Out of the box, the Wendougee Lita LA is great. I've yet to explore the pressure profiling functionality, but still, I've never experienced a machine of this quality at home. The boilers heat quickly, the steam wand is lively, and it's strangely difficult to mess up a shot. I would argue that the experience is better than working on a commercial LaMarzocco or Slayer.
There are drawbacks. First, the grouphead does not provide a ton of room for the portafilter to fully seat. It can be difficult to have enough room to steam milk with a portafilter handle in your way. The tank is also small and difficult to clean. There's no way to get a sponge / towel in to properly scrub the entirety of the interior, and the geometry of the tank makes it nearly impossible to get a brush throughout the interior, meaning you should clean it often and thoroughly with soap and a bottle brush.
The major drawback is the lack of replacement parts. When you're buying a Gaggia Classic Pro or a Lelit Bianca, you're buying into a robust ecosystem of replacement parts and repair services. I trust the build quality of this machine, but I do not trust this tank or any pump indefinitely. If there is not adoption of Wendougee products in the USA, the opportunities for home services will not flourish.
TL;DR: It's a great machine to brew and learn about espresso... with some long-term concerns.
