Olympia Cremina 67 drip, when lever goes up

[alexgold]

Hi,
I recently purchased Olympia Cremina.
The machine seems to be in very good shape.
The only problem: Any time the machine is loaded and ready to go, when I pull the lever up and it reaches 90% height, I feel the boiler pressure is being released into the cylinder under the piston and I start getting drips into the cup.I have tried to raise the lever slower, but each time the lever reaches point, when stem port is connected to group,
the water drips.
I have tried to tamp coffee harder to increase the filter resistance, it help a bit, but not enough.
Also, I have tried to play with readjusting the pressurestat to lower the pressure set point, did not help much.
What is the solution? By the way:
How do I remove the water dispenser to look at the gasket?
Maybe water goes in between gasket and the water dispenser(partially bypasses the water dispenser), thus releasing hot water from the boiler into coffee filter prematurely.

Thanks Alex

[mgwolf]

Hi Alex,
When you raise the lever on the Cremina to 90% height, you open the water from the boiler into the grouphead. This is normal. I don't quite understand your dilemma, but I think you're worried that water is coming out the spouts before you start pulling down on the lever -- Yes? This can happen if your coffee is ground much too coarse. What kind of coffee and grinder do you have. If you're buying preground coffee, that's probably the issue. What happens when you pull down on the lever? Is it hard? Easy? Do you get any crema? More details please. Michael

[mogogear]

This IMHO- is a phenomena of not fresh coffee. I have this happen on my machine - but only when I make decaf for my wife ( sorry Grocery beans )

With MY fresh Stumptown- all is as it should be- the water waits to be infused into the puck..

Second guess- is fineness of grind- No matter how hard you tamp coffee that is not ground fine enough -

" resistance is futile"

So try focusing on tamping less and grinding more finely or get some really fresh beans

Hope one of these or others suggestions help you achieve nirvana!

[TUS172]

Excerpt:

Hi, I recently purchased Olympia Cremina. The machine seems to be in very good shape. Thanks Alex

Hey great! So what year is it (the 1st two numbers of the serial # on the tag will tell you) and can you send in a picture?

[alexgold]

Guys,
Really appreciate your help.
By the way, my Olympia is made in 1992 (first two digits of the serial number).
So, I have to overcame being cheap and get much better and finner coffee.
Ok, I will let you know the results.
Recently I was usin my fiens Barista (pump machine), and got have of cup of crema.
I did not believe my eyes.
Usually(in my experience) crema comes after 50% of cup is filled.
This time the shot has started from crema, and than was coffee.
I should have taken a piucture.
Alex

[mogogear]

Be carfeul of judging good espresso = lots of crema- Most Barista machines have artificial crema enhancers (a small device that foams the extracted espresso)

So when you do get fresh beans and have time to become familiar with your machine- make friends with it- the espresso can be heavenly and the crema very nice - but perhaps never as abundant as electric pump machines --- especially with a crema enhancing Portafilter..

Listen to your mouth not your eyes...

[TUS172]

excerpt:

Be carfeul of judging good espresso = lots of crema- Most Barista machines have artificial crema enhancers (a small device that foams the extracted espresso) Listen to your mouth not your eyes...

Amen brother! I bought my wife a Saeco super auto for her use in Hanover NH where she works. Crema...? more like foam and lots of it... no where near the Crema produced by a lever!

[mattwells]

Looks like your question has been answered, but thought I would give you a sum-up:

1) quality coffee (if you post where you are located, we could probably help you out)
2) ground appropriately (if you don't have a quality grinder, that is the place to start)
3) ground fresh (and I mean right before you pull the shot)

Meet those 3 requirements with the Cremina and you are on your way to awesome shots.

/mw