Review: The Olympia Cremina 

I forgot to say, this video was pretty delayed in being made and the machine has already been given away. Sorry!

For 3200 euros my coffee machine better come with James in the package.

This dude has never made coffee snobbery look so appealing and justified.

"for someone like me, who is a little bit an obsessive" ... what an English understatement.

I found my 1987 Cremina at a garage sale about 6 years ago in New Jersey. Cost me $5. I had never heard of a Cremina but I knew it was special the moment I saw it. I brought it home and turned it on.... and it leaked hot water out of every gasket. Luckily, it turns out that the US company that repairs them is about 20 miles away from me. $600 in repairs and some additional equipment including a Craigslist super jolly burr grinder, and I was off and running. My coffee game has never been the same. I love it so much.

James: reviews 3300 quid machine Me: OK OK OK I will order new gaskets for the Moka Pot

This dude really got me into liking coffee.. I went from drinking Nescafé to buying artisan beans, using a high quality hand grinder, measuring with a scale, worrying about extraction and brew temperatures. Now I can never go back... thanks a lot man.

I have a Brown Cremina from 1967 (*Edit* It is from 1982, but the 67 model, Sorry I didn't lie, I just wrote before actually checking), I took it apart, cleaned and rebuilt it by hand and myself as my spring break project. I use this machine to pull 1-3 shot a day, my steaming experience is fine (considering I use non-dairy). I cannot espress (get it??) this enough, the grind size is so important, in the last week I have pulled around a dozen shots, and all of them have needed grind adjusting (Kino m47 Phoenix Hand grinder, yes it takes a while). I started off as Starbucks barista one summer with a super automatic, and this past year I used a Rocket variant, so Instead of buying my own Flair to start out with, I cleaned the Cremina collecting dust in my parents garage and spent around $20 to clean and fix and around $300 in all the accessories that I needed. I am now very happy you have reviewed the machine.

I've spent years telling people how much I love my $30 Aeropress and the coffee it makes for the value...only to find out I secretly yearn for a $3500 Swiss espresso maker. I feel dirty.

Can we get some attention to production quality of James videos, those creative intros and nice looking shots, I think he’s done a great job making it for us!

In italy we have a saying that goes "for that price it better make me a coffee" when something is expensive. well, this shurely does

This wasnt a machine review, it was a love letter ❤

My first machine was / is an Olympia Cremina that I bought in 1981 when a student (US$385 new - which as a LOT for me back then) -- I've had others, but still go back to the Cremina. It does spoil you for other machines: It is just such a pleasure to use, and it is built like a tank. The similarities to Creminas made today mean that most parts are still easily obtainable, and the machine is straight-forward to repair. Probably the best $385 I've ever spent.

James, this has to be one of the most informative, aesthetically pleasing and beautifully edited videos you’ve made. Massive massive fan here!

The production and style just keeps evolving and getting better every single time. I am fully in love with your work!

My wife got me a La Pavoni lever machine 22 years ago and it's had daily use ever since, and still going strong (has had a couple of services along the way, mostly to replace gaskets). Not as expensive as the Olympia and probably not built quite as well, but everything you say about the joy of the process and figuring out the machine over years is dead on. Being able to master things right away is over-rated :)

Gotta love that drum solo in the beginning

Aah no way! My brother makes all the parts for these machines and i used to work there too. So good to see a review finally, after all those hours on the machines

I was never a coffee nerd... I started watching you a few months ago, got an Aeropress. I watched more videos and got a Chemex. I watched more and now just ordered a Flair and a Comandante. Now I need to get an Olympia.... why are your reviews so good James! My bank account can't take it!

James is spot on about the machine, I have had my cremina for about 6 years after starting with a Rancillio Miss Silvia. The Cremina was my reward for many years of hard work and a desire to be more engaged in my coffee making experience. It is my morning meditation and it the best coffee in town, so i am told. I also bought the newer version of the Olympia Moca grinder about 3 years ago. Same incredible fit and finish and compact. The glass bean hopper and machined cover is a piece of art. Not quite as powerful as my Mazzer (which i recently passed to my daughter) but a nice companion to the cremina. Parts and repairs are difficult especially lately and the fact that they have to come from across the pond, there are only two distributors in North America, one in BC and the other in the Bronx NY. At the end of the day, the machine is priceless, it makes my life complete, and after 6000 coffee drinks i'd say i've got my moneys worth.

"This will be useful to someone like me, who's a little bit of an obsessvive" Oh James you're not obsessive, EVERYONE loves their microwaved salted coffee fermented at the correct humidity and centrifuged to ensure the perfect sourness!

My father bought a terrible condition Cremina from a flea market for $100 usd. After he passed, I had began to refurbish it to its former glory. Took 3 months of waiting for parts and one night of work and now I get to use it everyday. Great reminder of him and a great way to start my mornings.

Hi James, I just want to say, I’ve been on RU-vid a longtime following a host of different interests and hobbies and most of these youtubers all have patreons. You are the first one that I’ve actually decided to actively support simply because of the way you communicate what you are passionate about. Like many others, I have gotten into making coffee at home during this lockdown and you are by far the person I have spent most time watching and rewatching to try to learn the craft better.

In the early 1980's, long before the internet, there was an article in the NYT's that gave a very high rating to the Olympia Cremina. Based on that I bought one new in 1985 for about $350. The dollar was a lot stronger in those days although it still felt like a lot of money at the time. Been using it ever since for our morning cappuccino's. Each one made with a double shot of espresso. The steam pressure is super powerful and froths the milk in just a few seconds. Once you dial in the grinding size and tamping force, it's really quite easy to get consistently great results. Haven't had better coffee anywhere else than what I routinely and by now almost effortlessly churn out with my '85 Cremina and Baratza Vario grinder. Because the machine is fairly simple and so well designed and built it is pretty easy for me to service and maintain it myself. Orphan Espresso has a series of youtube videos that show you how to do it. The Vario is also easy for a home user to maintain and repair. I actually enjoy working on them when they occasionally need service and it is very satisfying to not have to pay someone else to work on it. If I was starting out today, I would just bite the bullet and buy a new or used Cremina. I figure I've saved many thousands of dollars over the years by making my own rather than buying my morning cappuccinos and also servicing the machines myself. It's an investment that pays off over a lifetime.

*James actually liking, what he drinks* Me: well, thats unusual... Great machine and video !!

An absolute gem, that machine, it's so beautiful in red. And as a student welder, I just HAD to have a bit of a unmanly groan over how gorgeous the TIG welding is on the boiler, and the fact that someone that has a deep love of coffee machines welded that. Still honestly a little sore that I did not win it, but, that's how it goes - we can all just hope that the person that receives it falls in love with the machine and it doesn't just collect dust!

The attention to detail in the making of this video is superb. Lighting, audio, composition, b-roll. Just so good. Thank you James!

Have a 1977 version for almost 10 years now, drink two coffees everyday and it hasn’t failed me even once. A fantastic machine that takes quite some getting used to. Great review!

This is probably the first review that not only entertains but actually strikes a cord with me. It rare to encounter people that actually enjoy the tactical pleasure of something really really well built. I spent silly amounts of money just on quality - not because I need it or because it is actually better then the cheapo stuff - but because I am so happy that there are still people out there that care about what they do. And this is also the reason why I really enjoy this channel.

“It’s a machine that encourages hospitality, you want to make way more espressos than you can drink”

This is all so very Swiss! I've lived in Switzerland for most of my adult life, and the way you describe this machine perfectly encapsulates a big part of Swiss mentality. Obviously, there is a parallel to watches there. The weird thing about this kind of luxury product is the combination of the highest possible quality and obsessive workmanship with total understatement. I just looked for a dealer near where I live now, and found that they also offer a 1400$ grinder. That's almost a bargain ...

I bought one of these along with the Moca Grinder new in 2016. They replaced a superautomatic I got fed up with. Probably one of the best decisions I've ever made. My ROI calculation was about 7 years based on buying coffee in cafes, but I think I've already reached that in 4 years. And it makes much better coffee. The resale value of these is also incredibly high.

La Pavoni user here. You captured that greatly. At that point, when you develop a feeling for levering, and every different kind of coffee, how it behaves while youre pulling the shot, there is no espresso or cappucino you could ever compare to it. I'd say, those lever-Boiler-Machines can outrun any pump driven device in terms of taste and body, if you take the time and get into it. You will get pure drinkable Art. And on top of that, those machines prevent you from not taking your time to do it. Have that litlle rest, enjoy your life.

As someone who owns both a semi-automatic and a manual La Pavoini coffee machine I think you hit the nail on the head with this video. I own 2 machines (much to my partners confusion) so I can have my coffee during the week when i'm busy but so I can also play with my coffee on the weekend. For may of us coffee is not just a beverage. It is a passion much like someone who has an expensive chefs knife or expensive gym shoes. Yes the cheap ones may get you by, but the better the equipment the more enjoyment you will receive.

Lighting so good in this episode!

I use a 1960's La Pavoni Europicola daily. It's no Cremina but uses all the same principles. I learned how to make espresso on it and it's a joy to use. The only frustrating thing about this machine is when I want to cater a group of friends. It's just not easy to pull back to back shots on a single boiler machine like this. Before you know it the group head is too hot to cool the water down and the water is too hot. I can reliably pull 2, maybe 3 shots before I have to turn off the machine by managing the two heating coils. There is no harm in simplicity. While you touched upon it in the video, the most amazing thing about using a lever machine is the muscle memory you obtain after years of use. Feeling the espresso pulls and knowing instinctively how to adjust grind settings for a new bag just because the pull was too soft/hard or the feeling when you know a shot is going to taste great before you even drink it. Simply magical.

I owned one of these machines for several years. I believe it was a 1985 model. I loved it! I am a bit obsessive like you. I experimented with PID’s on the Olympia Cremina. Since I was not into milk drinks, I never used the steam wand. That allowed me to lower the temperature of the boiler a bit and control it with the PID. I also added a band heater to the group head and controlled it with a second PID. When finished it looked great but after owning it for quite some time I decided to sell it. I think you nailed it completely on your review! Excellent job!

I have this exact version and colour of the Cremina (2019). It is an absolute joy to use, it heats up quickly, is capable of producing some incredible shots (and some terrible ones until you know what you're doing). As my first lever machine, it was not easy to learn how to pull good shots with it but once it's set it is incredible. Even though you're literally pulling an espresso with it, I feel more like I'm crafting every cup. There are of course some details - first, without a pressure gauge you have no idea what pressure you're pulling with it. If you're feeling like getting a bit too overcaffeinated you can go all the way until you lift the machine. Second, the original basket is quite good but the portafilter is hideous. And while a naked portafilter is great, I struggle to get clean shots with it. My shots tend to be on the slow (delicious) side and that creates a bit of a mess in the cup and the machine. Last but not least, it's not necessary to waste water to heat up the grouphead. If you lift the lever just above horizontal, water will flow through the grouphead without being dispensed. Few pumps and the grouphead is toasty and ready to go. So convenient.

A new quality in video production, beautiful. Angles, colors, scenery: incredible. Congrats James!

I've got a La Pavoni I've had for years. I feel I've never been able to get the best it can do out of it. I thought maybe the machine was at fault and it couldn't be helped. But seeing that the machine you review here has the same fundamental design - albeit probably better made - has motivated me to get back at it and learn how to work it properly. Thanks, James!

totally agree, this mechine isn't fancy, it's just incredibly well built and refined. I own one, and thru this machine have realized that there are different types of people. a friend and I always argue about this, and I finally realized. that there are feeling people and data people. he's data, loves the numbers, loves the consistency of it all. whereas I use a hand grinder (HG-1) and a lever machine, because I like to FEEL making the coffee. it's a lil different everyday, depending on the barometric pressure, the moisture in the air, the age of the coffee, the alignment of the universe, how awake I am, etc. I LOVE to "play with espresso" for 20 minutes in the morning. it's fun for me. totally get why some just want a cup o coffee, but I want an EXPERIENCE. it's very pavlovian. and I will pass this machine onto my kids it's so well built. thanks for the thoughtful review!

You deserve more credit for your cinematography! so many well-thought-out shots. That sliding reveal of the machine internals was 'perfecto' *Italian sized gesture*

I recently bought a La Pavoni Europiccola as a "travel machine". I love using it. And it's also a stunningly well designed and simply beautiful machine. Probably a very similar experience to the Cremina, as the "technology" seems to be absolutely the same. And I have pulled shouts out of it that were so good that I secretly worried that it makes me sell my "main machine" ...

Purchased a used one in January as our first home machine. Had a Bellman stove top before. Ours is from 1991 and paid $800 for it. It needed a bit of maintenance and cleaning is all. I use it with a naked portafilter and Vario grinder. I'm completely obsessed with it, and like you said am still tackling the nuance. Your videos have taught me how to use it! I find myself "feeling" the brew pressure and concentrating on the color, aroma and time as I brew. It's made me really enjoy the operation from a observe the process not the numbers kind of way. When build quality is this good, you realize you can't blame the machine. It's also so compact and elegant. You realize it's art. Good design is expensive. So is Swiss labor. I do take notes when dialing in new roasts. I've also gotten into 10g ristretto shots with it as of late. We have been making Gibraltars for friends while our cafes are shuttered here for shelter in place. It's indeed a vector for hospitality.

We got ours 10 years ago for $800. it was our first espresso machine, and it took us years to pull good espresso, and everything that James said I agree with. We just think it is awesome. And we’re glad that they’re continuing to make them, and we’re glad that we did not spend €3200 on ours. But we wish we had more friends we could share it with, because we don’t know anyone else who has one, or even anyone else who has a home lever machine. If you’re in Seattle and have one, say hi!

I have a black Cremina from the early 90s and it's easily the favourite thing I own. It's been incredible for so long and every time I make an espresso with it, it feels just as joyous as the first time. Thank you James for a beautiful review of a beautiful machine.

The smart espresso profiler looks way better on that machine than I had imagined

Terrific James how you really honour the beauty of this machine! In 2007 I got hooked making coffee on my C67 (1973) which was passed on by my father. Indeed it was a beginning of a journey and now I enjoy taking her on my vacation as to dive in this beautiful machine.

Why it's so expensive? "The company has been founded in Switzerland..." - Could have stopped there

I just discovered this channel a few weeks ago and although I'm not that into coffee I really like watching your videos, nice calm talking, good structure, well made.

I'll second other people's comments, the espresso lovers among us would be interested in hearing your take on the La Pavoni lever machines vs the Olympia.

What a delightful thing to open my RU-vid app for the day and see you reviewing this machine! Finally a video for us lever aficionados! I do not own an Olympia Cremina, but I did purchase an Elektra MCAL not long ago and I concur with almost every statement you made about this variety of machine. I have a history as a barista so when it came time to buy a good consumer machine, I knew I wanted a lever; for the pedigree of the tech-as lever extraction machines really were the progenitors of espresso as we know it today, starting in the late 1940s with Gaggia-to the hands on experience with extraction, to the ability to control and tweak various elements of the brew process. I think you touched on an aspect of manual machines that expresses their worth when you suggested it could take years to master such a device. I view pulling a balanced 25-30 second “god shot” out of a lever machine as being akin to chasing a unicorn or finally catching a 300 lb blue fin tuna. That may be a little excessive but it really is a process that requires patience, albeit a tasty and rewarding one. Excellent video as always, and I’m happy you chose an Olympia, as I didn’t know as much about that brand prior to viewing. Cheers

James, I love your work, enthusiasm and ability to teach. Can you cover cheap espresso machines? I understand they aren't going to get barista like coffee but I bought a real cheap one off of amazon and following your guides I think I was able to find a good ration and able to control it to give me good, at-home shots. It would be great to see if there are any that would be "James Worthy" of at-home machines that help starters, well, get started without spending hundreds, or in this cast thousands, on their new hobby. Thanks for all your content! You've helped me learn to make great coffee.

i have a cremina from back '69 and i love it i repairit myself every 2 year and work's perfectly

How I knew I was a coffee nerd: "They want a cup of coffee, they don't want to spend half an hour playing with espresso in the kitchen" That immediately sounded like a well-spent half an hour

It took me 10 years to find one used at resonable price. I had more than a dozen of La Pavoni from many size and years, i had many elekra leva , i had few riviera and even a Faema Lambro one group. What i can tell you is after fully rebuilt my cremina, i pull one shot .... and that shot was mind blowingly delicious ! The steam power is also solid ! All in a well built small package , perfect for the home or office without being over powering like many espresso machine .... i dont see any machine that check as much box than this one ❤

And here I was praying for a lever espresso maker review just the other day from James, oh how you spoil us so!

La Pavoni owner here. James you nailed it! Yesterday I thought of buying a Lelit, to make the morning routine more simple. You just reminded me, why I love my Pavoni, and should never go to anything other than a lever machine. The feeling of "making" an espresso, with your hands, is just amazing.

I can't justify 3k euros on a home machine but I did just pick up a used la pavoni pro for £300, which I'm currently rebuilding and I suspect offers 95% of what you get out of this machine. It does look very lovely though, so not saying it isn't worth it.

I thoroughly enjoy watching your videos! The information, the aesthetics and you as a person, just makes the whole experience very enjoyable. Thank you for all you do. :)

Proudest achievement this quarantine: being early on James’ video

I'm a working barista (or was, pre-pandemic), and use an 80's La Pavoni Pro as my daily workhorse. I can definitely agree with James' opinion RE learning curve and honing your process. I've been using this machine daily for about 2 years now, and very often there will be new 'revelations' that just improve the process and resultant shot just a little bit. It's satisfying and enjoyable. I'd be interested to see James' thoughts on a La Pavoni as a similar, more affordable take on this genre of machine.

This has always been a dream machine for me because of the price, but it is a work of art in its simplicity, reliability and most of all, its ability to be serviced over and over again. My lever machine is a La Pavoni Europiccola, another simple design also fully able to be serviced as well as a timeless design. Great review, James! Cheers!

This was my dream machine when I was still making espresso at home. I have since moved on exclusively to alternative methods, but I still like this more than I should.

LP owner here. First of all, I really loved the video, I really love the Olympia, and I really loved what you said about lever machines ; that is exactly how I feel too, and I love to be geeky with my lever machine as well. BUT I really wonder if you get better espressos with that machine than you would get with my LP that I bought less than 500€ new. It's obviously not a competition, I'm just thinking that they look a bit similar, and I wonder why the price is that much higher.

Hey, love this review. Don't own a cremina, but I do own a la pavoni. Which I bought cheap and improved with little effort. These machines are just another level of nerdiness, with a very slow learning curve, much excitement on every shot and an icebreaker with every new guest staying over for coffee. I love the easy fixes, the nerdiness, the robustness, the romance. Thank you for a wonderful review.

As someone who is loving their Rok GC... This is making me a little jealous still. Great video too, love th editing and heavier jazz element in the start too

Hi James, it was really refreshing to watch your review! You have the right mix between showing and talking...your speech includes both facts and opinion and you are not appearing like other loving themselves than bringing the message. Really good review and good advice you gave. It gives a true and honest idea why to by this machine, Thank you.

Nice machine. My 70's Europiccola is still going strong. Those things are indestructible.

At the start of this year, I wanted a lever machine but have very little room for more kitchen appliances. So back in January, I bought a used 93 La Pavoni Pro which was taking me too long to restore and I got too itchy to get started in my new found interest and went out to get a new Cremina. Like all the articles and reviews say, it is a beautiful piece of machinery. But it does test your patience when it comes to making espressos. Luckily for me, I have an OCD when it comes to my hobbies and interests. So I'm still learning and trying to pull a good shot. The one thing I found that is really hard in owning the Cremina is that it is particularly hard to find tampers, portafilters, and other baskets (size 49mm) for it. I had to order these things from all over the world!

My parents got one when I was a child. It was rebuilt by my father, but unfortunatly the boiler got too much leak to be repared. At this moment, ealry 90's, nowere to buy easy replacement part and my father threw it away... I used to be the one who make the best coffee with that machine, even if I didn't drink it at that time (12 yo)! But actually, I developped the sensation of how I need to tamper and how much pressure to make good coffee. It's my father words, maybe he was just too lazy and prefer me to make it ;) Nevertheless, I now own a La Pavoni pro millenium, and it took me quite a long journey to enjoy it, but the more I use it, the more I like it! Will try to get around and find a Olympia one of those day, must be a bit easier as I live in switzerland..

Trying to remember how many times I have seen James go back and finish a shot in a video. I am sure it isn’t often.

I’d love you to talk about La Pavoni at some point. And maybe the Flair as well.

Mine is a 1991 bought on eBay for $800 about six months ago. My mother had a neglected 1978 which my brother faithfully restored to perfect condition and he was the inspiration in my buying this machine. Manual grinding with the Orphan. I only drink one a day but it is my favorite time of any day. I’m sure it will outlive me!!

When you watch this and realise you don't want an espresso, you want a hobby

So I've got a La Pavoni Pro that I think is a late 70s/early 80s model, and I'll say this - lever machines *do* have a lower level of tweakability compared to modern machines. I'm glad you mentioned it, but I feel like it needs explicit mention - lever machines require love, time, and patience for every shot you pull. There are also some specific considerations compared to non-lever machines: - You have limited volume controls. The Group Head stores some upper limit of water - you can stop pulling early to produce a 'lower' ratio, but if you max out at 30g of water post-infusion, then that's your upper yield limit. This may also limit basket size, unless you do stuff involving fellini moves and other re-pump techniques. I can do 14-15G for ~28-33G of water. I can cheat a little by re-pumping after infusion, but I'll have a hell of a time doing more. - Temperature control can be really difficult depending on the machine. If the boiler or group head are too hot, it can really negatively impact your coffee. You'll get comfortable with techniques like soaking the bottom of the group head in a ramekin full of water to drop your GH down to 80/85 before pulling a shot. Some newer machines have PID controllers for the boiler pressure, at least - You did mention this, but the amount of 'by-feel' required for these machines might take folks by surprise. Especially since most machines *don't* come with a brew-pressure gauge stock. You just have to learn how much is 'right' . Great review either way - would absolutely *love* a video on how you approach dialing in a lever pull, since I think it *does* differ a bit from a pump-driven machine.

It'd be interesting to see your take, James, on the difference between the Cremina and the much cheaper La Pavoni machines which seem very similar in function on the surface.

I can absolutely appreciate the design and function of the Cremina, I’m quite happy with 12 year old Bezzera Strega. Levers have always been my favorite. Very fine review.

I was looking for the next step in my coffee journey, and was contemplating a GS/3 or perhaps a Linea Mini... Now I also want this :/ Damn you, James Hoffmann!

Playing around and tweaking each new roast that I get from my coffee subscription has been great fun with the Cafelat Robot. It's the first thing I would consider to be a "real" espresso machine that I've owned. The process of using it is indeed, just as satisfying as the coffee that comes out of it (when you get it right). I put a high value on equipment that is robust, simple, and easy to work on. I could definitely see myself getting one of these down the road. Expensive, definitely, but if you can't have a coffee shop of your own, something like this can sit marvelously in your kitchen and be a little escape. It's a shame that more people can't enjoy it because of how expensive it is.

This machine costs more than my car

I have a machine from the late ‘60’s and it is still going strong and it brings me joy every dsy

I don’t know if I ‘get’ it. Setting aside the pleasure in the experience (which I don’t undervalue for a moment), this sort of machine seems to put one at a distance from the actual coffee brewing. The pressure looks hard to control repeatably and the temperature is not directly adjustable. To be clear, I’m yet to buy my first espresso machine but it strikes me that this encourages a focus on, dare I say, the craft and ritual of the process, not on those factors that directly control what you get out. That seems needlessly difficult, like driving by looking in the rear view mirror. Is this impression way off base, James? Once one has owned a machine for years, does the science of espresso fade in importance as you get ‘good enough’ results, or is it more about the type of person you are (experimental, scientific sorts should get the Decent; those who crave tactile, joyful experiences should get the Cremina)?

I started making Espresso with a La Pavoni which works quite similar to the cremina. You have to pay even more attention to the temperature but if everything is right, it will make delicious coffee! - Thanx for the review, James

Looks like a Pavioni in a red dress. Electra (in the beautiful brass/copper version) or Zacconi machines are way more compelling to me.

This is a great video. Your enthusiasm for coffee, making espresso is quite evident. I love coffee, however, I am finding out that I know next to nothing about coffee. I see that as a challenge for me to improve. I am a retired Army Combat Medic, and spent most of 2004 in Baghdad. During that time I made gallons of coffee. While that coffee was better than chow hall coffee, I now see it really wasn't what it could've been. Thanks for sharing your passion for coffee.

The 0.79¢ Ikea cup with the $3K machine kills me

I usually don’t comment but I will for this. I owned few espresso machines and I knew the virtues of the Olympia,called luck or faith I happen to find one that was thrown away it’s from the 70s I refurbished it was missing few parts. This is the ultimate manual espresso machine the built quality is awesome the simplicity of the Design the easy of maintenance and repair. But the best part is the joy of using it and what comes out of this piece of art is pure pleasure it’s Like driving a vintage sports car pure unadulterated,uncompromising espresso pleasure.

To answer your question - do I aspire to someday own one? - I didn't, but now I do.

My wife bought me a 1988 Cremina, I think she paid around $600 USD for it in 1990. I have used it pretty much every day, at least once and often twice a day. I absolutely LOVE this machine. Don't know what it is about it, you captured much in the video. It's smooth, consistent, solid, just fantastic. I probably change out some (not all) of the gaskets every year or so, that's pretty much all the maintenance I need to do. If you're relatively handy it's doable. And parts are, thankfully, still available. The only thing I've never been able to replace are the gaskets on the water sight glass, but there are no leaks so guess no reason.

I loved the line- "do you want a cup of coffee, or do you want a hobby?" I got an '86 Cremina 6 years ago, and use it every day. Its lead to using a hand grinder, and roasting my own coffee as well.

Apart from everything else, of course, I enjoy a lot the music you choose for your videos. The way you've used silence here, though, just ideal. Always a joy to watch and learn!

James: "They don't want to spend a half an hour playing with Espresso in their kitchen." Me: Feeling sad, as I'm 45 minutes into playing with flow profiling on my Profitec machine while watching James Hoffman vids on my kitchen TV. James: "But some of us do want to spend half an hour playing with Espresso." Me: :)

Well it’s Christmas Day 2022 and I’ve used my Christmas present to myself for the first time. First attempt, not good BUT, attempt two and three……….. wow! Now that’s what I call coffee.

I own one, latest model. I totally agree!!!

It seems like the embodiment of the high end analog vs digital debate.

Swiss engineering, man. That's why it's awesome. Just sayin'.

Your video completely nails what espresso brewing (or culture) with a machine like this is about. Especially the comparison with the Decent (on the other side of the spectrum) is, in my opinion, perfect!!

If I hadn’t owned a la pavoni for many years known it inside out and upgraded every possible component in it, I would probably have bought a cremina as i can just forget about buying any other coffee machine in my life. However the price of the cremina is still not right, if it’s around the half of the current price, then it would be like a Rolex, will pretty much keep its value if you well look after it. But with the current price, the super sophisticated bezerra Strega is only around a half and can create arguably better coffee.

subscribing because of this video. without a doubt enjoying the production value. But what i enjoy the most, is James voice. Its like synthetically made, but very soothing.