The De’Longhi TrueBrew is an automatic drip coffee maker designed to simplify bean-to-cup brewing. It combines a built-in conical burr grinder, automatic dosing, several brew sizes and five coffee styles in one machine.
Our Take
The De’Longhi TrueBrew combines fresh grinding with one-touch brewing and six convenient cup sizes.
Quick Specs
| Machine Type | Drip Coffee Machine |
|---|---|
| Grinder | Built-in conical burr grinder |
| Capacity | 24 fluid ounces |
| Brew Sizes | 6 sizes |
| Brew Styles | 5 styles |
| Color | Stainless |
| Dimensions | 15″D × 12″W × 15.8″H |
Pros
- Built-in conical burr grinder
- One-touch brewing
- Six brew sizes
- Five brew styles
- Automatically grinds and doses beans
Cons
- Large countertop footprint
- Limited 24-ounce capacity
- More complex than a basic drip maker
De’Longhi TrueBrew Specifications
The De’Longhi TrueBrew combines a built-in coffee grinder with an automatic drip brewing system, giving you freshly ground coffee without a separate grinder.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Coffee type | Automatic drip coffee |
| Grinder | Built-in conical burr grinder |
| Brew sizes | 8, 12, 16, 24 oz; 40 oz carafe; 3 oz espresso style |
| Water tank | 60 oz / 1.8 L |
| Bean hopper | 8.8 oz / 250 g |
| Carafe | 40 oz / 1.2 L thermal carafe on carafe model |
| Dimensions | 12 × 15 × 15.8 in |
| Controls | Touch display |
The large water tank, bean hopper and optional thermal carafe make it practical for frequent coffee drinkers, while the built-in grinder eliminates an extra appliance on the countertop.
Built-In Burr Grinder & Bean Extract Technology: How Does TrueBrew Work?
De’Longhi TrueBrew grinds whole coffee beans immediately before brewing. Its built-in conical burr grinder works with Bean Extract Technology to automate grinding, dosing and brewing in a single process.
Key features include:
- Conical burr grinder — grinds whole beans automatically.
- Bean Extract Technology — manages the coffee dose and brewing process.
- Automatic operation — no manual measuring or separate grinder is needed.
- No coffee pods — uses whole beans instead of capsules.
- No paper filters — designed to brew without traditional disposable filters.
This setup makes TrueBrew particularly convenient for everyday coffee. You simply add beans and water, select your preferred settings, and the machine handles the rest.
Coffee Sizes & 5 Brew Styles: What Can De’Longhi TrueBrew Make?
TrueBrew offers a useful range of serving sizes, from a small single cup to a full carafe on the thermal-carafe model. The five brew styles are Light, Gold, Bold, Over Ice and Espresso Style.
- Light – a milder coffee profile
- Gold – a balanced everyday option
- Bold – stronger and more intense
- Over Ice – designed for iced coffee
- Espresso Style – a concentrated 3-oz serving
The combination of multiple sizes and brew styles makes TrueBrew more flexible than a basic drip coffee maker.
Coffee Quality: Does De’Longhi TrueBrew Make Good Coffee?
Yes. Coffee quality is one of TrueBrew’s strongest points. Using freshly ground beans gives it an advantage over many basic machines that rely on pre-ground coffee.
In independent testing, Tom’s Guide found that TrueBrew produced very good, consistent coffee and praised its built-in grinder and simple controls. The insulated carafe also performed well at keeping coffee warm.
However, expectations matter. TrueBrew is primarily a drip coffee maker, not a dedicated espresso machine. Its regular coffee modes are the stronger part of the system.
Over Ice & Espresso Style: How Good Are TrueBrew’s Specialty Modes?
TrueBrew includes two specialty options that make it more versatile than a standard drip coffee maker. Over Ice is designed specifically for iced coffee, while Espresso Style produces a small, concentrated serving.
What to expect:
- Over Ice — adjusts the brewing process for serving coffee over ice.
- Espresso Style — makes a concentrated 3-oz drink.
- Over Ice — a practical option for regular iced coffee at home.
- Espresso Style — closer to concentrated coffee than traditional espresso.
- True espresso — requires a dedicated espresso machine for proper pressure and extraction.
Overall, Over Ice is the more useful specialty mode, especially for iced-coffee drinkers. Espresso Style is a convenient extra, but it should not be considered a substitute for a dedicated espresso machine.
Water Tank, Bean Hopper & Machine Size
The TrueBrew has a 60-oz (1.8 L) water tank and an 8.8-oz (250 g) bean hopper, giving it enough capacity for regular daily use without constant refilling.
The carafe version adds a 40-oz (1.2 L) thermal carafe, making it more suitable when several people want coffee at once.
The machine measures approximately 12 × 15 × 15.8 inches, so it is not particularly compact. Counter space is worth considering before buying.
Touch Controls, Timer & Auto-On: Is TrueBrew Easy to Use?
TrueBrew is designed around one-touch operation. Its touch controls make it easy to select the desired coffee style and size without manually grinding or measuring beans.
A built-in clock and Auto-On function allow users to schedule brewing in advance.
This is particularly useful for a morning routine: load the machine, choose the settings and let TrueBrew handle the preparation.
Cleaning & Maintenance: Is De’Longhi TrueBrew Easy to Clean?
TrueBrew is reasonably easy to maintain for a coffee maker with an integrated grinder and automatic brewing system. It includes cleaning and descaling features that help simplify routine maintenance.
Key maintenance features:
- Automatic cleaning function for easier routine care.
- Descaling alert indicates when descaling is needed.
- Removable parts can be taken out for washing.
- No paper filters means less waste and no used filters after brewing.
- Regular cleaning helps maintain coffee quality and machine performance.
Overall, TrueBrew does require more care than a basic drip coffee maker, but its automated cleaning features make the process manageable.
De’Longhi TrueBrew Pros and Cons
De’Longhi TrueBrew stands out for its combination of whole-bean brewing, automatic grinding and multiple coffee options.
Pros
- Built-in conical burr grinder
- Fresh whole-bean brewing
- No pods or paper filters
- Six brew sizes
- Five brew styles
- Convenient touch controls
- Programmable Auto-On function
- Good everyday coffee quality
- Thermal carafe available
Cons
- More expensive than many traditional drip coffee makers
- Takes up considerable counter space
- Espresso Style does not replace a real espresso machine
- More components to maintain than a simple drip brewer
Overall, TrueBrew is best suited to people who want the convenience of an automatic bean-to-cup system without moving to a full superautomatic espresso machine.
Is De’Longhi TrueBrew Worth It?
The De’Longhi TrueBrew is worth considering if you want fresh, bean-to-cup coffee without the work of grinding and measuring beans yourself. Its biggest strengths are convenience, brewing flexibility and the ability to make different coffee styles from whole beans.
TrueBrew is a good choice if you:
- Prefer freshly ground coffee over pods or pre-ground beans.
- Want a built-in grinder and automatic brewing in one machine.
- Drink different coffee sizes or enjoy iced coffee.
- Value one-touch controls and programmable brewing.
- Need a larger-capacity machine for regular daily use.
You may want another coffee maker if you:
- Mainly want a simple, inexpensive drip brewer.
- Have limited countertop space.
- Expect true espresso from the machine.
- Do not need multiple brew styles or an integrated grinder.
Verdict: De’Longhi TrueBrew is a versatile automatic drip coffee maker that combines fresh grinding, flexible brewing and convenient controls.