Olympia Express is out of business?

[KenSea]

I called 1st Line today and it seems Olympia Express is out of business, its a shame when a really high quality product cant make it in the market place

[roadman]

That's funny, I just got off the phone with them to ask about an order and they said nothing about going out of business. They are closed this week for Easter break but that's about it.

Jon

[Richard]

I called 1St Line today and it seems Olympia Express is out of business, its a shame when a really high quality product cant make it in the market place

If they are out of business, that is a very recent development. Sometime in either January or February I e-mailed Olympia and asked them for a price on a new Cremina and received a prompt reply with a price. I no longer have the e-mail so can't vouch for the date, but it was definitely in either January of February, probably February.

[KenSea]

Thank you guys for the feed back. 1st line said they hadnt been able to get hold of them and with no answer to my emails I was wondering. Hopefully I will get and email soon. What is there lead time and the cost of the unit?

Thanks again

[roadman]

Thank you guys for the feed back. 1st line said they hadnt been able to get hold of them and with no answer to my emails I was wondering. Hopefully I will get and email soon. What is there lead time and the cost of the unit?

Just give them a call. I was told the secretary will be back on Monday. They are easy to get hold of by phone, no so easy by email.

Jon

[matthyx]

I have just called them today and spoke to Alessandro.

He said they are finishing the Cremina model 2007 and should be able to sell them after the end of April.
I also asked him about visiting the factory this summer, which is no problem as long as I call before going there.

[roadman]

Sounds like it's time to change the subject line of this post.

Jon

[Kaffee Bitte]

Sounds like it's time to change the subject line of this post.

Jon

Indeed!!! There might be some heart attacks caused by that subject!!!!

[HB]

Indeed!!! There might be some heart attacks caused by that subject!!!!

Well, it was posed as a question, not a statement of fact. Given the reports of "no response" for parts inquiries or purchase information, the topic title seems rather apropos. For example:

How does one order one, I have emailed the company with no reply. Do they sell direct? Their website seems to lead one to that conclusion. Thanks for your help.

Because of the scarcity of this part, this is an exception to the site's "no buy or sell" threads policy... I have a very limited amount of new genuine Olympia parts available for immediate shipment.

Based on Ken's report, 1st-line employees also have difficulty getting answers to their inquiries. An official Olympia Express representative is certainly welcome to clarify for the record.

[Milton]

Hi All,

Sit tight; this will be a bit long???? Sorry.

I received an email from the chief operations officer for Olympia Express this morning (He has only been in this position since February 1) and he said things are ok. They are moving slowly but surely.

Just a refresher: the first of last year the company did try to sell, but could not get assurances from buyers that the company would continue on as it was. By this time their liquid assets were almost gone. They tried to get a financial backer that would help get the company back up and running and allow some people to retire and/or leave. It took several months, but on October 31 a financial partner signed the papers. It was his request to change the name to better reflect their product. Then, came the work of reorganization of the company including needed equipment upgrades and repairs. They started producing parts in December. This is where staff changes starting to occur. During this time, communications was almost non-existent.

This brings me up to February. On February 10, I received an email from the new COO because of various contacts I have made on my behalf and others about concerns and desires for new machines and replacement parts.

Now we are up to today. His email stated that he is aware of the communications problem and apologizes for them. He will work on getting them up to speed ASAP. He is not sure how or when????? He says the telephone is better right now.

The new Cremina 2007 will be ready for European delivery by the end of April. They have a few of these completed now. This is because it is easier to make them. Then, they will work on other countries sometimes in May. This will not take too long as the differences are mainly electrical. The end of April they will have the data needed for pricing. Right now, it will be around $3500 USD if the internet currency exchanger is correct. This will not include shipping, taxes or duty.

He says if you need a part email and/or call. They should have enough replacement parts by now.

Now for the upgrades on the Cremina 2007. There is are design changes and new technical upgrades and features?? Sorry, no photos.


Milton

[mogogear]

Hmmmm,
Thanks Milton- I guess I am happy to hear there reasons behind the last few years "intermittent" Olympia presence with regards to parts orders and or new machines for individuals or distributors.

Let us wish them good fortune


..... $3,500.........more Hmmmmmm?


Volume will need to come into play somewhere...not just margins... they are sure expanding the number of other price competitors at that level..... How much does a Clover machine go for?

EDIT:

I do have to laugh a little here... They are about to release the..... 2007 model..."chortle" - in just Europe... that means that maybe the 2007 will be available here maybe by 2009.....Milton- tell your contact to change the model number- that would be a bit more clever marketing- for $3,500- I would want the "newest model there is !

This all said with a smile and a tongue firmly implanted in my cheek!!

[KenSea]

I am very happy to see they are coming back! However, I was willing to invest something over $2000.00 but frankly $3500.00 seems a bit high. I wish the new owners the best.

[bobcraige]

It is truly amazing all the babble here about the price of a new Cremina. In 2002 a Swiss Franc was about 59 cents yet today it is over a dollar.

These machines are for intended for discriminating buyers who simply want the very best and can afford it. They are clearly not for the masses to whom price is more important than product. The marketplace is full of mass market machines and Olympia is not intending to compete with these machines.

The current production Cremina is one of the only products on earth that is dramatically better than its predecessors. Most manufacturers constantly seek ways to save money and cheapen their products. Even the original Olympia company did this. Post 1983 Creminas were inferior to their earlier brothers. After 1983 the boilers were cheapened and prone to failure. Those white marks regularly found on the outside of post 1983 boilers are pin hole leaks due to corrosion and are all too frequent. This problem was not in pre 1983 machines. Post 1983 housings were of lighter gauge material and some machines even used a plastic drip tray.

Current generation Creminas, while they look like the original Cremina, are totally revised sharing little but overall shape with the Cremina 67. They use 1.5 mm TIG welded stainless steel boilers. The group has been redesigned and improved as have virtually all other parts of the machine.

While Cremina 67 machines are wonderful machines, do not delude yourselves into believing that they are Cremina 2002 or 2007. Know that this company has striven to produce the finest product that materials and technology allow. While they have based it on the exceptional design of the Cremina 67, the current machine is a quantum leap better quality than its ancestors.

[TUS172]

It is truly amazing all the babble here about the price of a new Cremina. In 2002 a Swiss Franc was about 59 cents yet today it is over a dollar.

How does one respond to this and similar statements in this post? Abrasive? Condescending?

[HB]

How does one respond to this and similar statements in this post? Abrasive? Condescending?

I hear you, but choose to focus on his point and less on the manner of presentation.

The Olympias are indeed pricey, but anyone can recognize their materials and workmanship are in a different league. For example, the Elektra Microcasa a Leva sells for $1089. It's a finely made machine, but the fit and finish of the Olympia Cremina 2002 are well beyond it. If you're the sort who will pay a high premium for expert craftsmanship and have the funds, a new Olympia may be worth thinking about.

Some pay thousands of dollars for a premium wristwatch; I wouldn't. I paid thousands of dollars for a grinder; most would not. I say "to each his own."

While they have based it on the exceptional design of the Cremina 67, the current machine is a quantum leap better quality than its ancestors.

IIRC, you've mentioned some of the innovations in previous threads, but they were primarily in the area of maintainability and durable design, not improving the in-cup result. As a point of interest, Steve had the Olympia Cremina 2002 and his restored Olympia 67 side-by-side for months. He prefers the espressos from the older model, though he agrees the newer has superior design features and construction.

[farmroast]

I did receive a small order from them in Feb. It's encouraging to see a company that works to improve quality instead of efforts to just cheapen a product. The cost/lifetime of a 67 was impressive and with time I'm sure the 2002s and 2007s will prove to be an even greater value in the long run.
Ed
ps Please do change the title of thread, I freaked!! Ticker is back to normal now.

[bobcraige]

IIRC, you've mentioned some of the innovations in previous threads, but they were primarily in the area of maintainability and durable design, not improving the in-cup result. As a point of interest, Steve had the Olympia Cremina 2002 and his restored Olympia 67 side-by-side for months. He prefers the espressos from the older model, though he agrees the newer has superior design features and construction.

Dan

I find the quality in the cup equal or better than the Cremina 67. The new group requires a little different technique and the 2002 is slightly less forgiving than the C67. I cannot speak for Steve, but from my own experience, it is very important to tune your technique to the 2002 as opposed to the Cremina 67.

[roadman]

I find the quality in the cup equal or better than the Cremina 67. The new group requires a little different technique and the 2002 is slightly less forgiving than the C67. I cannot speak for Steve, but from my own experience, it is very important to tune your technique to the 2002 as opposed to the Cremina 67.

Bob would you be up for describing the differences in techniques between the 67 and the 2002? Also, how do the shots differ? Is it more clarity from one to the other?

Jon

[roadman]

Hi All,

Sit tight; this will be a bit long???? Sorry.

I received an email from the chief operations officer for Olympia Express this morning (He has only been in this position since February 1) and he said things are ok. They are moving slowly but surely.


Milton

Milton, thanks for all that info. It's much appreciated.

Jon

[bobcraige]

Bob would you be up for describing the differences in techniques between the 67 and the 2002? Also, how do the shots differ? Is it more clarity from one to the other?

Jon

Jon

I will leave describing the shots to those with more sophisticated palates than mine.

The new group uses a shower screen held by the portafilter gasket instead of snapping on the end of the cylinder. The shower extends slightly futher into the basket resulting in slightly less headroom. For those of us used to dosing and tamping for the Cremina 67 and the Maximatic, there is a tendency to overdose relative to the new group. This is only because I am so used to my workflow in the othe machines, that I had a tendency to do what I was accustomed to doing for many years.