'82 Olympia Cremina Lever...

[BoldJava]

Aha!  Found the portafilters!

We have company coming in all week and I was invited by the Czarina to straighten up some of my coffee toys.  Lo and behold, there was the portafilters, some citric acid, and my tamper.

I will clean the boiler this week, get it cleaned up, and have it ready to fire up for company.  And what coffee I have around.  Time to celebrate, all the way around.

[BoldJava]

Descaled the Cremina this morning, using Doug's guidance found here.  I had bought a claw/flexible button light to check the boiler.  Grabbed it at an auto supply store, $10.  http://www.amazon.com/MAXCRAFT-60184-Lighted-Magnetic-Pick-Up/dp/B0042D6H44/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_1

I use tap water filtered through the Britta.  I was surprised at how little mineral deposits in there.  Maybe the Britta is working better than I imagined.  The black coating on the brass boiler inners that Doug describes was there.

Easy, peasy.  Painting/remodeling projects done.  Our cafe' room is now up and running with the Cremina ready to go.

Orphan Espresso Tech Tip - Machine Descaling

[simmich]

I've been pulling shots with my Cremina for years using refrigerator filtered water filtered again through a Britta.  I descale every 3 months with citric acid...little to no scale.  Seems Creminas are good with Britta, 'specially if you empty the machine before putting it to sleep. The water here is very mineralized leaving visible scale everywhere (cars,glass,metals) but inside the boiler! We change out Britta filters, a.c. filters, and descale and lube the Cremina quarterly.

[BoldJava]

It's the lubing job that scares me.  Ill-founded?

Sent via phone with big, fat fingers.

[Cammie]

Scares me too.  Let me know how it goes.  I will need to do mine in the next few months.

[simmich]

It's the lubing job that scares me.  Ill-founded?

Yep...couple of dabs of Dow111 over here, a spray or 2 of food grade silicon over there, equals a smoothe pull. Don't want anything wearing out prematurely!

[BoldJava]

...
Yep...couple of dabs of Dow111 over here, a spray or 2 of food grade silicon over there, equals a smoothe pull. Don't want anything wearing out prematurely!

Any suggestions beyond this?  http://www.orphanespresso.com/Olympia-Cremina-Group-Maintenance-NAG_ep_622-1.html

[simmich]

...
Yep...couple of dabs of Dow111 over here, a spray or 2 of food grade silicon over there, equals a smoothe pull. Don't want anything wearing out prematurely!

Any suggestions beyond this?  http://www.orphanespresso.com/Olympia-Cremina-Group-Maintenance-NAG_ep_622-1.html

Nope...Doug says it all. Or as FDR said, "there is nothing to fear but fear itself". Do it Dave, your machine will love you more.

[BoldJava]

Nope...Doug says it all. Or as FDR said, "there is nothing to fear but fear itself". Do it Dave, your machine will love you more.

OK, I will play.  See picture.  That gasket has to come out first, right?  Is it a common gasket I can find most anywhere, Ace, Home Depot or is an OEM required if I rip it up.

Fishing it out...I have dental picks.  Go after it with them?

[BoldJava]

It's the lubing job that scares me.  Ill-founded?

Yep...couple of dabs of Dow111 over here, a spray or 2 of food grade silicon over there, equals a smoothe pull. Don't want anything wearing out prematurely!

I had Curly and Tim (machinist) look at the Cremina last night.  I am going to grab a rubber mallet and knock the piston out one night when they are over, looking over my shoulder, and learn how to do this maintenance.  Tim looked at the yoke (stretched somewhat) and said if it does give out (former owner clearly didn't do PM), it is shot.  Depending on the material of which the yoke is made, it can be redone, though not easy.  Keeping an eye on it and Tim will take a closer look once it is disassembled.

I will document it with photos so if we have any other 10Thumbs, you can take a run at it.

[BoldJava]

Taming the beast.

Milo spent some quality time on the Cremina.  Really too much oomph on the steamer for my pours.  Always big bubbles.  Milo said we could turn down pstat but not a good idea because the shots are fine at this temp/pressure.  Alternatives are to:

1.  use a toothpick in one outlet
2.  get a different tip
3.  use more milk

Milo did use more milk and got the milk/pour down quite well.  I will give that a try for the next month as I now realize I use too little in the pitcher.  Thanks, coach!

[Cammie]

Taming the beast.

Milo spent some quality time on the Cremina.  Really too much oomph on the steamer for my pours.  Always big bubbles.  Milo said we could turn down pstat but not a good idea because the shots are fine at this temp/pressure.  Alternatives are to:

1.  use a toothpick in one outlet
2.  get a different tip
3.  use more milk

Milo did use more milk and got the milk/pour down quite well.  I will give that a try for the next month as I now realize I use too little in the pitcher.  Thanks, coach!

Very nice.  I think that having a second/several back-up levers is always sensible....almost a necessity. Better pick up a Lusso as well.

[BoldJava]

...
Very nice.  I think that having a second/several back-up levers is always sensible....almost a necessity. Better pick up a Lusso as well.

Larry played on the Cremina quite a bit this week and actually prefers the PVL with the spring.  I don't know a PVL that well but as I have said before, after sampling his shots off the PVL in Portland, if I didn't have the Cremina at a reasonable price, I would grab a PVL in a second.

Yakster commented that folks move away from Levers because of the intimidation factor.  He stated that he finds levers more easily used than pump machines.

[jspain]

Dave,

How much milk were you steaming before, and how much milk did Larry get too for a better pour??? I'm at 4oz.

[BoldJava]

Dave,

How much milk were you steaming before, and how much milk did Larry get too for a better pour??? I'm at 4oz.

Have no idea.  Will measure tomorrow.  2.5 before <?>, 4 oz now is probably pretty close.