Olympia Express Tamping Mat for Cremina – Swiss Silicone Pad, Made in Switzerland
You place the portafilter on the mat, the ground coffee is distributed, you place the tamper on top and press down – and nothing slips, nothing scratches, nothing vibrates on your wooden counter. A good tamping mat is one of those small tools that have a greater impact in everyday life than their price suggests. It is the connection between the table and the tamper pressure, and its job is seemingly trivial: to not be in the way.
What makes this mat special
Protects counter and portafilter
Tamping creates constant downward pressure, often on delicate surfaces – wooden counters, stone slabs, glass surfaces. The silicone mat absorbs this pressure without leaving marks. At the same time, it protects the rim of the portafilter, which would otherwise rest directly on wood or stone.
Non-slip and stable
Silicone has the advantage of creating grip even on smooth surfaces, without sticking. You can lay the mat down, it stays put. You can place the portafilter in it, it won't tip over. You can tamp without anything slipping.
Swiss Manufacture
Like the Cremina itself, this mat comes from Schwanden in the canton of Glarus. Typically Olympia: no logos, no superfluous designs, just a tool that does its job.
At a glance
| Material |
Silicone (food-safe, heat-resistant) |
| Function |
Tamping, resting portafilter, protecting counter |
| Cleaning |
Washable, dishwasher-safe |
| Compatibility |
Cremina tamper 49 mm and Puck Prep Tool 49 mm (official Olympia Express spec) |
| Origin |
Schwanden, Canton Glarus, Switzerland |
Two ways to a tamping mat – an honest comparison
Affordable and solid: Normcore
The Normcore Tamping Mat has been the affordable classic for years. Silicone, non-slip, well-made – it does its job. For anyone who simply wants a functional tamping mat, without the Swiss manufacturing surcharge.
Swiss Original: Olympia Express
This mat here. Slightly higher quality craftsmanship, from the same Swiss manufacturer as your Cremina. For anyone who wants the entire setup to be seamless – machine, tamper, mat, all from Schwanden.
Our opinion: Both work. The Olympia mat is a bit more premium, the Normcore mat is a bit cheaper. For 90% of all Cremina owners, it's a matter of aesthetics, not function.
Who this mat is for
For anyone who wants to protect their counter and values a coordinated Swiss setup. Anyone who regularly tamps with the Cremina (or another home espresso machine) and doesn't want to think about scratches on the work surface every time will benefit from a good tamping mat. It is one of the cheapest tools in the setup with the highest everyday utility.
Accessories that fit the Cremina setup
The original tamper for Cremina (49 mm red or black) from the Olympia Express Collection. Affordable tamper with spring calibration from the Normcore Collection, premium from the Weber Workshops Collection. For puck distribution: the Olympia Puck Prep Tool 49 mm or a Normcore WDT Tool. For grind quality: grinders from our Grinder Collection.
Frequently asked questions
Does the mat only fit the Cremina?
It has Cremina in its name because it comes from Olympia's Cremina accessory range, where it's officially designed for the Cremina tamper (49 mm) and the Puck Prep Tool 49 mm. As a flat table and pressure pad, it also works with most other portafilters in practice, though Olympia Express doesn't officially confirm other sizes.
How do I clean the tamping mat?
Washing under warm water is usually sufficient. With intensive use, it can also go in the dishwasher – silicone is heat-resistant and dishwasher-safe.
What is the difference to the Normcore tamping mat?
Functionally very similar. The Olympia mat is slightly higher quality and comes from Swiss manufacturing, the Normcore mat is slightly cheaper and from Asian production. For most home setups, both are perfectly adequate – this is more a question of aesthetics than function.
Where can I buy the tamping mat or see it live?
Online via coffeecoachingclub.ch, throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein. On-site in our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44, 3011 Bern) and Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b, 8050 Zurich). Drop us a quick line at [email protected] before your visit, and we will check whether the product you have in mind is currently there.
Roastery Tip
A tamping mat is one of those tools that no one thinks about at first – and that everyone takes for granted after the first month of home espresso. We use both variants (Olympia and Normcore). Both do their job. The decision is more: "Do I want the entire Cremina setup from Schwanden?" or "An affordable solid solution is enough for me?" Both answers are correct. No stress, no wrong answer.
