Cafedenda Senior Member Joined: 25 Feb 2011 Posts: 14 Location: Socal Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Brasilia Mini Classic,... Grinder: Wega Conical, Mazzer SJ
Posted Fri Aug 3, 2012, 1:34pm Subject: Re: slight issue with older Olympia Cremina
I also experienced water shooting out the side of the screen, I found that the screen was not installed deep or tight enough onto the cylinder. The screen on mine is really really tight and I couldn't feel the usual snap that most owners should feel when snapping the screen back on. From a side view, I saw that the screen was not level to the group head. What I did was to use the bottom of my flat tamper to help push the screen in. I actually tried various methods and finally thought of the tamper but, even then, it was difficult to know if the screen went in deep enough.
Yes, as everyone mentioned, you need to know the pressure reading of that boiler. I would lower it to a peak of 0.95 bar or so per Rob's recommendation. I also recommend that you figure out a way to read the group head's temperature per Gene's suggestion. This is one machine that I am still learning after about 3 months of usage.
IMAWriter Senior Member Joined: 4 Jul 2002 Posts: 5,475 Location: Brentwood, TN Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Nothing at the moment Grinder: Vario-W,Preciso-Esatto/KyM... Vac Pot: Adcraft SS, Yama 8 cup Drip: Brazen.Chemex, Hario, Clever... Roaster: Behmor 1600, CO/UFO combo
Posted Fri Aug 3, 2012, 1:59pm Subject: Re: slight issue with older Olympia Cremina
Cafedenda Said:
I also experienced water shooting out the side of the screen, I found that the screen was not installed deep or tight enough onto the cylinder. The screen on mine is really really tight and I couldn't feel the usual snap that most owners should feel when snapping the screen back on. From a side view, I saw that the screen was not level to the group head. What I did was to use the bottom of my flat tamper to help push the screen in. I actually tried various methods and finally thought of the tamper but, even then, it was difficult to know if the screen went in deep enough.
Yes, as everyone mentioned, you need to know the pressure reading of that boiler. I would lower it to a peak of 0.95 bar or so per Rob's recommendation. I also recommend that you figure out a way to read the group head's temperature per Gene's suggestion. This is one machine that I am still learning after about 3 months of usage.
Posted Sat Aug 4, 2012, 7:03am Subject: Re: slight issue with older Olympia Cremina
thanks for all the info. ill try some of the suggestions & post the results.
1st thing im going to try is to reinstall my screen (eventhough it snapped into place the first time & feels tight)
it seems all the spraying happens only when i lift the lever all the way to the top. When i lift just past half way, i get a pretty uniformed shower coming through the screen.
Posted Sat Aug 4, 2012, 8:40am Subject: Re: slight issue with older Olympia Cremina
I'm going to go another way with this. My first question when I read this was, "So what's the problem?" My Cremina spits water and steam when I lit the lever with out the portafilter in place. My next question was, "Why?"
Looking at the system your boiler is producing water that is some temperature above the flash point of water at atmospheric pressure (the .65 - .9 are bar pressure above atmospheric). As it exits the boiler it enters an open system, the chamber between the piston and the screen. Some of that water flashes to steam as the water and steam mixture quickly exits the dispersion screen. There isn't much chance for contact with the walls of the group for the transfer of heat to cool the water/steam down below atmospheric flash point. With the portafilter in place packed with coffee the water enters the chamber and builds up pressure against the coffee (raising the flashpoint) and at the same time the flow rate goes to zero allowing the water/steam mixture to transfer heat into the group and cool to less than atmospheric flashpoint. You press the water through the coffee and it comes out as espresso.
I will recommend you invest in OE's wand gauge to set your Pstat and I know Doug in one of his Cremina videos shows exactly which way to rotate the adjustment nut but if you pull of the case and fire it up (Careful with the exposed wiring) you can see the pstat working and figure out the correct adjustment.
Well,, shots from a lever can and usually do differ in density and crema yield from those of a HX or DB. Most lever heads are not crema-heads. LOL I savor the layers of flavor and subtleties I get from my Cremina I didn't quite get from 4 years with my Anita, a GREAT HX machine. The shots from Anita were very satisfying, I just wanted to try the lever experience, and since then have never looked back.
Maybe you're expecting too much?
First off, get the gauge and make sure you're dialed in. The only other thing could be your group gasket was inserted upside down.
Posted Mon Aug 6, 2012, 4:44am Subject: Re: slight issue with older Olympia Cremina
I think I figured it out. I took a closer look at the dispersion screen & it has a few open slits on the edge that the water shoots through when flowing through the group. Not sure of the purpose of these slits. Maybe to make snapping it on & off a little easier or maybe purposely wanting to make the heated water shoot sideways to heat the inside of the bell?
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