Getting Started
After reading through the Profitec GO 2.0 Setup Guide, test your water. Espresso machines have specific requirements for water. There are two primary considerations: filtration and hardness. Please carefully read about the importance of water in espresso to understand how water affects your espresso machine. For further learning, check out Coffee School's Water 101.
Your GO 2.0 comes with a water filter cartridge and a water hardness test strip. Use the test strip to check your water, and follow the included filter instructions to prepare and install the cartridge in the reservoir.
Note: It's essential to test your water, filter, and soften to obtain 35–85 ppm to avoid scale and damage to your machine. RO (reverse osmosis) or distilled water lacks sufficient mineral content and could cause issues with your machine. Water from sodium-based (ion exchange) softeners isn't recommended either, as it can affect taste.
Technical Details
For a complete list of technical details, please see the GO 2.0 spec table on our product page.
When you're ready to start pulling shots, check out our Espresso 101 section to learn about steaming milk, latte art, our suggested starter espresso recipe, grinder dial-in tips, and much more!
What's New on the GO 2.0
OLED display: A bright display replaces the original GO's LCD, with every setting in plain view.
Programmable brew buttons: Two LED-illuminated brew buttons with a built-in shot timer. Each can be programmed to your preferred shot time.
Pre-infusion: Adjustable active and passive pre-infusion for each brew button.
Hot water: Draw hot water through the steam wand for Americanos and tea.
Easier maintenance: An automatic group head cleaning cycle, a guided descaling program, an in-tank water filter with a replacement reminder, and an automatic low-water shutoff.
Scheduling: Programmable on/off times and ECO mode.
Adjusting the PID and Accessing Sub-Menus
To change the brew and steam temperatures, set up pre-infusion, program the brew buttons, and adjust several other options, follow these instructions:
Open the main menu by pressing and holding the left-hand and right-hand display buttons for 3 seconds. The Brew Temperature icon will appear on the display.
Press the left- or right-hand display button repeatedly until the sub-menu you want appears.
Press the top brew button to open the selected sub-menu.
Press the left- or right-hand display button repeatedly until the setting you want is displayed.
Press the top brew button to save the setting.
Press the bottom brew button to close the sub-menu and return to the main menu.
If you don't press anything for 30 seconds, the menu closes automatically and the display returns to your brew temperature.
Activating and Adjusting Pre-Infusion
Pre-infusion gently wets the coffee puck before full extraction. It happens in two phases, and you choose the length of each:
Active pre-infusion: The pump runs at the start of the shot for the number of seconds you set.
Passive pre-infusion: The pump pauses for the number of seconds you set, so the puck can fully saturate.
After the pause, the pump restarts and extracts at full pressure for the rest of your programmed shot time. For example, a shot might use 3 seconds of active pre-infusion followed by an 8-second pause. When pre-infusion is off, the pump runs straight through from the moment you press the button.
Both durations can be set separately for each brew button, either in the Brew Settings sub-menu or directly with the brew button, as described below.
Turn pre-infusion on or off for the whole machine: Enter the Enable Pre-infusion sub-menu and select ON or OFF, or briefly press the left-hand display button while the machine is ready to brew. Pre-infusion must also be enabled for each brew button you want to use.
Set pre-infusion in the Brew Settings sub-menu: Choose Brew 1 Settings (top button) or Brew 2 Settings (bottom button), then set:
Shot Time: Total duration of pump activity. The passive pause isn't counted.
PI Pause: ON turns pre-infusion on for that button. OFF turns it off.
Start: Length of active pre-infusion, in seconds (how long the pump runs before pausing).
Time: Length of passive pre-infusion, in seconds (how long the pump pauses).
Program pre-infusion directly with a brew button:
Press and hold the brew button for 4 seconds. The display shows "ON" or "OFF" for pre-infusion on that button.
With pre-infusion set to ON, briefly press the same button. The LED flashes, the pump starts, and a timer begins. This is your active pre-infusion.
When you want the pump to pause, press the button again. "---" appears on the display while the passive pause runs.
When you want the pause to end, press the button a third time. The pump restarts and the timer resumes.
When you want the shot to stop, press the button a final time. Your active, passive, and shot times are saved to that button.
To program a shot time without pre-infusion, set the button to OFF, briefly press it to start, then press it again to stop the shot.
Need a little more time on a shot? While a programmed shot is running, press the other brew button to switch to manual brewing, then press it again to stop the shot. Manual shots can run up to 60 seconds.
Shortcut Functions
These shortcuts work while the machine is on and ready to brew, without opening the menu:
Steam mode on/off: Press and hold the right-hand display button for 3 seconds.
Pre-infusion on/off: Briefly press the left-hand display button.
ECO mode: Press and hold the left-hand display button for 3 seconds.
Automatic group head cleaning: Press and hold both brew buttons until a countdown appears on the display.
Pulling Your First Shot
Grind your coffee, then dose and tamp it into the portafilter.
Insert the portafilter into the group head with the handle angled about 45° to the left, then turn it to the right until you feel resistance. Don't overtighten.
Place your cup under the portafilter spouts. For a single cup, position it so both spouts pour into it.
Press one of the brew buttons to start the shot. The button flashes, and the shot timer begins counting on the display. If pre-infusion is enabled for that button, the timer pauses and "---" appears during the passive pre-infusion phase, then resumes when full extraction begins.
If you've programmed a shot time, the shot stops automatically. To stop it early, press the flashing brew button. To run longer than the programmed time, press the other brew button during the shot to switch to manual brewing, then press it again to stop. Manual shots can run up to 60 seconds.
After a few seconds, the display returns to showing the brew temperature.
Dialing In
If your shot pulls too fast or gushes, adjust your grinder toward the fine setting (usually clockwise on stepless grinders and toward lower numbers on stepped grinders). NOTE: When you adjust in the fine direction, you are moving the burrs closer together. It's crucial to grind a little coffee while adjusting in the fine direction to avoid jamming your grinder. Make incremental adjustments.
If your shot pulls too slowly, or no liquid comes out after a long time, adjust your grind coarser. Make incremental adjustments. If your shot is still pulling too slowly, make another adjustment. Repeat.
Once your grind is dialed in, you can program your brew buttons to your preferred shot time so every shot runs consistently. See "Activating and Adjusting Pre-Infusion" above.
Steaming Milk and Drawing Hot Water
The GO 2.0 is a single-boiler machine, so it brews and steams one at a time, using the same boiler. We recommend pulling your shot first, then switching to steam mode.
Switching to steam mode
Press and hold the right-hand display button for 3 seconds. The display switches from your brew temperature to your steam temperature, and the boiler begins heating.
Place an empty container under the steam wand. Draw water out by opening the steam valve by turning it counterclockwise for about 5 seconds, then close it. Repeat twice more, about 10 seconds apart. This lowers the water level in the boiler, leaving room for steam to build up.
Wait until the display shows that your set steam temperature has been reached. The default is 128°C (262°F), and you can adjust it from 115–134°C (239–273°F) in the Steam Temperature sub-menu.
Steaming
Submerge the steam tip just below the surface of your milk and open the valve counterclockwise.
When your milk is ready, close the valve by turning it clockwise. Do not turn it past the stop.
Wipe the steam wand with a damp cloth right away. Then point the wand into the drip tray and briefly open and close the valve to clear any milk from the tip.
Switching back to brew mode
Press and hold the right-hand display button for 3 seconds to turn off steam mode. The display switches back to your brew temperature.
Place a container under the group head and press the brew button. Run water through the group head until it flows steadily, then press the button again to stop. This refills the boiler and brings it back down toward brew temperature faster.
Wait until the display shows your set brew temperature before pulling your next shot. A shot pulled while the boiler is still hot from steaming will taste burnt or bitter.
Tip: Making more than one milk drink? Pull all your shots first, then switch to steam mode once and steam all your milk back-to-back. This saves you from switching modes between every drink.
To draw hot water: Place a heat-safe cup under the steam wand, briefly press both brew buttons simultaneously to activate the pump, then open the steam valve counterclockwise. Close the valve when you have the desired amount, then press the brew button to turn off the pump.
Cleaning and Descaling
Automatic group head cleaning: We recommend cleaning the group head every 90-140 shots. Brush the group gasket and shower screen, then insert the blind basket with 3–5 g of espresso machine cleaner. Start the 135-second cleaning cycle from the Automated Cleaning sub-menu or with the shortcut above. Afterward, rinse the portafilter and run a few flushes until clear water comes out. You can set a Cleaning Reminder in the menu to prompt you when it's time.
Descaling: The Descaling Process sub-menu (under Advanced User Settings) walks you through descaling step by step on the display. You'll need Profitec descaler, the blind basket, fresh water, and a container of at least 500 ml that fits under the group head. Descaling is preventive only. If your machine already has significant scale buildup, contact our team before descaling. If the display shows "too HOT," let the machine cool, or follow the on-screen prompts to cool it by running water through the group head.
Adjusting Brew Pressure
Brew pressure is adjustable from about 8.5 to 12 bar using the adjustment screw on top of the machine.
Insert the portafilter with the blind basket.
Press a brew button and wait for the brew pressure gauge needle to settle.
Turn the adjustment screw with a flat-head screwdriver: clockwise to increase pressure, counterclockwise to decrease it.
Press the brew button again to stop.
More Settings
Please refer to the manufacturer's manual for additional settings, including ECO mode, cleaning and filter reminders, clock and auto on/off scheduling, temperature units, coffee offset correction, and Fast Heating.
Additional Resources
For help dialing in your equipment or pulling shots, check out the articles below or reach out to our team of coffee experts and technicians.