonelli Oscar II. Commercial parts, timed dosage and a steam arm built for volume.

Thinking of Stepping Up?

If the Oscar II is the right idea but you want an E61 group and a more refined finish, the next rung is a prosumer heat exchanger such as the Rocket Appartamento, which adds a heated E61 group and a more compact stainless body.

Both machines solve the same problem, which is the waiting. You can compare them and everything in between in our mid-tier heat exchanger espresso machines collection.

Pricing and Availability at Pro Coffee Gear

The Nuova Simonelli Oscar II is in stock, ships free within the contiguous US, and comes with the full manufacturer warranty handled by our team plus lifetime Pro support.

It is the lowest priced espresso machine we carry, so if it is still above your budget we would rather tell you that than push it. Have a look at the mid-tier heat exchanger espresso machines collection to see where the range starts, then call us.

• Free shipping within the contiguous US

• Full manufacturer warranty, handled by our team

• Lifetime Pro support: setup, dialling in and troubleshooting

Bottom Line

Between the two entry machines, buy the Lelit Victoria. Pre-infusion and a hot water tap are worth more day to day than the Profitec Go's extra 0.1 litres of boiler, though the Go is the sturdier machine and the no burn wand is a fair reason to choose it.

Both, though, are single boilers, and the waiting between brewing and steaming is the thing owners get tired of. If you make milk drinks regularly, the Nuova Simonelli Oscar II removes that problem with a 2 litre heat exchanger on commercial parts.

It is a real price step and it gives up PID, so it is not the automatic answer. Tell us how many milk drinks you actually make in a morning and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth it for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between the Lelit Victoria and the Profitec Go?

The Victoria has programmable pre-infusion and a hot water tap, and is lighter at 9.2 kg. The Go has a larger 0.4 litre eco brass boiler, a 2.8 litre reservoir, a no burn steam wand and more mass at 12.9 kg. Both have PID and a full 58 mm portafilter.

Why does a single boiler make you wait?

One boiler has to do two jobs at two different temperatures. Brewing needs around 93 degrees Celsius and steaming needs well over 100, so the machine has to heat up after a shot and cool back down before the next one. A heat exchanger, like the Oscar II, does both at once.

Is the Oscar II a fair comparison to these two?

Not on price, and we would rather say so. It costs meaningfully more than either entry machine. We have included it because it is the machine both of these buyers tend to move to next, and because a heat exchanger is the actual fix for the limitation the entry pair share.

Does the Oscar II have PID?

No. It uses a pressurestat with timed dosage rather than PID temperature control, so both entry machines beat it on that specific point. What it offers instead is a 2 litre copper boiler and a professional sized group that is very stable once warm.

Should I spend more on the machine or the grinder?

At this level, the grinder. Any of these three will make good espresso if the grind is right, and none of them will save a shot that is ground badly. If your budget is tight, buy the Victoria and put the difference into a proper burr grinder.