Cremina Lever Espresso Machine (White)

Olympia Express Cremina Lever Espresso Machine (White)The Product: The Olympia Express Cremina is the Mt Olympus of home lever espresso machines. It is beautiful to look at, it is easy to become a masterful home barista with it, and the quality of coffee beverages it produces is wonderful (other things go into quality of a shot like beans and grind, but those things can't be diminished when using the Cremina). I am in love with the machine. I can't wait to get out of bed in the morning so i can play with it. And I am definitely drinking too much coffee as a result. The Cremina lever operation brings a special dimension to making an espresso that you can't find in automatic machines. The prefusion, pressure of the pull and the art of drawing the coffee through the portafilter allow for control that must be appreciated. The machine does it all extremely well, with a monster powerful boiler ready to do anything you want it to do with plenty of water when full to make several drinks with steamed milk and all. The steam wand produces flow in almost any size milk pitcher, I am partial to a Motta 35 cl, which is perfect for one latte. The milk is perfectly glossy and infused with finely distributed air for making great latte art. If i was better at doing art I'd share, but i am still learning. I can't recommend the Cremina more highly for anyone who can appreciate the quality of a swiss made machine. When considering other machines, I looked at the fact that there are 40 year old Creminas still out there working and bringing folks the same joy I experience today with my brand new machine. I will have to add a condicile to my will specially designating my Cremina to my favorite heir.Buying the Cremina: In today's world you can buy almost anything from multiple places, but the Cremina is an investment and i wanted to buy this machine from someone who would be around as long as the machine would and from someone who appreciates the quality and value the Cremina brings to the Customer. Enter Johnny Cerini of Cerini Coffee & Gifts in Bronx New York. I contacted Johnny after weeks of deliberation and when we spoke about buying the machine he may have thought i was interviewing him. John didn't need to sell the machine. But what he did do was sell himself and it wasn't a hard sell. Honest, fair, enthusiastic and genuinely interested in the quality of my experience as a customer are the qualities i would use to describe him in our initial interaction. We closed the deal easily and he sent my machine immediately. I received it in less than 24 hours (shipping varies but i got lucky because i only live about 150 miles away). Johnny called me just when the Fedex truck arrived to make sure i got it the package. I think he may have been as excited as i was to have the Cremina. Not knowing my grinder situation, Johnny provided a pound of ground coffee to be sure i was ready to run the machine as soon as possible and also gave me verbal instructions on what i needed to do on first use. Ever have a salesperson call you after you picked up a kitchen appliance to see how it was working out? Johnny is that kind of person only better. We spoke over the phone and communicated by email (with very quick response times) over the next several weeks as i was learning and perfecting my technique. He follows my instagram photos of coffee drinks and provides helpful tips often. My coffee machine connection is also my Fan. Wow! Johnny has helped me choose other equipment like pitchers and tampers to improve my experience as well. I can't wait till i can visit the store, where i expect it will be like seeing an old friend and advisor. I am a huge fan of Cerini Coffee and Johnny Cerini. I can't say enough about the customer service and positive experience i have had with them.Getting your first car is often a lifelong experience you will never forget, for me it was buying an Olympia Express Cremina from Cerini Coffee & Gifts It has changed my life and i will always remember how great that experience was.

I purchased mine in January 1986 from Zabar’s for $169. Today it retails for $3699–quite an appreciation in value. I replaced the gaskets in 2006. We use it nearly daily. Yes, there may be other machines that make excellent espresso at the push of a button, but none can rival the beauty and the class of this marvel of Swiss/Italian engineering.

35 years of use on my first Cremina (purchased new for $250 from Zabars, Manhattan, before the Olympia factory burned down) ... works perfectly, every day. I have two more "pre-fire" Creminas that are activated when entertaining guests. The Creminas from the new factory are just as good, but priced to "pay for the new factory."

We bought ours in 1982 and use it every morning. The only maintenance we have done is replace the gaskets every decade. If money is not an issue this is a beautiful machine that makes a perfect latte and lasts forever. Ours is brown and a treasured member of the family.