Is the OlympIa Cremina Worth it? My Review

[@coffeewitharthur426]

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[@damondlam]

Very nice detailed hands-on review. Thanks.

[@mikeohlsson409]

Nice review. I've had a 1980s Cremina for ~1 year now and I think for better or worse it's been a learning curve. Like another comment here, I would recommend cycling the water instead of fully flushing the water. I'm able to get ~15 shots on one tank and I haven't had an issue with the drip tray filling up. I'm also unsure if it's stock or how I got mine, but my bottomless portafilter doesn't have a lip at the bottom and in theory I would think more of those exist. I would say the shots are generally on the smaller side and that's something all the coffee drinkers in the house just understand now. I think my biggest challenge is learning to dial in beans now. Toggling grind size, pre infusion, pull pressure and the machine pressure setting are the main toggles. I think I also find there is a feel to an ideal shot, but that's not necessarily the same feel for every bean and that's still hard for me to remember as I pull the lever and remember one shot that was particularly good from awhile back.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Thanks man! That’s what I’m here for. I’ll do dialing in videos for it. Have one in the queue now

[@mdk3637]

Good stuff! Long time owner here. I added a light behind the sight glass using a ceramic holder w/led lamp held with magnet. One group gasket in twenty years. Looked hard at vivaldi 2; cremina is staying. Small shot size is traditionally correct and works for normal sized drinks perfectly. Thanks for your work

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Thank you! What kind of videos would you like to see?

[@bungeoppang210]

If you do not pull the lever so much you can let the water cycle within the group-head to heat it up and do not waste any water… this can be down by gently pumping with the lever.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

yes, i started doing that.

[@ryanjulio5147]

Solid review!

[@niosea]

Actually the newer models have a vaccum breaker boiler cap, so no need to bleed the false pressure

[@coffeewitharthur426]

oh really? thats good to know. i noticed steam coming up from the top of the boiler handle

[@salparadise5448]

Best review I found so far on the internet.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

thanks man. i saw there were no good reviews (other than Hoffman's) so i wanted to make one myself

[@salparadise5448]

@@coffeewitharthur426 yes but Hoffman is not operating the Cremina… just talking about 😀

[@coffeewitharthur426]

@@salparadise5448 right. he pulled one shot. it was enough to make me obsessed though :)

[@davidhunternyc1]

I am in the market for an Olympia Cremina but I'm aware of its weaknesses too. I'm crossing my fingers that the new Odyssey Argos will address all of the Cremina's weaknesses. There's also a new compact Londinium Vectis lever machine coming out. In 2022, the lever community deserves engineering advances. The Decent was on my shortlist too but it's like a Tesla. It's awesome until things go wrong.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

I definitely wanna get my hands on an Argos too. I’ll probably compare them

[@sweetmotash]

Arthur on what pressure machine is tipping? I want to have some idea what im doing, without installing pressure gauge yet.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

It tips right around at 9 bar.

[@ozgurserdar8627]

your video editing skills have increased exponentially! great job!

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Thanks! 😃

[@niosea]

In order to get the boiler pressure to zero ( for a faster cool down) you can bleed the steam after shuting down the machine

[@coffeewitharthur426]

thats a great idea! i dont know why i didnt think about that

[@haristhec]

Very detailed, thanks! Especially with the usability issues/quirks

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Thanks! Im gonna make a follow up video soon

[@scottscottsdale7868]

Nice video. Cerini is in the “Arthur Avenue” section of the Bronx near Fordham University. It is a great Italian food and coffee shop. It is great area. A sort of Little Italy.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

yeah man! i hope to visit someday

[@KarstenLangPedersen]

I have noticed, that there are virtually NO videos on youtube on maintaining and cleaning a Cremina .. do you have any hints that you can share?

[@coffeewitharthur426]

I will once I go through a descaling :)

[@KarstenLangPedersen]

@@coffeewitharthur426 LOL that is awesome! Well, I guess I don't really have to worry about that for a while to come! Thanks!

[@mcst6969]

This is not the official way, but if you don't want to wait to cool down before refill you don't need to. Before the tank is completely empty open the steam valve a little, now you can unscrew the the water cap(slowly, maybe even use a towel), then close the steam valve and refill the boiler with hot water. Obviously do it with caution and slowly.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

i did that. it helps a lot! thanks!

[@sweetmotash]

One more question Arthur. I have my machine already, whenever i put the portafilter in I feel it scratches the portafilter ears chrome out, after few times i can already see the brass coming thru. Yours the same? But maaaan this thing is tiny, I love it already :)

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Thanks! I haven’t experienced that. Maybe you could share a picture in a Facebook group or forum?

[@gsharata]

Thanks for a great review bro

[@LorenzoNW]

Hi Arthur, I’m just beginning to research manual espresso machines so I have a newbie question for you: Why would one opt for a machine like the Olympia Cremina over the Cafelat Robot or Flair 58 and a Bellman Stovetop Steamer?

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Hey man! thanks for the comment. I actually didnt want to get an espresso machine until I saw the Olympia Cremina. I was never into pump machines (they were loud and bulky). But I fell in love when I saw the Cremina. at first, I wanted to see if I was really into espresso so I bought a flair signature to see if I would handle the workflow. I did. I used it almost everyday for months and months. It showed me I really wanted to do this. Why didnt I stick with the flair? For me, it was about the workflow. I just wanted everything in one. I dont want to have to heat up my water in a kettle, pour it in, turn on the stovetop for the steamer. But the real answer was the Cremina was the only espresso machine I wanted to buy. It's small, elegant, everything together. I have had it for 6 months and dont regret it at all. but, i know its not everyone's cup of tea.

[@LorenzoNW]

@@coffeewitharthur426 I like your “real answer”. LOL The Cremina IS a real beauty. Reminds me of an audiophile friend whose childhood dream was to own a Nakamichi. Even though he now owns a state-of-the-art DAC and transport, he just bought the used CR-7A that he fell in love with. Someone in the comment section mentioned the Odyssey Argos. I love the quirky charm of the Cafelat Robot but if espresso from the Argos is just as good if not better, I’ll have to seriously consider it. In the meantime, all my money and resources are going towards starting a new business. But I’m happy with my Clever and Virtuoso grinder.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

@@LorenzoNW good on you man! i starrted my own business which is now financing my espresso hobby. I bought the cremina because i achieved an earnings goal. good luck to your new venture!

[@LorenzoNW]

@@coffeewitharthur426 Cool, if I may ask, what business are you starting? You appear to have a real entrepreneurial spirit. As for myself, I’m starting a boutique t-shirts company that I hope to launch by the end of the year. Lots of retailers told me, don’t even think about it - the cost of entry is too low and the competition too great. But after I explain the concept, they all want to know when they can place an order. Haha The key is finding a unique niche that hasn’t been done before and marketing it well.

[@karstdejong]

You don't have to flush the water through the group head, just raise until the moment water is almost coming out and then pump to raise temperature...

[@mycoffeeshow111]

I like this video and will definitely nick few of your points when I do La Pavoni review. Thank you 😊

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Awesome man!

[@TheTheHKHenry]

Hi Arthur, does this mean that you're not making any more Flair videos? I definitly have dreams of owning a "real" lever machine but in the meantime my Flair Signature provides me with ours of fun and great espresso.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Hey man! Actually in the video I said I will make flair videos still. I actually have a video on doing light roasts coming up on both the Cremina and the flair (separate videos)

[@mc-mc-mc]

Thanks for this insightful video. Was yours a refurbished unit, by chance?

[@coffeewitharthur426]

thanks! my unit was brand new from the factory :)

[@mc-mc-mc]

@@coffeewitharthur426 Thank you. I asked because it looked like there is pitting on some of the metal edges: on the sight-glass as well as the right side of the unit, where the metal meets the enamel housing.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

@@mc-mc-mc yeah i saw it on the right side. i thought it was strange. but i waited a long time for this, and if worst comes to worst ill just buff it myself

[@niosea]

It s a jewel! congrats for the purchase

[@snakeriveridaho33]

Thanks for the video! I have one on order. What all do you have to buy to add the pressure gauge? The "Naked Portafilter" website Is a bit confusing. If you like the Decent, check out the Dalla Corte Mina. I considered a Decent and ended up with a Mina. I love it!

[@coffeewitharthur426]

hey man! welcome to the club! you just need to get the pressure gauge. www.naked-portafilter.com/product/piston-pressure-kit-olympia-cremina-2011-recent/ thats it. ill work on making a video for that. if you do get it, please make sure to use the black guard when putting the piston back in the grouphead. i ignored that what i reinstalled it and i hurt the gaskets a bit (this isnt a product deficiency, its my own ignorance and not following the instructions)

[@snakeriveridaho33]

Thanks! Got it ordered. He is busy, might take a few weeks. I get my machine Tuesday!

[@stratmad]

Seriously scheming to buy a Cremina in the coming months. I do love my Robot and have no complaints but just wanting to upgrade and go deeper down the rabbit hole.

[@salparadise5448]

I ve seen a video somewhere where a guy steams the milk and did an espresso at the same time. So the cremina isn’t a real single Boiler nor a dual Boiler… but can be operated as an dual boiler or?

[@coffeewitharthur426]

I saw that video too. I think he made it because he wanted to show a cool trick. it has one boiler. you can see pictures of it online. dual boiler just means there is a separate boiler for the steam and the coffee water. it helps to maintain more consistent steam pressure. when you pull down on the lever, the water flowing to the grouphead stops, so no more pressure is going to push water into the grouphead. in that sense, as you are pulling you can use the steam wand at the same time. on a regular pump machine, it consistently takes water from the boiler so the pressure will be reduced faster.

[@BensCoffeeRants]

Great review I think a lot of it is similar to other Lever machines, you usually get good results but don't have so much control over stuff like your brew ratio. Workflow sounds similar to the Europiccola, except for the heating flush, not sure I have to do that on the Europiccola (maybe I do?) I'm sure steaming is nicer on that. Also heavier duty so it doesn't feel like it's gonna flip over probably. Also the whole Europiccola machine is a burn hazard (like you mentioned) :D How's the coffee compare to the Flair when the flair is up to the right temp?

[@coffeewitharthur426]

its a lot better. with the cremina, it has just enough limiting factors on it so that its hard to pull a really bad shot (as long as you get the tamping down ok). I find I pull a lot more tasty shots on my cremina than the flair. im going to put out a video where I dial in on the cremina. youll see

[@HermitianAdjoint]

You do need to heat the group head on the La Pavoni (Europiccola and Professional), but you can do it by "dry" pumping the handle without actually flushing any water. Maybe this would also work on the Cremina? (Oh, others have commented that as well. It's possible.) If I were to pull a shot right away without getting the head up to temperature, it would be far too cold. I have an electric thermometer taped to the group head of my La Pavoni and I can recommend it as I can not imagine that a temperature strip has the same accuracy and longevity.

[@BensCoffeeRants]

@@HermitianAdjoint pre or post millennium model though? I hear post millennium was better temperature Management wise but yeah maybe it still benefits from the dry pumping to heat up. I probably leave mine warming up too long anyway before use and haven't noticed any issues. But only used it a little so far. I pulled some shots on my ecm Synchronika dual boiler and the europiccola and they've been turning out better on the europiccola lately :o may just need to adjust temp or something hopefully on the ECM.

[@HermitianAdjoint]

@@BensCoffeeRants Mine's pre millennium. I thought about a modification that is supposed to improve temperature stability by keeping hot water around the group head instead of steam just like the post millennium models do, but I'm not yet convinced. I have it stripped on my table right now to clean and replace the seals. Maybe this will also change the thermal management experience. I've had it for more than a year as my daily machine and have not done it before. Let's see... After my experience this far, I would definitely put a digital thermometer on any kind of lever machine for thermal management.

[@sonltt]

@@coffeewitharthur426 not true

[@mytripsvideos4511]

So what is the Cremina rival that you will consider buying?

[@coffeewitharthur426]

I would buy the Decent. It’s the exact opposite of the Cremina. I was thinking recently about getting the Olympia maximatic, but if I I’m going to go that far, I may as well get a decent.

[@LynneCooney]

I was waffling between a Cremina and a Cafelat Robot. I already have a Europiccola and a 9Barista. I decided to get the Robot. I like the simplicity. But your review reminds me that I actually want a Cremina. I don’t think I will buy another pump machine. I had a MaraX, but it did not make better coffee than the Europiccola and it was so much more maintenance.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Glad to hear that. If you have a la pavoni and are happy with it that’s great. I wanted the Cremina because 1. I didn’t wanna continuously upgrade machines. I wanted to get my endgame machine. 2. I didn’t want the exposed boiler 3. I liked the greater heat stability 4. I liked the low maintenance and sturdiness of it. Is it worth it? Well, are rolls Royce worth it? Depends on who you are. I wasn’t a big fan of the robot mechanism but I understand why many people like it.

[@LynneCooney]

@@coffeewitharthur426 One week later. I had been ready to pull the trigger on a Cremina for over a month. You mentioned the Decent at the end of your review. I have never really been interested in it. I want simple, no tablet. But that 4 minute heat up got me. A white DE1XL is on its way to me now. I guess I am interested in another pump machine after all. I really wanted a Cremina, but I already have a Europiccola. You're right about the exposed boiler -- I burned myself multiple times in the first few weeks.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

@@LynneCooney Thanks for letting me know! Cant wait to hear about the Decent. For me, I have my machine on a timed switch so it doesn't matter too much. But its good that the Decent has such a fast heatup time.

[@avertentropy]

hey arthur, thanks for the review! looks like a joy of a machine to use. are you content with the 49mm, or do you find yourself wanting a 58mm?

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Thanks man! In my experience, the narrower the ports filter the easier it is to pull a good shot. I would only want a 58mm because there are lots of accessories made for it

[@sonltt]

@@coffeewitharthur426 simply not true

[@michaelbanatao2030]

You're like the second coming of James Hoffman. You definitely deserve more subscribers. I can't wait for the next video!

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Thanks so much for the kind comment! I just got started - hes been in the game for years before me. What kind of videos would you like to see from me?

[@michaelbanatao2030]

I'm star struck you replied to my comment, haha😅. I would appreciate it if you could explore the world of pour-overs or maybe make a video where you dial in a lungo or a ristretto. Thank you so much!

[@CH-yp5by]

I would prefer the spring version for more consistency !

[@ggetoile]

Beautiful machine. But the boiler fill and drip tray would drive me crazy. I have a Bosco. 4 times bigger. Twice as expensive, spring lever that is hard plumbed filtered water to boiler, hard piped drained to kitchen sink. No need to fill or empty water. Just grind tamp and go go go! Takes dedicated space, but dang! That coffee is gooooood!!

[@sK0pe-d9b]

I don't know why you're opening up the waterflow completely to preheat the group head. All you have to do is pump it (without letting water pass through) till the group head reaches the temperature you want to pull your shot. The smaller grouphead also gives you a much thicker espresso then what is possible in most other machines. You can also get a way better naked portafilter for the Cremina without the lips from heaps of different stores with a matching IMS basket and they can fit up to 20 or 22g depending on the basket you buy.

[@RXAR1234]

I just didn't like how every time you flush, the water shoots all the way to the left, it's uneven, what is up with that???

[@coffeewitharthur426]

So actually the stock model doesn’t do that. But I switched to the naked portafilter pressure gauge where I have to romove the piston and gaskets and put them back in. I didn’t do it for recently so it was like that. I fixed it and it has no problems now

[@hsienfushih]

I love your videos

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Thanks!

[@mattkeysme]

Ha! It is liking watching myself. I saw that James Hoffman video back when it came out. Noted to myself how beautiful it was, but also how expensive it was and sorta moved on. But here I am many months later looking very seriously at buying one..

[@coffeewitharthur426]

I love this machine so much. I recently got a pavoni professional to make a comparison video, but I have to tell you, its like a completely different animal. The pavoni is a lot rougher and cheaper, and the workflow isnt nearly as smooth as on the cremina. im sticking with the cremina.

[@mattkeysme]

@@coffeewitharthur426 My cremina arrives tomorrow!

[@coffeewitharthur426]

@@mattkeysme wonderful! Please ask me any questions you have about it

[@mattkeysme]

​@@coffeewitharthur426 The thing I am wondering about the most so far is different basket sizes / dosing. And curious if its worth getting some of the aftermarket IMS baskets. My Niche Zero hasn't arrived yet so I am currently trying to dial in with the stock PF double shot basket and a 14g dose ... but grinding with a Kinu M47 hand grinder so it is slow going.

[@scriptkeeper8243]

You’ve got a ringed extraction. Zen or not, that means unextracted coffee

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Actually not quite. Watch lance hedrick’s video on reviewing expensive baskets.

[@s96822]

Bought one of these new in the 80's for between 300-400USD. Compact and does the job as well as heating up fast. IMO nowhere worth the current price tag. Maximum 1000usd in line with La Pavoni lever machines. Better options; Bezzera/Quick Mill lever tank/direct plumb that cost less than the Olympia. I have also owned La pavoni and Faemina lever.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

thanks for sharing man! really appreciate it Yeah, adjusted for inflation they were about $1,000-1,500 I guess the olympia cult grew Also, the exchange rate in 1985 was 0.5 USD to 1 CHF. Now its 1.10USD to 1 CHF. But yes, its overpriced unless it is THE machine that you want For me, size was a big thing and i wanted a manual lever with no exposed boiler that didnt tip when i pulled a shot. I tried to get myself to like pavonis, but I just never liked how they look

[@s96822]

@@coffeewitharthur426 Pontevecchio Lever and Argos are non exposed tank machines with small footprints. Olympia really is a cult. My daily driver, a Spaziale S1 makes better shots than the Olympia not to mention dual boiler temp control rotary pump at around 1/2 the Olympia current price. FYI I got the Olympia at Zabars in NYC. Olympia upgraded the accessories. I got a plastic funnel and plastic tamp only. Looks like they now provide a nicer metal tamp and metal funnel and some 2 250 gm bags of coffee. Also the model I had filled the piston on the lever upstroke and downstroke pulled the shot. The opposite of spring loaded lever machines (Faemina). Olympia was my first real espresso machine and I too was fascinated with it.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

@@s96822 Pontevecchio is a spring lever. Not a direct lever. And the Argos isn’t out yet. I am very interested in the Argos and will probably get it for testing.

[@s96822]

@@coffeewitharthur426 Most of the higher end lever machines are "spring" including the Marzocco Leva.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

@@s96822 yeah right. for me i wanted a direct lever. otherwise i probably would have gone for one of htose machines

[@k2u364]

I was about to buy a cremina but than decided on the Strietman CT2 instead. Mostly because of better temp stability and bigger shot volume. If I decide to buy an additional machine at some point it will most likely be a cremina SL

[@coffeewitharthur426]

i feel you man. good choice. personally i like the looks of and steaming capabilities of this one

[@k2u364]

@@coffeewitharthur426 Thanks! Yes the cremina has a very good design and I love the color options ! But personally I don’t really like milk drinks so steaming was an afterthought! Have fun with it I bet With a few months of practice shot quality will rapidly increase! Also they say that the grinder is more important than the espresso machine so investing in that is definitely worth it. But a new rabbit hole

[@sweetmotash]

Beautifull, pinnacle of espresso machine. Saying strietman and kafatek user, thats going for cremina for milk drinks ;) Im jelous

[@coffeewitharthur426]

How is the streitman?

[@sweetmotash]

@@coffeewitharthur426 It's also great machine, purely for espresso. But I felt drawn to cremina :) ordered it today haha, the same red as yours ;)

[@ferdinandludo8851]

quiet similar to the La Pavone..

[@coffeewitharthur426]

Have you ever used a cremina? theyre similar on paper, but worlds a part in actual use.

[@jhomrich89]

It's neat, but at $3800 I think that's pushing it

[@coffeewitharthur426]

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I get it.

[@BensCoffeeRants]

25Lbs... *Laughs in 80lbs of ECM Synchronika Weight* But I guess that's pretty heavy for a little guy.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

yeah. the footprint is the same as a sheet of paper

[@marvink]

We got one of this ok machine. It’s luxury product with a very bad customer service. The statement from the NY is not about the recent machine its about the very different machine from 67’ and a different manufacturer. We would definitely not buy it again.

[@kevinpfaff7532]

Ok review. Honestly, and no disrespect, but from this review I can tell you made it too soon. Should have spent a year with the machine.

[@coffeewitharthur426]

For sure. I have already learned a lot. Im gonna give an update later

[@davidtyner6077]

I agree. Arthur clearly has not learned everything he needs to know about this machine or lever machines in general. Several things have already been pointed out - like "false pressure" - what he say is "false" lol. New boiler cap has release valve. Also, what with all this flushing and purging?? No wonder he runs out of water. Simply not necessary especially if you use a puck screen. Also, you can heat the group with half pulls (no water expelled) but circulates it in the group and watch the temp strip light up without wasting water and filling up the drip tray. Fellini is absolutely essential - learn to use it if you want to pull double shots otherwise you're pulling single shots with a double shot dose - not good.

[@davidtyner6077]

Agreeing - he has a lot to learn. There is no need to waste so much water - a puck screen will make all that flushing unnecessary. Half pumps with no water will get group head hotter.

[@After_GF]

@@davidtyner6077 Fellini destroys your extractions, don't do it