Grinds and Brews - With Excellent ResultsThe De'Longhi TrueBrew is a drip coffeemake with a built-in Burr grinder. It's an intelligent and intriguing brewer, not only for its excellent flavor, but for all the choices you have in a convenient and easy-to-use touch screen panel. We've been using this for a couple weeks and this is an in-depth review of their Truebrew system. We rate this machine a 5 out of 5; it consistently gives a great cup. De'Longhi says that TrueBrew 'Bean Extract' technology is their proprietary way to extract the best flavor from the beans. They have clearly done a great job at this - the drip coffee from this machine is as good as any brewer we have ever tried! I especially liked the smaller 3oz size, with a strong brew; it is 'expresso-like', without the work of an espresso machine. It is black with stainlless, and is (necessarily) a arge coffee maker. |
Our Favorite Part: | The control panel is impressive. There are a variety of cup sizes (3oz, 8oz, 12oz, 16oz, and 24oz). You can choose 3 levels of brewing (Light, Gold, Bold), as well as an Iced coffee mode, and finally to add your own ground beans. Adding your own beans means you could choose for example an Espresso roast, the 3oz size cup, and the strongest brew - for a near-Espresso like cup. I liked this very much. There are icons on the panel if the machine is low on beans or water, or needs servicing. The user interface is excellent; very clear and easy to use. |
The Grinder
Espresso-Style, Anyone?We have an Espresso (or two) each morning. Its a necessary part of staring the day. While the De'Longhi Truebrew is not an actual espresso machine, it has a mode that is 'Espresso Style' - and works very well. You choose the 3oz cup size, the Bold intensity, and use your favorite espresso beans. The result is a cup of very strong coffee that is similar to Espresso. I find it much quicker to pull a cup this way, than to use the Espresso machine; that time savings, and the simplicity, can help a lot on those busy (or sleepy) mornings. |
And Some Other Surprises
In terms of speed and noise, the Truebrew grinder is quieter than most - that surprised us, yet it is not slow. In fact overall, Truebrew seems faster than many Keurig type machines - and does not use plastic pods. Do you want older, potentially stale coffee grounds, and plastic pods for landfills - or do you want freshly ground coffee? We have compared; there really is a significant taste difference. If you have a chance to compare, try and comment below. You can also make delicious iced coffees with this unit.
One of the most sustainable brewers you will find; no filters, no plastic capsules, and easily-composted grounds.
Servicing the Machine
Drawbacks
Who Should Buy This Brewer?