Olympia Express Cremina Pulls Too Easily

[breadhead]

Hello all,

I am a new member to this forum as I have just recently acquired an Olympia Express Cremina, (yard sale find!). I have no previous experience using this machine and I need some advice. I have checked the info available on the internet and everything goes OK until I go to pull the shot. I raise the lever about halfway and then lock the portafilter in place. I then raise the lever slowly to complete height. This is where my trouble is. No matter how tight I tamp the lever comes down with relative ease. If I bring the lever up and down an inch or two before I make the full pull I have better results but I can still get a full pull in 10 seconds or less. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Jim

[mogogear]

We can all offer many technique suggestions- If you don't have a good grinder none of them will matter. So lets start there.

What are you grinding with? If you are unsure what is needed to make your machine produce like it can- do some forum searches for recommended grinders- there are many low cost hand grinders that will do a great job and /or electric ines. With out a GOOD grinder your efforts will not make much difference in the espresso produced.

Since you got an enviable and inexpensive deal on the Cremina- your grinder monetary task is much easier on your budget than most people ever get to experience.

good luck and welcome

[breadhead]

Hello again and thank you for the welcome! I seem to be getting caught up in this espresso making with the same energy I did when I discovered vacuum tube amplifiers. Right now I have ground with a kitchenaid/hobart grinder on fine setting. I have also purchased beans at the local supermarket and used their ginder on the espresso setting.
Thanks,
Jim

[Mark08859]

Part of the problem would certainly be the supermarket beans. You have no idea as to their age. It also appears that both your grinder and the supermarket grinder can't grind fine enough for the Cremina.

[mogogear]

oops- doubled

[mogogear]

A cheap fix to see what to do is ebay yourself a Zazzenhaus, Trosser, KYM, Pe De etc older German hand grinder. You can get a suitable one for about $40 -delivered. Get an older one as opposed to a newer. See the thread Peacecup started here:

http://www.home-barista.com/espresso-grinders/hand-grinder-jive-photo-essay-t4482.html

It will give you an idea - They can grind as fine as you will need. If you want to go electric- the sky is wide as you want- but you will need to spend $300 -Minimum ( there are exceptions to everything) but you get the idea. There are literally a ton of threads about grinder recommendations- And then back to the previous bean recommendation- no grocery store beans- as a local espresso shop or google your area for a fresh bean source. ... then get prepared for espresso you probably have never tasted... seriously...

The fresh beans and a fine enough -consistent grind is a must.

Once again it will all be worth your time - I solemnly promise, well happily promise

[breadhead]

Thanks for taking the time to help me. I will look for a grinder and we do have two local coffee roasters. I will certainly take your advice and will post the outcome when I try your recommendations.
Jim

[Bushrod]

Congratulations on the find!

I think you should edit your Location in your profile so it doesn't include your full address. Maybe that's just me.

[breadhead]

Thank you for the location advice! I was able to try a slightly finer grind and it did improve the pull. I am sure I also need some tamping practice. As a matter of fact I am certain that I need to practice every aspect of this ritual maybe a thousand times. As with most worthwhile pursuits,"it ain't gonna be easy"!
Thanks much,
Jim

[Bushrod]

It's always better to try to preserve some privacy online!

As for you pours, try searching youtube for videos about the Cremina. There are probably enough to show you what other people are doing.

[ladalet]

How about this video? It is already hear on HB. It is also posted on YouTube and MetCafe
http://www.home-barista.com/forum...e-video-t3733.html

It sounds like your issue has been nailed down--need fresher coffee and better grinder. I use the Anfim Best grinder--$395 ( http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews...anfim/ladalet/3009) and a Solis Maestro Plus (now the Baratza Maestro Plus--$150) for vacuum pot coffee and for espresso when traveling (with my Gaggia Factory). I have also owned the Gaggia MDF which is a fantastic grinder considering its only $200 ( http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews...gaggia_mdf/ladalet ). There are may great choices. You will find all the info you need by searching the HB site.


With the Cremina's narrow deep basket it is more difficult to get an even compaction of the grounds from top to bottom. Typically after tamping the grounds are more compacted at the top than the bottom. I recommend grinding a little on the coarse side, tapping the portafilter on the grinder forks or table to settle the grounds at the beginning of your dose and progressively less as you approach the end of the dose, and a 40 tamp. The tapping at the beginning of dosing with progressively less toward the end will pack the grounds denser at the bottom of the basket and progressively less dense towards the top. This way when you tamp you will have more uniform compaction from top to bottom yielding a better extraction. Also, make sure that your tamp is even all the way around the basket.

Also, you want to make sure that the puck is not hitting the group screen. This usually leads to channeling. To check this I remove my portafilter after pulling a shot and place a penny in the middle of the puck and lock the portafilter back in place. I then remove it and see how much, if at all, the penny is pushed into the puck. If the penny is pushed all the way down into the puck with no edge sticking out above the puck you have over dosed and the puck is hitting the group screen. If the top of the penny sticks out above the top of the puck at all, that is the amount of clearance you have and you have not over doased and are not hitting the group screen. It is important that the puck have room to bloom or expand.

Good luck, you have a great machine. The learning curve on a lever machine can be a little frustrating in the beginning, but the payoff is well worth the time investment. I would not trade my Cremina for any other home machine. Enjoy!

Best wishes,
Lance

[breadhead]

Unfortunately I have an internet filter that blocks both videos so I was not able to view them. I will try the progressive tap/tamping routine and see how that works. The info about the penny was great also and I will try that. I never thought about expansion in the puck. I am very grateful for all the help I have received. Thank you!
Jim