Backflushing an Olympia Cremina? Newbie!

[CreminaHead]

First, thank you all for your wonderful posts to this forum. What a wonderfully opinionated, generous and civilized bunch of caffistas!

I have been pulling shots from an Olympia Cremina for 21 years. I'm still learning, particularly as the quality of coffee and technique have improved in recent years.

My first issue (there will be others, in separated subjects) is, should I be periodically backflushing my Olympia Cremina? If so, how, and how often?

[mogogear]

First, thank you all for your wonderful posts to this forum. What a wonderfully opinionated, generous and civilized bunch of caffistas!

I have been pulling shots from an Olympia Cremina for 21 years. I'm still learning, particularly as the quality of coffee and technique have improved in recent years.

My first issue (there will be others, in separated subjects) is, should I be periodically backflushing my Olympia Cremina? If so, how, and how often?

Welcome to you,

No, back flushing is really a cleaning procedure for pump machines with a three way valve that can disperse the cleaner back through the group , via the valve the spitting the gunk into the drip tray..
The cremina can benefit from removal of the dispersion screen and cleaning that area below the piston and such. The screen is removed by unleashing the lever from the top end of the piston, fold it back out of the way, and (with the PF removed and top nuts on the piston stem removed also) tap the stem with a brass hammer or heavy rubber mallet. Thus will force the piston down and pop the screen off.

Good luck

[bobcraige]

The cremina can benefit from removal of the dispersion screen and cleaning that area below the piston and such. The screen is removed by unleashing the lever from the top end of the piston, fold it back out of the way, and (with the PF removed and top nuts on the piston stem removed also) tap the stem with a brass hammer or heavy rubber mallet. Thus will force the piston down and pop the screen off.

Be careful when you remove the dispersion screen. Tap very gently after disconnecting the lever until you just pop off the screen. You do not want the piston seals to come out of the bore, so stop as soon as the screen is dislodged. If the top seals comes out, you will need to carefully get the lip started back into the bore so as not to cut or tear it. Even better than brass or rubber hammers is a hard plastic faced hammer. To disconnect the lever, you will need a small external snap ring pliers to remove the snap ring on the front pin. Only take the ring off the right side of the pin and then push it out the left side. Do not attempt this without the proper snap ring pliers as you will likely damage the chrome on the lever if you improvise and probably ruin the snap ring as well. You will also have to remove the two nuts on the top of the piston shaft.

[espressoperson]

I have been pulling shots from an Olympia Cremina for 21 years. I'm still learning, particularly as the quality of coffee and technique have improved in recent years.

You are a relative newbie. I've had mine for 23 years

My first issue (there will be others, in separated subjects) is, should I be periodically backflushing my Olympia Cremina? If so, how, and how often?

As already pointed out, there's no backflushing, but there are many ways to clean the machine and keep it clean. Here are few things I do.

First, don't let it get mucked up in the first place. I cut out 49 mm disks from melitta paper filters and slip a disk on the top of the puck before locking the portafilter in place. This is especially effective if you do two lever pulls per shot but will still keep the machine cleaner even with one pull per shot. I keep reusing the filters till they tear and let them dry out between uses.

Second, use cleancaf or equivalent regularly. Just follow package directions. Every few months will do. It's amazing how much gunk comes out of a "clean" machine with this kind of treatment.

Third, use a grouphead brush and scrub the screen and gasket area after every session with plenty of lever pulls to flush the area clean. Rinse with the portafilter wriggle, although you may need a third hand to manage it.