De'Longhi TrueBrew Review: Is It Worth It?

Good to have you, I'm Sam, with a look at the TrueBrew. We serve the batch brew in Midwood every day, and customers ask about De'Longhi. The De'Longhi TrueBrew is an automatic coffee maker with a built-in conical burr grinder. It grinds, doses and brews one cup from whole beans at the press of a button. It uses no pods.

The coffee is rich and not bitter. Six sizes and five styles cover a small espresso-style cup up to a 24 oz (710 ml) tumbler. Real espresso is out of reach, and the machine has no frother or hot water function.

The TrueBrew costs $499.95 and has a fixed grind. After brew styles and cleaning routine, I compare the Nespresso Vertuo Plus, and no brand paid me.

What Is the De'Longhi TrueBrew Coffee Maker?

The De'Longhi TrueBrew is an automatic drip coffee maker with a built-in conical burr grinder that brews one cup at a time from whole beans. One button starts the grind, the dose and the brew. The machine uses no pods and no paper filters.

De'Longhi is an Italian appliance maker founded in 1902 and based in Treviso. The TrueBrew is built for regular coffee drinkers. It does not suit people who want cappuccinos or lattes, because the machine has no milk frother.

The machine measures about 16 x 15.5 x 12 in (40.6 x 39.4 x 30.5 cm) and weighs 18.9 lb (8.6 kg). It draws 1500 W. A kitchen cabinet shorter than 16 in (41 cm) will not clear the top.

How Do the TrueBrew Models Differ?

The TrueBrew models differ mainly by carafe, because one brews into a cup and the other adds a 40 oz (1.2 L) thermal carafe. Both models use the same grinder and brew system. Both models also share the same control panel.

The base model has no carafe and no warming plate. It brews straight into a cup or a travel mug, so it makes one mug at a time. De'Longhi sells it in black as CAM51015B and in matte black as CAM51025MB.

The carafe model is sold as CAM51035M in stainless steel. Its thermal carafe lets the machine fill a full pot for guests. It lists at $699.95, which is $200 more than the base model.

TrueBrew Models:

Model	Carafe	List Price
CAM51015B (black)	None	$499.95
CAM51025MB (matte black)	None	Same base model
CAM51035M (stainless steel)	40 oz (1.2 L) thermal	$699.95

How Does the De'Longhi TrueBrew Work?

The De'Longhi TrueBrew works by grinding, dosing and brewing each cup on demand with a system De'Longhi calls Bean Extract Technology. The user picks a size and a style. Then the user presses Brew.

The grinder crushes only the beans one cup needs. The machine doses those grounds into an internal brew group and pushes hot water through them. No paper filter and no basket are involved.

After the water passes through, the used grounds drop into a container inside the machine as compact pucks.

A touch control panel sets the size, the style and the clock. It also sets the water hardness and the brew temperature.

First use starts with a rinse of all removable parts. A water-only brew then flushes dust out of the machine. The machine also asks for the water hardness during setup.

Does the TrueBrew Grind Its Own Beans?

Yes. The TrueBrew grinds its own beans with a stainless steel conical burr grinder under an 8.8 oz (250 g) hopper. The grinder starts when a brew starts, so every cup uses fresh grounds.

De'Longhi fixes the grind size, and the grinder has no setting to change it. The owner never has to adjust anything. That suits drinkers who want no settings. It does not suit drinkers who like to tune their grind.

The hopper does not lift out, so cleaning it takes a few steps. The owner tilts the machine and brushes the beans out. A small brush does the job.

Very light roasts put more strain on a built-in grinder. Built-in grinders are typically less powerful than standalone grinders. A worn built-in grinder cannot be fixed by swapping a part. The maker has to repair it.

What Brew Sizes and Styles Does the De'Longhi TrueBrew Offer?

The De'Longhi TrueBrew offers six brew sizes from 3 oz (90 ml) to 24 oz (710 ml) and five brew styles. The sizes suit a small espresso-style cup, a regular mug and a travel tumbler.

The six sizes are 3, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 oz (90, 240, 355, 475, 590 and 710 ml). The 3 oz size is for the Espresso Style brew. A fold-out cup shelf lifts small cups. The shelf flips up and out of the way for travel mugs. Headroom under the spout fits tall insulated mugs.

The machine makes coffee in five styles:

Light: Brews a weaker cup.
Gold: Follows the Specialty Coffee Association ratio of 1 part coffee to 18 parts water.
Bold: Brews a stronger cup.
Over Ice: Brews a concentrate that melts into the ice.
Espresso Style: Brews a 3 oz (90 ml) cup with thin crema.

A three-step temperature setting adds one more control. It runs from 1 for low to 3 for high.

Does the TrueBrew Take Pre-Ground Coffee?

Yes. The TrueBrew takes pre-ground coffee through a bypass chute behind the bean hopper. The control panel has a ground coffee icon. Without it, the machine defaults to grinding beans.

The chute only works for some cup sizes. Pre-ground coffee is allowed for the 3, 8, 12 and 16 oz (90, 240, 355 and 475 ml) sizes. The 20 and 24 oz sizes need beans. A scoop comes in the box to measure the grounds.

The chute suits an odd cup of decaf. The owner does not have to fill the hopper with a second type of bean. Moisture can clog a bypass chute, so a dry chute keeps it working. A red icon tells the owner when the funnel holds too little coffee.

TrueBrew Sizes and Coffee Types:

Size	Whole Beans	Pre-Ground
3 oz (90 ml)	Yes	Yes
8 oz (240 ml)	Yes	Yes
12 oz (355 ml)	Yes	Yes
16 oz (475 ml)	Yes	Yes
20 oz (590 ml)	Yes	No
24 oz (710 ml)	Yes	No

Does the De'Longhi TrueBrew Make Good Coffee?

Yes. The De'Longhi TrueBrew makes good coffee that is rich and not bitter, and the brew style changes the taste. The cups hold their strength at every size. Chocolate and caramel notes come through with a medium roast.

The Light, Bold, Gold and Over Ice styles each give a different cup:

Light: This style brews a weaker cup. Some drinkers find it watery, and others prefer it.
Bold: This style brews a strong cup. It reminds some drinkers of French roast.
Gold: This style uses the Specialty Coffee Association ratio of 1 part coffee to 18 parts water. The result is a balanced cup. A medium roast can taste plain at Gold.
Over Ice: This style brews a concentrate over ice. The cup tastes closer to smooth cold brew than to fruity Japanese-style iced coffee. It comes out mild.

The right style depends on whether a drinker wants a weaker, stronger, balanced or iced cup.

Does the TrueBrew Brew Hot Enough?

Yes. The TrueBrew brews hot enough at its highest temperature setting, and some cups come out very hot. The setting runs from 1 for low to 3 for high.

A fresh cup can taste too hot to judge the flavor. A minute of cooling brings out the flavor. Setting 3 is the hottest option for owners who find a cup lukewarm.

The base model has no keep-warm plate, so a cup cools as it sits. An insulated mug slows that loss. It keeps a 24 oz (710 ml) cup warm longer.

Can the TrueBrew Make Real Espresso?

No. The TrueBrew cannot make real espresso, because its Espresso Style is a small 3 oz (90 ml) coffee with a thin layer of crema. The brew group has only limited variable pressure.

The Espresso Style drink tastes rich and complex for a coffee maker. The crema, the light foam on top, is thin but present. The Espresso Style and Bold settings make the strongest cups.

The machine has no milk frother and no hot water function. An americano needs hot water, and a latte needs steamed milk. Both drinks therefore need a second machine.

De'Longhi's Magnifica and the Nespresso Vertuo Plus suit buyers who want real espresso.

What Do De'Longhi TrueBrew Reviews Say?

De'Longhi TrueBrew reviews say the machine is easy to use and versatile, with ratings between 3.5 and 4.2 out of 5. Buyers praise the build, the look and the range of sizes. The complaints focus on leaks, weak coffee and cleanup.

The two main rating sources differ by 0.7 points. The rating averages 3.5 out of 5 across 938 reviews on Amazon. It averages 4.2 out of 5 across 1,652 reviews on De'Longhi's own site.

Outside experts rate the machine well. The machine is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association, which few coffee makers are. A full review scored it 4 out of 5.

What Do Owners Like About the TrueBrew?

What owners like about the TrueBrew is easy operation, a quality build, many sizes and fresh daily coffee. The control panel needs no manual for most tasks.

The machine makes no pod waste and uses no paper filters. Owners who dislike plastic pods value this zero-waste setup. The grounds go into a small container, which is easy to empty.

The cup headroom and the six sizes let one machine fill a small espresso cup or a travel tumbler. Owners do not need a second machine for different cup types.

A built-in timer starts a cup before the owner is up. The coffee is ready and fresh when the day begins.

What Are the Common TrueBrew Complaints?

The common TrueBrew complaints cover leaks, weak coffee and messy cleanup when the machine is not cleaned on a routine. Size draws complaints too. The machine is almost 16 in (40.6 cm) tall.

The water tank sits on the side of the machine. The tank is clear plastic, so sunlight lets algae grow. The tank holds 61 oz (1.8 L).

The machine has no hot water function, no milk frother, no keep-warm plate and no water filter. It has no grind adjustment either. Buyers who want any of these look elsewhere.

Missing Features:

Hot water function
Milk frother
Keep-warm plate
Water filter
Grind adjustment

How Do You Clean the De'Longhi TrueBrew?

Owners clean the De'Longhi TrueBrew by rinsing the removable brew group under warm water each day and emptying the drip tray, the grounds container and the water container. The brew group must dry fully before it goes back in.

A red icon lights when the grounds container is full. The grounds are compact pucks, so they lift out without a mess. After two or three days the pucks harden and are easy to bin.

The owner also wipes the spout and rinses the water tank. The drip tray, the containers and the funnel wash with a damp cloth or in the sink.

Cleanup takes more work than a paper-filter drip maker. The machine brews at about 65.8 dB, which is not quiet.

Daily Cleaning Steps:

Rinse the removable brew group under warm water.
Let the brew group dry fully before it goes back in.
Empty the drip tray and the grounds container.
Wipe the coffee spout.
Rinse the water tank.

How Often Does the TrueBrew Need Descaling?

The TrueBrew does need descaling as often as its alert light says, which depends on the water hardness setting. The light comes on when scale builds up. The owner sets the hardness during setup.

A test strip in the box shows whether the water is soft, slightly hard, hard or very hard. The owner enters the result on the control panel. Harder water leaves more scale behind, so the machine triggers the alert sooner.

The machine has no water filter. Nothing removes minerals before the water enters the machine, so the hardness setting matters more. A descaling run takes about 30 minutes once the descale button lights.

The descaling solution is De'Longhi EcoDecalk, and the box includes a descaler. The manual lists the steps.

How Does the De'Longhi TrueBrew Compare With Pod Machines?

The De'Longhi TrueBrew matches pod machines for convenience and beats them on bean choice and waste. One button brews a cup, as on a Nespresso or a Keurig. The cup comes from fresh grounds, not a sealed pod.

Because the TrueBrew uses grounds, it makes no plastic pod waste. Any whole bean works, so the owner is not tied to one brand of pod.

That freedom has a cost in daily upkeep. A pod machine has no grounds container to empty, but the TrueBrew needs that chore every day.

Taste is the last point of difference. The Nespresso Vertuo Plus makes a closer match to real espresso, while the TrueBrew makes drip-style coffee.

Does the TrueBrew Replace a Separate Grinder and Drip Maker?

Yes. The TrueBrew replaces a separate grinder and drip maker for buyers who never adjust the grind. Its price sits in line with other drip makers that brew to the Specialty Coffee Association gold standard. Those makers also need a burr grinder, so the buyer pays for two machines instead of one.

The saving has a cost in control. The TrueBrew has no grind setting, so the owner cannot tune the cup by grind size. A standalone grinder offers that control, which is why buyers who like to adjust the grind may still want one.

The built-in grinder also changes what happens when it fails. A standalone grinder can be swapped out for another. A grinder built into the maker cannot, so the maker must repair it. That risk grows with very light roasts.

How Much Does the De'Longhi TrueBrew Cost?

The De'Longhi TrueBrew costs $499.95 for the base model and $699.95 for the CAM51035M model with a thermal carafe. The price covers the grinder, the brew system and the descaler in the box.

Sale prices bring the cost down to $449.95 for the base model and $599.95 for the carafe model. De'Longhi's own store and Amazon both list the base model sale price. A buyer who waits for a sale can save $50 on the base model and $100 on the carafe model.

Four retailers sell the machine: De'Longhi's US store, Amazon, Target and Williams Sonoma. Even at sale prices, the machine is not a budget buy.

Does the TrueBrew Come With a Warranty?

Yes. The TrueBrew comes with a warranty of up to 3 years once the owner registers the machine. De'Longhi lists the term on its product page.

The warranty covers manufacturer defects. De'Longhi handles the repair or the replacement. Registration happens on De'Longhi's site.

The built-in grinder is part of the machine. A grinder fault is a warranty repair, not a part swap. That makes the 3 years more useful.

Is the De'Longhi TrueBrew Worth It?

Yes. The De'Longhi TrueBrew is worth it for drip drinkers who want fresh, one-button coffee and accept a high price and a fixed grind. The machine is easy to use and flexible.

The machine grinds beans and brews in one step, so the coffee is always made from fresh grounds. It needs no pods and no paper filters. Cheaper coffee makers exist, but they lack a built-in grinder.

The brew options are wide. The machine offers six sizes and five styles, and a built-in timer lets a user schedule a brew. The Specialty Coffee Association certifies the machine, and it has a 3 year warranty.

The grinder is built in, so it cannot be swapped. The machine also has no frother and no hot water function.

The cost and size add to these limits. The price is $499.95, and the body is bulky. Buyers who accept those terms get a simple, fresh brew.

Pros:

One-button fresh coffee
Six sizes and five styles
No pods or paper filters
Built-in timer
Warranty of up to 3 years

Cons:

High price
Bulky body
Fixed grind
No frother or hot water function

Who Should Buy the TrueBrew?

Single-cup drinkers who want fresh beans should buy the TrueBrew, which needs no separate grinder or pods. The buyer needs counter space and a high enough cabinet.

Espresso fans, small-kitchen owners and budget buyers skip the TrueBrew. The machine has no frother, no hot water function and no grind control.

Buyers who want real espresso look at De'Longhi's Magnifica. Buyers who want a pot for guests choose the thermal carafe model.

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