Olympia Express Mina – Portable Lever Espresso Machine from Switzerland
The Olympia Express Mina makes espresso without electricity: add hot water, pull the lever, build pressure by hand. Built in Schwanden, Canton of Glarus.
The Mina is the portable sister of the Cremina. Olympia Express makes it from aluminium, stainless steel and brass, with plastic only where it is needed. It weighs 2.5 kg and needs neither pump nor battery – just hot water and freshly ground coffee. Available in our Olympia Express collection, with delivery throughout Switzerland or Click & Collect in Bern and Zurich.
Features of the Olympia Express Mina
Swiss engineering
The Mina works with a newly developed piston system. Add hot water and ground coffee, lift the lever: the integrated valve lets the water reach the coffee puck. As soon as the lever is pressed down, the valve closes and pressure builds. According to Olympia Express, the Mina preheats quickly.
At home anywhere in the world
Light and portable, yet sturdy and durable. For travelling, Olympia Express has designed a travel case in a practical format with an accessory compartment. The accessory compartment has room for a small grinder or your coffee. Case with Mina: 31 × 30 × 10 cm, 3.1 kg.
Sturdy materials
The lever guide and fork are made of electropolished stainless steel. The brew head is anodised; according to Olympia Express, its surface hardness comes close to ceramic. The Mina is designed for a long service life.
Built with the future in mind
A purpose-designed brewing chamber provides good temperature stability and keeps heat loss low. The pressure gauge shows the extraction at all times. Wear parts are planned for and easy to replace.
Colour options
The Mina comes in black, silver, green and red. The colour is on the brewing chamber.
The details in everyday use
You need hot water, for example from a kettle. For brewing at home, you will find the AURA series kettles from Varia.
We extract by weight ratio, with 1:2 as a starting point: 15 g of coffee gives around 30 g of espresso. After that, your taste decides. The pressure gauge shows you how the pressure builds as you press the lever down.
The Mina ships with a bottomless portafilter, a 49.5 mm mini tamper, a drip tray and an Allen key. A tamper with the Olympia logo for the Mina is also available in the Olympia Express collection.
At a glance
| Type | Manual lever espresso machine without electricity |
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| Brewing system | Piston system with integrated valve |
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| Brew head | Anodised |
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| Lever guide and fork | Electropolished stainless steel |
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| Pressure display | Pressure gauge |
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| Portafilter | Bottomless |
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| Tamper | Mini tamper, 49.5 mm |
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| Material | Aluminium, stainless steel, brass |
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| Mina dimensions (W × D × H) | 17 × 24 × 30 cm |
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| Mina weight | 2.5 kg |
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| Case with Mina (W × D × H) | 31 × 30 × 10 cm, 3.1 kg |
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| Power supply | None, only hot water needed |
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| Colours | Black, silver, green, red |
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| Scope of delivery according to Olympia Express | Mina, bottomless portafilter, mini tamper (49.5 mm), drip tray, Allen key, operating manual |
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| Manufacturer | Olympia Express, Schätti AG Metallwarenfabrik, Schwanden GL |
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Who the Mina is made for
For anyone who wants to make espresso on the go: in the camper, on a hike, by the lake, at the office. The Mina works without a power socket and, in its case, fits in the boot of a car. If you are looking for a lever machine for the kitchen, you will find the Cremina in our Olympia Express collection.
If you are still weighing up which machine suits you, our coffee machine advice tool can help. A free advice appointment in the showroom, by phone or online narrows down the choice. If you want to compare several machines side by side, book the espresso machine and grinder comparison in the showroom in Bern or Zurich – an option, not a requirement. Let us know your preferred model in advance at [email protected].
What goes with it
On the go, hand grinders suit the Mina because they need no electricity. For anyone who wants an affordable and precise hand grinder: Timemore or Comandante. More models, for example from 1Zpresso, are in our hand grinders.
For anyone who wants a compact and precise scale: Normcore. If you want an app, Bluetooth and a flow rate display: Acaia. For filter coffee on the go, the Aeropress or a dripper from Hario are a good fit.
Frequently asked questions about the Olympia Express Mina
How does the Olympia Express Mina work without electricity?
The Mina is a pure lever machine. You add hot water and freshly ground coffee and lift the lever. The integrated valve lets the water reach the coffee puck. When you press down, the valve closes and pressure builds. It needs no pump, rechargeable battery or batteries.
Which grind size and ratio suit the Mina?
An espresso grind, as with any portafilter machine. As a starting point, we recommend a weight ratio of 1:2, for example 15 g of coffee to around 30 g of espresso. After that, your taste decides. A hand grinder and a small scale make this possible on the go too.
Is the travel case included with the Mina?
Olympia Express lists the scope of delivery as the Mina, a bottomless portafilter, a mini tamper (49.5 mm), a drip tray, an Allen key and the operating manual. The travel case is not listed there. Whether it is included with your order, we are happy to tell you at [email protected].
Where is the Olympia Express Mina made and serviced?
Olympia Express (Schätti AG Metallwarenfabrik) builds the Mina in Schwanden in the Canton of Glarus. Olympia Express offers repairs and preventive maintenance in its own workshop in the Glarus region. According to the manufacturer, wear parts are easy to replace.
Can I see the Olympia Express Mina before buying?
In our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich Oerlikon (Hagenholzstrasse 50b) we show a wide selection, but not every model is on display at all times. Write to us before your visit at [email protected] and we will check whether the Mina is there. Click & Collect is available at both locations.
How quickly will the Mina be delivered?
Delivery takes 2–4 working days, throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein.
Tip from the roastery: For the Mina we recommend Cozy Chocolate and Nutty Delight – full-bodied, round, with notes of chocolate and nuts. For maximum body without acidity: Very Nutty. If you want to discover something fruity, reach for Wild Peach. Other beans work just as well. That is our recommendation, one of many.
