EBay Olympia Cremina record? - Page 7

[TUS172]

Hey Doug! I knew you would "fess-up"... I was sure it was you and as you know I enjoy posting these fine machines so that all have the opportunity to have one.

I woudn't consider another Cremina wreck until I was assured there would be parts readily available.

Ya but the results of the one you kept are amazing... Hey how about swapping that one into the 'Bay... I might even get into that action... At any rate could you take a few more pictures of the one you kept under better light? I think that the nickel plating was a great touch... expensive!... but Wow.
Sooo... Any new additions coming to the household... I mean is the UPS stork coming to visit soon? Hmmm?

[Cathi]

Doug,

The restoration work you've done is top notch and you've taken such care. I only hope the person who gets the machine will appreciate it. If I had cash to spare, I'd be in it for sure. Bona Fortuna!

[jamoke]

I woudn't consider another Cremina wreck

An Astoria, on the other hand, would be quite a different matter, eh ?

[Fullsack]

Doug,

The restoration work you've done is top notch and you've taken such care. I only hope the person who gets the machine will appreciate it. If I had cash to spare, I'd be in it for sure. Bona Fortuna!

Thanks Cathi.

An Astoria, on the other hand, would be quite a different matter, eh ?

Lucky I got it when I did, the guys from the Futurmat thread are buying up every beater on the planet I would've had to start dragging San Francisco Bay to find my next fixer upper

[augustusflavius]

Anyone able to source gaskets for a Cremina lately? I'm looking for the piston, group, and boiler gaskets. I have 4 Cremina's (2 late 80's 67's and 2 96's) that are in excellent physical shape except 3 have sat too long and the gaskets dried out. Both 96's had electrical issues and some of the wiring's fried. Not hard to fix.

My original 67, purchased from Zabars in 1990, is used daily and still going strong on the original gaskets. A little leak from the group but not too bad.

You'll wonder why do I have 4 Cremina's. I don't know, maybe is an illness. I just kept picking them up when I found them dirt cheap.

[mogogear]

Sorry Augustus- members are only allowed 1 machine in this group- sounds like you'll have to donate 3 of your machines to a needy member- Please make your selection now- push * when you are ready to proceed!

[Fullsack]

Something is very different in the Cremina world. When the '88 was on 'bay 2 months ago there were only a few "watchers" less than 100 "visits" and just a few questions from prospective buyers, during the entire 7 day listing. This time around, after 3 days, 31 "watchers," 750+ "visits" and loads of questions. A lot of the questions were, "Will you rebuild my Cremina?," "Where can I find parts?" I didn't get anything like that in March.

[mogogear]

Make sure and let them know that is why we are all here- to help them find parts- They get a free network... kind of like that Verizon guy- except we are a lot more eccentric

PLus I am glad to hear things look optimistic- It is a great machine - the new owner will be lucky!

[mgwolf]

I'm posting an update on my "new" 1983 Cremina which I"ve had for a week, recently purchased on eBay. The water fill tube was not functional, but after descaling with vinegar, worked fine. I took some of the pipes apart to descale them, but there wasn't much need -- everything is in quite nice shape. The piston is shiny, the inside of the boiler doesn't show much wear, and nothing leaks. I had to buy a funnel, but it came with the baskets, a plastic scoop and plastic tamper, and a small SS frothing pitcher. After about 15 shots, I'm getting closer. The shots seem less bitter than my Anita but a little thinner and don't stand up to milk as well. The most coffee I've tried is 13 grams in a double and I'm tamping fairly lightly. Some here routinely seem to use 14 or 15, but I'm not sure if that will fit in my basket -- it doesn't look roomy enough. I'm not good with the steamer tip yet. I tried to plug up a few holes, but my toothpicks don't fit. I suppose I'll have to scout around for an SMT (standard metric toothpick). It's actually fairly easy to get an espresso that's good and very drinkable, but I'd like to get "great" espresso frequently. More work on my part is clearly needed. Michael

[Fullsack]

Make sure and let them know that is why we are all here- to help them find parts- They get a free network... kind of like that Verizon guy- except we are a lot more eccentric

You said that before, forgot , now H-B is mentioned in the listing.

[Fullsack]

Sooo... Any new additions coming to the household... I mean is the UPS stork coming to visit soon? Hmmm?

An Astoria, on the other hand, would be quite a different matter, eh ?

The seller is driving it here tomorrow, (Auburn to San Francisco), about 150 miles. Another true lover of all things espresso, no doubt.

I'm getting giddy

[mogogear]

Getting?.............you need a vacation from your harem

[timo888]

... The most coffee I've tried is 13 grams in a double and I'm tamping fairly lightly. Some here routinely seem to use 14 or 15, but I'm not sure if that will fit in my basket -- it doesn't look roomy enough.

If I dose directly into the baskets and distribute with the edge of the spoon handle, so that no coffee is discarded and the coffee is level with the top of the baskets after scraping and before tamping, the dose weighs as follows (using a tare digital scale):

Single basket: 9.5g
Double basket: 11g

With this method, the single basket is overdosed for a single and the double basket is underdosed for a double. So my usual practice is to give the updosed single basket a preinfusion-style demi-pull followed by a full pull. 1½ pulls produce a very good espresso for that 9.5g dose.

Regards
Timo

[jamoke]

augustusflavius said:

I have 4 Cremina's (2 late 80's 67's and 2 96's)

This thread started with one type of Cremina record, and has seemed to wend its way to another; anyone out there with five

[TUS172]

The most coffee I've tried is 13 grams in a double and I'm tamping fairly lightly. Some here routinely seem to use 14 or 15, but I'm not sure if that will fit in my basket -- it doesn't look roomy enough. Michael

For a double I usually dose 16.5 grams... That being said, I don't use the standard Cremina double basket either. I bought 6, A Leva double baskets a number of months ago (2 for each machine I own). With these baskets you can dose as much as 17.5 grams with a very firm tamp. I don't recommend that much... I am just saying you can.

If you go up in dose to 15 grams in the Cremina basket (which it can easily handle with a firm tamp) you will note a more resistant pull (as it should be) and you will get a thicker espresso. If you begin to choke the pulls just grind a bit more coarse. It is an art!

[espressme]

FWW
I tried Mogo's suggestion of using a basket from my early Europiccola and it works flawlessly..Bye the way, it holds two grams more than the Cremina basket with the same grind, level, and tamp. It is a bit (.1mm dia.) smaller than the Cremina basket and my Espressme® tamper sticks..
rp

[TUS172]

Question... You will note the frame on this one is a much different color than that of the red paint on the cover... Is this the original paint or has it been repainted?

[roadman]

Looks original. Got one at home just like it.
Jon

[TUS172]

Thanks, I did not know for sure if they always used a basic color for the frame no matter what the cover color was.

[TUS172]

Sorry but I couldn't resist this one... it has a buy-it -now price of $550. on Ebay