Olympia Cremina Red Lever Espresso Coffee Machine
Olympia Cremina Red
The Cremina is a classic lever-operated espresso machine; no ifs, no buts. It works with the proven pre-infusion piston system: lifting the lever draws a small amount of water into the piston chamber and forces it into the pressed ground coffee, allowing it to expand. Lowering the lever forces the hot water through the ground coffee. This tried and tested extraction procedure, coupled with the continually increasing experience of the individual Cremina owner, guarantees a perfect espresso, a composition of crema, smell and taste—a harmonious pleasure for the senses. Even your ears will be delighted: the only noise produced by your Cremina is the singing, when the boiler heats the water.
The "New York Times" and the "Neue Zurcher Zeitung" have considered the Cremina to be "the best espresso machine in the world". It does require some practice, however once you have reached the perfect espresso, it will always be just that: your very own espresso. A minor, yet subtle distinction and a true event for every espresso lover.
Take a look at the inside: what you will encounter is nothing but stainless steel, chrome, brass and perfect manufacturing. The brew group, consisting of group head and portafilter, as well as the steam wand and the steam nozzle, are made of brass and are of course chromed and polished to a high gloss. This increases the longevity of the machine and facilitates the cleaning. The electric boiler, made of chrome steel (Quality AISI 314 L) is filled by opening the top and has a capacity of 1.8 liters, enough for 20 cups of classic espresso. The high performance tubular heating element has a thermal protection against overheating of the boiler. In order to guarantee a perfect result and longevity, the high-tech gaskets used in the Cremina are made of Teflon and Gore Tex. The default pressure is adjusted to between 0.7 and 0.8 bars and the brewing temperature to 92.2 deg C. The Cremina leaves it to the skill of the barista to find the required nine bar pressure onto the portafilter by lowering the lever at just the right time.
However, not only the inside of the Cremina is convincing. Espresso machine purists are also thrilled with its outer appearance: the massive chassis, the sturdy casing and the fittings are of finest quality. The front with its illuminated operation display, as well as the grate and tray are made of high-gloss polished stainless steel. Frame and casing are elaborately lacquered with especially resistant powder coating. Except for the boiler, nothing is welded or brazed. Therefore, everything can be either dismantled or assembled in just a few steps.
About Olympia
Olympia Express is the finest Swiss made hand crafted Espresso machines. With a tradition stretching back over 85 years, this small but highly respected manufacturer is a true pioneer.
What's in the box
- 1 x Olympia Cremina
- 1 x Complete Double Portafilter (Group Handle)
- 1 x Water Fill Funnel
- 1 x Group Head Brush
- 1 x Plastic Coffee Scoop - useless in our opinion
- 1 x Aluminium Tamper - not great but ok in our opinion
What else might I need
- Stainless Tamper
- Knocking Tube
- Milk Jug
Common questions:
- Are your machines pre-tested? Yes, we bench test all Olympia Cremina machines and can set them up in collaboration with you.
- What is the warranty on machines? All new machines sold by Coffee Parts have a 12-month back to base parts and labour warranty.
- Can the machines be financed? We use both Flexirent and Silverchef for machine finance. Call for more information 1300 129 129
Coffee Parts Thoughts
The Olympia Cremina is a truly amazing professional lever machine, with an unbelievable level of finish quality. However this machine is a machine for an espresso purist and takes more effort to master than other non-lever home machines, yet get it right and the results will speak for themselves. Definitely the nicest home lever machine on the market and our favourite!
