Olympia Express Cremina – Lever Espresso Machine, Made in Switzerland
The only sound you'll hear from this machine is the gentle hum of the boiler warming up. Then you take the lever in your hand, pull it up, and water flows into the brew chamber. You wait. You push down. You feel the resistance of nine bars in your shoulders, in your hands, and under the bottomless portafilter, crema forms that you made yourself. The Cremina has remained almost unchanged since 1967 – and that's precisely its statement.
The New York Times and the Neue Zürcher Zeitung have called it the best espresso machine in the world. In Glarus, at Schätti AG Metallwarenfabrik in Schwanden, it is still handcrafted today. Stainless steel. Chrome. Brass. No error-prone electronics. A machine designed not for three or four years, but for three or four generations.
What makes the Cremina special
Pre-infusion Piston System – Craftsmanship in a Cup
When the lever arm is pulled up, a small amount of water is drawn into the piston chamber and flows into the tamped espresso grounds, allowing them to pre-infuse. When manually pressed down, the hot water is forced through the espresso grounds. This proven extraction method, combined with your growing experience as a Cremina owner, guarantees an espresso where crema, aroma, and taste create a harmonious delight for the eyes, nose, and palate. The nine bar pressure required for a perfect espresso is generated by your hand on the lever. This is not a limitation, this is the Cremina.
Brew Group made of Chrome-Plated Brass
The brew group – piston and portafilter – is made of brass, chrome-plated, and highly polished. The extra-long steam wand and steam nozzle made of chrome steel increase durability and facilitate cleaning. The electrically heated, top-fill chrome steel AISI 314 L boiler has a capacity of 1.8 liters, sufficient for 20 cups of classic espresso. Boiler pressure is factory-set to 0.7 to 0.8 bar, brewing temperature 92 °C in the brew head. High-performance stainless steel tubular heating element with thermal fuse. High-quality technical plastic seals.
The Best Espresso Machine in the World – for Almost 60 Years
It's not just the NYT and the NZZ that have written this. For 40 years now, Olympia Express has been receiving fan mail from all over the world. What the Cremina can do, only the Cremina can: The espresso from your Cremina will always be uniquely yours. A small but fine difference – and a real thing for every espresso lover. Nobody needs a Cremina. You want it – or not. Those who want it know why.
All Features at a Glance
Lever espresso machine with pre-infusion piston system since 1967. Brew group made of chrome-plated brass, highly polished. Boiler 1.8 liters chrome steel AISI 314 L, top-fill, sufficient for approx. 20 cups. Boiler pressure 0.7 to 0.8 bar, brewing temperature 92 °C, brewing pressure 9 bar generated by manual lever. High-performance stainless steel tubular heating element with thermal fuse. Extra-long chrome steel steam wand and steam nozzle. High-tech seals made of high-quality technical plastics. Available in anthracite, red, white.
At a Glance
| Type |
Lever espresso machine with pre-infusion piston system |
| Brew Group |
Chrome-plated brass, highly polished |
| Boiler |
1.8 L Chrome steel AISI 314 L, top-fill |
| Boiler Pressure |
0.7–0.8 Bar (factory set) |
| Brewing Temperature |
92 °C in the brew head |
| Brewing Pressure |
9 Bar – manually generated by the lever |
| Heating Element |
Stainless steel tubular heating element with thermal fuse |
| Steam Wand |
Extra-long chrome steel steam wand |
| Housing Material |
Stainless steel, chrome, brass |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) |
20 × 27 × 33 cm |
| Weight |
11 kg |
| Power Supply |
220–240 V / 50 Hz, 1000 W (alternatively 120 V / 60 Hz / 850 W) |
| Cable |
160 cm |
| Colors |
Anthracite, Red, White |
| Scope of Delivery |
Funnel, portafilter, 1- and 2-cup spouts, 1- and 2-cup baskets, tamper, owner's manual |
| Origin |
Schwanden, Canton Glarus, Switzerland |
Who the Cremina is Made For
The Cremina is for anyone who wants to feel the craftsmanship in the cup themselves. Those who want the pressure build-up in their own hands, who want to consciously dose the pre-infusion, who take a little responsibility for the espresso with every movement of the lever – will find a machine here that takes nothing away and puts nothing in between. This takes some practice. But the espresso from your Cremina will become more and more your own with each repetition. This is our observation, others see it differently. For those who want a more consistent lever experience with spring assistance, check out the Cremina SL.
Accessories that Match the Cremina
A lever machine thrives on a precise grinder. For those looking for an affordable yet great electric grinder, the Varia VS3 is an excellent choice. Those making the leap to a premium grinder will find their endgame in the Weber Workshops EG-1 or the Option-O Lagom series. For hand grinders: Comandante and Timemore are two legitimate paths – both precise, both beautiful.
For scales, we offer the compact and reliable option via the Normcore Collection, and the premium option with app and flow rate display via the Acaia Collection. Tampers, puck screens, WDT tools, dosing cups: Normcore for affordability, Weber Workshops for premium. Consulting tool for grinder and machine selection: Coffee Machine Comparison and Consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Olympia Express Cremina
What is the difference between the Cremina and the Cremina SL?
The Cremina operates purely manually: you generate the 9 bar brewing pressure with your hand on the lever. The Cremina SL additionally has a pressure spring in the brew group, which ensures constant brewing pressure. Boiler pressure Cremina 0.7–0.8 bar, Cremina SL 1.1–1.2 bar. Both machines share the same base, the aroma experience is distinctly different – the Cremina is craftsmanship, the SL is spring-assisted.
Where is the Cremina built?
In Schwanden in the canton of Glarus, at Schätti AG Metallwarenfabrik. Olympia Express produces by hand, with all components from their own workshop. The core of the Cremina has remained unchanged since 1967.
How long does it take to get used to a lever machine?
Honestly: a few weeks, until you develop a feel for the pressure on the lever. Pre-infusion and pressing down are both movements that become more precise with practice. That's precisely the appeal – every shot is yours. When ordering from the Coffee Coaching Club, you receive a free 60-minute private barista course in Bern, Zurich, or online when you purchase a coffee machine priced CHF 1500 or more.
Where can I buy or see the Cremina live?
Order online via coffeecoachingclub.ch with delivery in 2–4 business days to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Discover it in person in our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44, 3011 Bern) and Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b, 8050 Zürich). Click and Collect is possible at both locations. Financing available.
Who services a Cremina?
Service and repairs are handled by Olympia Express itself in Schwanden or by authorized Swiss service partners. Cremina models over 40 years old are still in daily use today – spare parts are available for decades from their in-house workshop.
Which beans are suitable for the Cremina?
From our coffee roastery, we recommend for the vast majority the Cozy Chocolate or the Nutty Delight – dense, chocolatey, with the sweetness that a lever espresso brings out beautifully in the cup. For maximum body without acidity, the Very Nutty. For the curious who enjoy a fruity profile, the Wild Peach.
Roastery Tip from our Coffee Roastery
The Cremina is a machine that often fascinates in the showroom – not because it's technically the maximum, but because it does something few other machines do: it gives you responsibility. We notice that the first few weeks with a Cremina are different from any other machine. You get to know the bean, not through clicks and buttons, but through your own lever. For beans, we stick with the Cozy Chocolate for everyday use – the combination of medium roast, caramel, and chocolate harmonizes particularly well with the Cremina's flavor profile. Espresso is complex, but not rocket science. Let's just enjoy.
