The English translation has been provided by my favourite German architect, Matthias Suchert, a proud Cremina owner

Perfection of Craftsmanship

Another Jubilee – Olympia manufactures the Rolex of Expresso machines for over eighty years.

A perfect espresso is a complicated thing – it demands care. A couple of coffee capsules are not enough. A perfect espresso is made by hand: one grinds the beans, fills the portafilter, compacts it with the right amount of pressure and finally one locks the portafilter in the machine and waits 25 seconds, until the water has passed through the ground coffee. With this method – unlike any other method of brewing coffee – dissoluble oils and coloids – in which the fleeting aromatic compounds are bound – are also dissolved. An espresso has therefore a multitude of nuances of tastes compared to a cup of tea.

Olympia Express, situated in Mendrisio, manufactures the Rolex of coffee machines for over eighty years: outstanding Swiss craftsmanship, a manufacturer in the best sense of the word. We have placed the Maximatic model in our kitchen. Even the first sight of it is elevating. The Maximatic is very compact for a dual-circulation model – one where the hot water for coffee and steam for milk foam can be drawn simultaneously. Perfectly constructed stainless steel gleams, nothing rattles or jams. Everything, from the backlit extraction button with the little Olympia-man logo to the steam wand, possesses the aura of the indestructible. Even the water compartment is made from stainless steel, an excellent choice from a hygienic point of view.

The Maximatic sports two water compartments – one for the coffee (grouphead) and one for the steam wand- which are filled separately. A subtle hissing and spitting of the pressure valve when some water escapes from the boiler is one of the nice rituals during the heating-up phase.
Afterwards the Maximatic works almost silently – its pump is, in comparison to other Espresso Machines, extraordinarily quiet.

After four to five cups of prepared with coffee grinds of varying coarseness, have we reached the prefect Espresso. The only criticism on this machine is directed toward the portafilter: Firstly, it is only available with two spouts. This is not practical for a small Espresso cup, the portafilter enjoys to spill a little on this occasion. Secondly, the handle of the portafilter is a bit short for men’s hands – and since this thing gets hot at the business end, it is likely to burn one’s fingers. Generally, to bring it to the point: If it is about making Espresso machines, the Swiss are the better Italians.