What's The Big Deal with Olympia Cremina Espresso Machines?

[ara]

I have been drinking espresso every day for years. Started out with the old reliable Gaggia. To make my life easier my wife purchased the $500 or so Nepresso 290 for me. Reluctantly I started using it and found myself liking the simplicity and ease of making espresso. I found myself drinking 4 and 5 shots a day, sometimes more, because of this machine. Each and every, I mean every, cup has great crema and the flavor is hard to beat. On the other hand a new Olympia Cremina costs $2,200 and based on my very recent experience with one, I ask myself why would I buy one of these units? You have to careful of the hot tank, it requires frequent filling of water thru a small hole, and I am not sure if the quality is worth the high price. Also, how does one value taste, price, ease of use and price vs. a "cult" machine ?

Before you all beat me up, I have to let you know that I am also a big cigar smoker and when someone compares a machine made cigar with a fine hand made cigar, I quickly know their level of cigar smoking. ok.

Looking to hearing from you all,

ara

[Mark08859]

Well, I'll give you the simple explanation. I'll let others delve into the more technical details. For just about any machine of this type, there are only two moving parts, the lever and you. Simply put, the Cremina, or most any lever for that matter, gives you the most control over your drink. Every aspect of your espresso is up to you. Not just grind, dose, and tamp; but pressure on the lever. If the machine allows for adjustment of water temperature, than you have 100% control.

The disadvantage is that lever machines can be the most frustrating and have the highest learning curve. The upside, as you may imagine, can be the best tasting espresso you've ever had in your life.

Some lesser reasons for owning a lever can be that the machine is considered a piece of art. Just ask any Pavoni lever owner. Another reason is that lever machines give the most "old world" or traditional hands on experience. Not to mention they can keep you humble.

It is my understanding that the Cremina, in particular, simply put quality and engineering first (much like older German autos) regardless of the cost. It is common to read a post of an owner referring to an older Cremina still going strong.

Hope this provides a little insight.

[RCMann]

You have to careful of the hot tank, it requires frequent filling of water thru a small hole, and I am not sure if the quality is worth the high price.

You must be thinking of the La Pavoni Europiccola.

The Cremina's boiler is covered and the cover gets warm, but not hot. The Pavoni has a bare boiler that can kill.

The Cremina has a 1 liter tank, the Pavoni is about half that size and requires, er, twice as many fillups.

The Pavoni also has serious portafilter sneeze, the Cremina has none.

They both have small fill holes, which is why my old Cremina came with a nifty brown plastic funnel that magically converts water into a narrow stream that goes into the small hole.

I have a 32 year old Cremina that feels solid as a rock, is made with definitely higher quality standards than the Pavoni and makes great coffee.

I also have a Europiccola that has been idle since I got the Cremina last year.

Would I spend $2,200 on one? No way, but you can (or could) get them for a lot less. I paid $400 for mine, others on the list spent more or less than that, and a lucky few got theirs free!!

[Gatewood]

Well, RCMann, I have to take up for the Europiccola. True, the boiler can kill, if you're careless, but portafilter sneeze? I've had only one. And that was completely my fault. Tried to undo it too soon. Best espresso I ever had, and a gorgeous hunk of sculpture to boot.

[RCMann]

portafilter sneeze? I've had only one. And that was completely my fault. Tried to undo it too soon.

That's exactly my point, as others will attest who have used both-you can pop the portafilter off immediately after pulling a shot on the Cremina, but on the Pavoni you've got to wait for awhile until it outgasses/depressurizes.

Not a big deal, but when you're pulling several shots in a row with a Pavoni and forget to wait, stand by for a mess!

Also, to me the Germanic (I know it's Swiss, but that's Germanic!) solidity and looks of the Cremina are more beautiful than the Pavoni. Function over form?

Rod

[Gatewood]

We'll have to agree to disagree on beauty, which is in the eye of the beholder, anyhow. I don't wait to pull the portafilter off more than the time it takes to remove the cup. The time I got the sneeze, I just jerked the thing off before I had pulled the lever all the way down. Bad mistake, and a great learning experience. I think people (certainly me!) are as protective of the reputations of their machines as they are of their children. I'll put my pretty brass Europiccola up against anything, and even if I'm wrong, I won't believe it.

[mogogear]

Ara was lucky enough, as I remember to have a Cremina GIVEN to him/ her!!! In all fairness, and I believe the wonder in which ARA asked was as much as we all did when the Cremina on Ebay the other day sold got $1185.00
Unless you are actually in pursuit of complete control over making a shot ( or two)of espresso, would the subtle nuances show themselves and then be appreciated in a usury and monetary way. I do subscribe to the longevity of the lever. Be it a La Pavoni, Cremina or Microcase or what have you, you can count on still using it for thirty years. It will be a learned relationship.
Woefully, I predict the Super-automatic will cease to be a caffeine contributor after much more than 5 years. I could be wrong and no malignant intended. I had a nice 1965 diesel Mercedes that we drove until January of last year, real wood on the dash and vinyl seats that people still mistook for leather. The analog clock still kept perfect time and the first aide kit was a still a handy item. A 1965 Cadillac would have self destructed long, long before.
A lot of rambling - So I hope that the Cremina that ARA had bestowed, earns Ara's appreciation.

[espressoperson]

I have been drinking espresso every day for years. Started out with the old reliable Gaggia. To make my life easier my wife purchased the $500 or so Nepresso 290 for me. Reluctantly I started using it and found myself liking the simplicity and ease of making espresso. I found myself drinking 4 and 5 shots a day, sometimes more, because of this machine. Each and every, I mean every, cup has great creama and the flavor is hard to beat. On the other hand a new Cremina costs $2,200 and based on my very recent experience with one, I ask myself why would I buy one of these units? You have to careful of the hot tank, it requires frequent filling of water thru a small hole, and I am not sure if the quality is worth the high price. Also, how does one value taste, price, ease of use and price vs. a "cult" machine ?

Before you all beat me up, I have to let you know that I am also a big cigar smoker and when someone compares a machine made cigar with a fine hand made cigar, I quickly know their level of cigar smoking. ok.

Looking to hearing from you all,

ara

If you're happy with the taste of espresso from your Nepresso machine then you are right to question the value of the Cremina, or any other machine that costs more, or is more difficult to use.

"Cult" is your characterization of the Cremina. I don't hear music lovers talk about a cult of Stradivarius. How do you determine a price for that glorious Stradivarius sound? And how do you determine a price for that glorious Cremina taste?

[Teme]

From what I understand, the Cremina offers the following key benefits over a Pavoni (please correct me if I am wrong):

1. exclusivity

2. superior build quality, materials and finish

3. easier maintenance and enhanced durability

4. resistance to overheating due to the grouphead not being directly connected to the boiler as in the other "consumer lever machines" like the Elektra and the Pavoni (the shell also partially acts as a heatsink?)

All this comes at a hefty price premium, though, both in terms of the initial purchase price as well as the price of spare parts. I argue that the Cremina offers a 1% increase in shot quality over the Pavoni for a 400% additional investment (plus the higher cost albeit less regular component maintenance/replacement). I still would not mind having one to replace my Pavoni, though...

Br,
Teme

[chopinhauer]

I must say, I too have thought the unthinkable, namely what is so crash hot about the the Cremina? Living in Australia, I must admit upfront I have never seen one, and at those prices I doubt I ever will since nobody imports them down under.

I'm pretty happy with my older style pavoni europiccola. For me she does everything brilliantly except one thing: she can't make more than a couple of shots without overheating. For me, the only coffee drinker in the house, this isn't a big deal, until I have guests, then it becomes an issue. So the only thing that would tempt me to move from the pavoni would be another lever machine that didn't overheat, or at least, didn't do so until one could churn out at least, say, 5 shots.

Can the Cremina do this? For if it can't, who cares about the 1 litre boiler. Already, the larger boiler on the microcasa and pavoni professional are a waste of metal (and electricity) because they overheat well before you can use the extra capacity. Somehow, I think the cremina is the same UNLESS someone can categorically state that it doesn't overheat, and why it doesn't do so. Teme's points suggest its doesn't overheat as quickly, but doesn't leave me to believe it doesn't overheat at all, over even after my mythical 5 successive shots.

As for portafilter sneeze, come on! If you know your pav, you can get around this problem, and again, who cares, you can (or should) only be making max 3 shots in a row (unless you like the burnt stuff and then you deserve to be sneezed on).

And build quality? Who are you kidding? The pavoni is rock solid. Mine is 30 years old and in perfect nick (even though she was mistreated for her first 20 years before I got her). In this respect the pavoni and elektra leave the non-lever machines for dead. If the cremina is better built good, but for most intents and purposes it would be like saying a merc lasts longer than a bmw. They both are built to last.

So tell me, for over two grand can the cremina makes coffees as good as the best lever machines can do, but more, many more, of them in a row? If it can't, then its what we call down here, a mere show pony. If it can. then, hell, I might even mortgage my house and import one myself from der Schweiz.


PS many months later

I didn't have to mortgage my house, but curiosity got the better of me and I got one off ebay australia (only the second I have seen on this site in 2 years). Now I can confirm that it does make at least 3 excellent espressos in quick succession without overheating. Haven't had occasion to try more yet. So, in this respect it succeeds where the elektras and pavonis fail. As for quality, hard to say. It produces coffee certainly as good as the good ones that the europiccola produces. As for better than the europiccola, I am not skilled enough in its black arts to make this assessment, but all up it WAS worth the investment.

[2xlp]

where can you find a used cremina for $400 ?

i'd love one. they're amazing.

[cannonfodder]

eBay. I watched one sit for several days with a buy it now price around that. Not there any more, but if you check daily, you will eventually find one.

[GreatDane]

I didn't understand all the hype about the Cremina either. Then I bought one for $300.00. I was able to get a 30 year old machine that had hardly ever been used. It makes excellent espresso. It foams milk for Cappos better than any other machine I have used. I like the balance of the machine. There is no having to do the double handle routine like with a Pavoni. I like the boiler being inside so I don't have to worry about burns. I am not knocking the Pavoni. I have had excellent shots from them too. I just like the way the Cremina is built. I also have a SAMA, and I like the bigger PF too. I would love to play with an Elektra or an Achille. I like the size of my Cremina too. I have pulled 6 shots in a row and made 3 cappos without having to reload the water supply. In our house it is a nice sized machine. If I had the money, I would buy a new one. I think it would be awesome to have a brand new machine. The only brand new machine I have had was a SAECO. I am thinking about selling all of my toys and buying a new Olympia.

Les