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How to Use DeLonghi TrueBrew (2026): Step-by-Step
Fill the water tank, add beans, choose your size and style, position your cup, and press Brew. TrueBrew handles the grinding and dosing, but it still needs regular emptying and cleaning.
Still comparing? Our Best Single Serve Coffee Maker with Grinder (2026) gives you a side-by-side look at speed, brew quality, cleanup, and pod flexibility.
From beans to your first cup
Load, select, brew, then clear the collection area
Step 1 Prepare
- Check your model manual
- Complete first-use rinsing
Step 2 Load
- Fill the water tank
- Add whole beans
Step 3 Select and brew
- Choose size and style
- Place cup; press Brew
Step 4 Maintain
- Empty grounds and water
- Follow cleaning and descale prompts
Result
Freshly ground drip coffee without measuring a dose for each cup.
Quick answer
For everyday coffee, fill and seat the tank, load whole beans, select a size and brew style, then press Brew with a cup beneath both spouts. Complete first-use rinsing before drinking your first cup. Follow the CAM51025MB quick-start guide and manual for setup and control details.
What you’ll need
Have whole beans, fresh drinking water, and a vessel larger than your selected drink ready. Keep the model-specific quick-start guide nearby for the initial rinse. Use De’Longhi’s TrueBrew resource center for setup and maintenance help rather than instructions for a different coffee machine.
- Whole beans: Keep grounds out of the bean hopper.
- A suitable mug: Allow extra room for ice or milk.
- A rinse container: Use the capacity your quick-start guide specifies.
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Step-by-step: setup, brewing, and cleanup
Complete the initial rinse before making coffee, then work through water, beans, size, style, cup placement, and Brew in that order. The steps below follow De’Longhi’s CAM51025MB guidance. For a different CAM510 version, use its own manual where controls or removable parts differ.
1. Prepare and rinse
Remove packaging and prepare the removable parts as the quick-start guide directs. Place the machine on a stable counter, connect it, and complete the prescribed first-use water cycles. Don’t treat that rinse water as a drink.
2. Load water and beans
Fill the tank with fresh drinking water up to its marked limit, then seat it fully. Add whole beans to the hopper and close the lid. Water goes in the tank, never in the grinder.
3. Select size and style
Use the size selector for 8, 12, 16, 20, or 24 oz; the sixth listed size is 3 oz Espresso Style. The five listed styles are Light, Gold, Bold, Over Ice, and Espresso Style. These aren’t every possible size/style combination; follow the available panel selections.
I’d start with Gold so you have a clear starting point, then change only the style next time. Size determines how much room you need in the cup; style changes the brewing choice.
4. Position your cup and press Brew
Center a vessel beneath both spouts, using the cup support as directed for its height. Confirm the selected volume fits, wait until the machine is ready, and press Brew. Leave the cup in place until delivery finishes.
5. Make an Over Ice drink
Select Over Ice and an available size. Following De’Longhi’s quick-start guidance, place a vessel partly filled with ice under the spouts and press Brew. After delivery, adjust the ice as directed. Leave space: coffee plus ice needs more room than coffee alone.
6. Empty, clean, and descale
Empty both grounds and collected water from the collection area, then clean and refit the removable parts according to the manual. Follow the shutdown procedure before removing the infuser, the internal brewing unit; never force it out.
When descaling is requested, follow the model’s full solution-and-rinse sequence. Descaling removes mineral buildup inside the water path; rinsing a tray doesn’t replace it. Use the manual’s specified cleaner, quantities, and part-care instructions, not a guessed schedule.
Common mistakes
Don’t mistake one-touch brewing for maintenance-free brewing, or Espresso Style for pump espresso. TrueBrew also isn’t a K-Cup machine. For a household that needs pods, see Best Coffee Maker with Grinder and K-Cup Combo (2026) before committing to a whole-bean routine.
Comparing cheaper workflows? See Best Grind and Brew Coffee Maker Under $200 (2026) Compared; check whether each option makes a single cup or a carafe.
Troubleshooting
If brewing won’t start, check supplies and seated containers before assuming a fault. Use the De’Longhi support alarm table to identify the exact light pattern. A symbol alone isn’t enough to guess an error meaning, and repeated Brew presses won’t fix a missing part.
- No coffee: Check water, beans, tank seating, and collection containers; follow the displayed warning.
- Infuser won’t move: Stop pulling. Follow the manual’s shutdown and removal sequence.
- Warning persists: Record the light pattern and model number for De’Longhi support.
Frequently asked questions
How do you use a DeLonghi TrueBrew for the first time?
Remove packing materials, prepare the removable parts, and complete the first-use rinse sequence in the CAM51025MB quick-start guide. Fill the tank, add whole beans, select a drink size and style, position a suitable cup under the spouts, and press Brew once the machine is ready.
Can you use pre-ground coffee in DeLonghi TrueBrew?
Yes, CAM51025MB instructions include a pre-ground coffee function. Use the dedicated pre-ground funnel and the amount specified in your manual, then select the pre-ground function before brewing. Never put grounds into the bean hopper. Check your exact CAM510 version for control details and restrictions.
How do you make iced coffee in DeLonghi TrueBrew?
Select Over Ice and an allowed size, then place a suitable vessel partly filled with ice beneath the spouts. Press Brew and let delivery finish. Follow the quick-start guidance to adjust the ice afterward. This brews coffee over ice; it is not a cold-brew steeping cycle.
How do you clean a DeLonghi TrueBrew?
Empty the grounds and water collection containers and clean removable parts as directed in the CAM51025MB manual. Follow its shutdown instructions before handling the infuser, the internal brewing unit. Descaling is separate: run the prescribed cycle when prompted, using the solution and rinsing instructions specified for your model.
Why is my DeLonghi TrueBrew not brewing?
Check the water level, tank seating, beans, and collection containers first. Then match any illuminated symbol to the alarm table in your exact CAM510 manual. Complete the requested action rather than repeatedly pressing Brew. If the warning remains, contact DeLonghi support instead of forcing parts or guessing a reset.