Olympia "Mocca" grinder

These may look like a "toy" compared to the giant commercial grinders some of us have in our home set-ups, but with the beautiful original hand blown glass hopper sitting on top, there's no doubt they also look like a "jewel."  

Their small scale, and Spartan, no nonsense "Olympia Brown" color, make the already compact Cremina/Coffex/Maximatic of the era seem to tower over them.   And the paint scheme makes them look like Olympia sold them as part of a set.

For Olympia nerds who want to collect the whole vintage line-up, they are "must haves."

The do "look right" sitting next to a Cremina.  

But the small burrs (still available new, but these are still very sharp) and funny "kangaroo pouch" grounds holder in front, can be polarizing.  For some, it's annoying.  For others the Mocca is hopelessly charming.

You'll just have to embrace the quirkiness to make one your primary grinder.  Or have a very small working space that appreciates the "smallness." 

But one this is probably for sure.  You won't get tired of seeing it on your counter.  

This Mocca is one of the Olympias rebranded and sold by Pasquini, in Los Angeles.  Something no retailer would dream of doing today, with the cachet the Olympia logo built up over the ensuing years.  But this odd historical moment can also be your last chance at finding a "bargain" Olympia product, if the flea market/estate sale flippers overlook it because of the missing Olympia label.   (Yeah, it's the same machine with the silly Pasquini slogan on the side!)