Olympia Cremina Group Head Complete Assembly - 250402

Fits our Cremina perfectly, we had inherited a damaged group head on our Cremina (newer version) almost worn through at the top, This one seems a bit different with some visible washers to prevent wear and I believe it has a stainless steel piston (last one was brass) but I have not opened up the group yet. No more wobble in the lever and very happy with the quality and service from Cerini Coffee. We had trouble ordering it from Switzerland, but despite that altogether very satisfied.

I bought an older used machine for practically nothing that had a completely trashed group head. (very worn slot, damaged screen, etc) I decided to get a new group for it.

The quality of the new group is nothing short of excellent, with some very good improvements. The new style fork and pins look like they will help eliminate the problem of wear on the top of the group that plagued so many machines when there wasn't enough lubrication. The new pin design keeps the fork centered, and it looks like there are rubber/silicon washers on the rear pin to prevent rubbing. The lever operates smooth with perfect alignment and no sideways play.

A more standard, easily removable dispersion screen means that you don't have to guard that old "never to be found again" screen with your life! I also saw that you can service the piston gaskets from the bottom, once you remove the screen, since the piston now screws into the piston rod.

The old group has the portafilter insert at 5 o'clock, and tighten to 4-3:30. This one inserts at 7 o'clock, and tightens to 5. A little weird to have it pass under the lever. I wonder why they chose that? Maybe that's a standard with other machines. The other thing I noticed is that this group seems to heat up faster. There is a hole above where the syphon tube connects, and I wonder if this is a steam hole, and the group preheated with steam? My other machine with an old group doesn't have that hole, and I give the group 2 quick flushes to get it to…