TrueBrew and Magnifica Evo are two of DeLonghi’s fully automatic coffee and espresso machines that are totally worth considering.
However, there’s a huge difference in the type of machines they are, which affects your decision on which one to buy.
I created this comparison guide between DeLonghi TrueBrew vs Magnifica Evo to detail the exact differences between these coffee machines.
Key Difference
– Magnifica Evo is a fully automatic Espresso, latte and cappuccino machine, which can also make a full cup of coffee.
This difference in what type of coffee machine they are affects what coffee presets they have on the menu and what you can make with a press of a button. So keep reading for the full details on these machines and what to expect from each one.
Top Differences
Do You Need an Espresso Machine or a Coffee Machine?
What does it mean when I say DeLonghi TrueBrew is a coffee machine and Magnifica Evo is an espresso machine?
The difference is how the machines operate:
- DeLonghi TrueBrew, unlike traditional coffee machines, uses a low pump pressure to make coffee in several single serve sizes or carafe size. So it’s quite comparable to a filter coffee machine, but it doesn’t require any filter placement or any work on your part at all. All you have to do is select a serving size and the machine will do the rest.
- DeLonghi Magnifica Evo uses higher pressure pump to make espresso or any espresso based drinks. It also has the option to make an 8 oz coffee, and to do that, it has to slightly alter the pressure to make a longer cup of coffee.
So while both machines use pressure to make coffee. TrueBrew does low pressure only to make coffee in a variety of sizes. Magnifica Evo uses high pressure to make espresso, and can switch to low pressure to make coffee, but it can only do one coffee serving size. Everything else it does is espresso or espresso based.
Coffee Drink Options
| DeLonghi TrueBrew | DeLonghi Magnifica Evo |
| 3 oz (Espresso style coffee), 8, 12, 16 oz and travel mug size 20 oz or 24 oz, and 40 oz Carafe (in Carafe model) | Espresso, Coffee, Over Ice, Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato, Hot Water |
DeLonghi TrueBrew is available as a single serve machine or single serve and carafe machine. Both of them can do: 3 oz (Espresso style coffee), 8, 12, 16 oz and travel mug size 20 oz or 24 oz. The carafe model will do 24 oz travel mug and 40 oz carafe, along with the single serve sizes.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo has these following presets: Espresso, Coffee, Over Ice, Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato, Hot Water. If you select Magnifica Evo without the LatteCrema frother, the menu will not have milk based drinks, but only espresso, coffee and over ice.
As you can see, the drink options on each model is quite different:
DeLonghi TrueBrew is coffee only – Magnifica Evo specializes in espresso based drinks.
But you might noticed, there is one option they have in common, and that is Over Ice.
What Is DeLonghi Over Ice?
Over Ice is a coffee preset that DeLonghi is known for. Whether it’s on TrueBrew or Magnifica Evo, the concept of Over Ice is the same:
what it does is make your coffee brew stronger by dosing more coffee and shortening the brew size. It also brews at a slightly lower temperature than hot coffee.
That way, when the coffee meets the ice and it starts melting, your iced coffee won’t taste diluted and light.
On the TrueBrew, you get to select which brew size you want Over Ice. If you select 8 oz, for example, the machine will brew 4 oz of coffee only, because it takes the amount of ice in your cup into account. Same for other serving size, whichever size you choose, the measurement will be half brew and half ice.
On the Magnifica Evo, there’s only one serving size for Over Ice. And it’s going to work the same way, 4 oz of coffee + the amount of ice you add.
What Is DeLonghi TrueBrew Espresso Style?
Espresso Style on TrueBrew allows you to make a short 3 oz coffee concentrate that you can use for espresso drinks like latte or cappuccino. Unlike Magnifica Evo, because TrueBrew is not an espresso machine, the Espresso Style coffee will be made using low pressure and it’s available in 3 oz servings only, which is about a double espresso size.
You have to keep in mind though that DeLonghi TrueBrew does not have any milk options. So to make a Latte or Cappuccino using that Espresso style coffee, you’ll have to prepare the milk separately using an electric milk frother or any way you prefer to make your milk froth.
Brew Styles and Sizes
DeLonghi TrueBrew makes coffee in several brew styles and sizes.
Brew style refers to how strong or mild the coffee is brewed: Light, Gold (Specialty Coffee Society gold standard), Bold or Over Ice. I’ll talk about each of these in detail down below.
Brew sizes, as mentioned, range from 3 oz espresso style to 24 oz travel mug, or 40 oz carafe if you buy the Carafe model.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo doesn’t have Brew Styles, per se. It brews different espresso beverages and gives you the option to adjust the coffee strength, which is kind of equivalent to ‘brew styles’.
Built-In Grinder and Bypass Doser
The great thing about fully automatic coffee machines like DeLonghi TrueBrew and Magnifica Evo is that they have built-in grinders for a fresh cup of coffee. But the built in grinders in these two models are slightly different:
On TrueBrew, the built-in grinder is not adjustable. This model does coffee only, so the grinder is set to medium coffee grind that is perfect for coffee brewing.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo has 12 adjustable grinder settings. Those grind settings are still all in the espresso fine grind range, but having the freedom to adjust the grind size even slightly means you have more control over your coffee’s taste and strength.
As for the bypass doser, which you use for pre-ground coffee instead of using the grinder, both DeLonghi TrueBrew and Magnifica Evo have it. But they’re slightly different in use:
- DeLonghi TrueBrew allows you to add in multiple scoops of coffee ground. This is because you have different brewing sizes, so how much coffee you add depends on the brew size you’ll be making. This option works for sizes up to 16 oz only, you can add in up to 3 measuring scoops of coffee max.
- DeLonghi Magnifica Evo’s bypass doser allows for a single scoop only, which is enough dose for an espresso.
Control Panels
DeLonghi uses a similar design for the control panels on TrueBrew and DeLonghi Magnifica Evo. This is probably the similarity that makes people think they are somewhat the same machine.
The control panels have touch buttons with colored illustrations of each coffee drink. It almost looks like a colored touch screen, which gives these machines a high-end look.
None of these machines has an LCD display. Except for the small clock display on the TrueBrew. But settings and customization is done through the buttons on the control panel.
Digital Clock and Auto Brew
This is a feature on the DeLonghi TrueBrew only. It has a clock and an auto on/brew option that works for any cup size you choose. I don’t find this feature necessary when it comes to single-cup servings as the machine already does a great job of brewing a cup of coffee quickly. But it can be particularly useful for carafe brewing, especially since the carafe is thermal and will keep the coffee hot.
DeLonghi TrueBrew or Magnifica Evo, Which Is The Right One For You?
To choose between TrueBrew vs Magnifica Evo, you need to understand what you are really looking for:
Do you mostly drink black coffee (Regular, drip coffee)? And will occasionally enjoy a Latte or a cappuccino? Then TrueBrew is the machine for you.
Do you mostly drink Lattes or any espresso-based drinks? The Magnifica Evo is your machine.
If you’re looking for versatility, I find Magnifica Evo to be more versatile in this way:
- It has espresso and espresso-based drinks.
- Although it only makes ONE serving of coffee, it makes the most popular serving size (8 oz), using the same brew method that TrueBrew uses to make coffee.
- It makes true Espresso using high pressure.
- It has a milk option, automatic or manual, whichever you prefer.
- It has Over Ice.
But, if milk based coffee drinks isn’t something you need, or if you carafe or travel mug option is a requirement for you, then DeLonghi TrueBrew is your best bet.
Related Comparisons
- DeLonghi TrueBrew vs Breville Grind Control
- DeLonghi Magnifica Evo vs Philips 3200
- DeLonghi Magnifica Evo vs Philips 4300
- DeLonghi Magnifica Evo vs Philips 2200
- DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Magnifica Evo
Features of DeLonghi TrueBrew Coffee Maker
TrueBrew CAM51025MB Single Serve vs CAM51035M Carafe
DeLonghi TrueBrew is available in two variations:
DeLonghi TrueBrew CAM51025MB: this model odes hot or iced coffee single-serve coffee in several sizes.
DeLonghi TrueBrew CAM51035M: This model does Single-serve and a full carafe of hot or iced coffee.
Brew sizes will depend on the model you choose. All of them do single-cup servings, but only TrueBrew CAM51035M can do a 40 oz carafe.
DeLonghi TrueBrew Brew Sizes
| DeLonghi TrueBrew CAM51025MB (Single-Serve) Brew Sizes | DeLonghi TrueBrew CAM51035M (Carafe) Brew Sizes |
| 3 oz (Espresso), 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 oz | 3 oz, 8, 12, 16, 24, 40 oz |
DeLonghi TrueBrew Single Serve has a variation of cup sizes, from an espresso style 3 oz, 8oz to 16 oz coffee cup and 20 or 24 oz travel mug size brew.
On the DeLonghi TrueBrew Carafe, you get: espresso style 3 oz, 8 to 16 oz cup sizes, 24 oz travel mug and 40 oz carafe. This model is missing the 20 oz travel mug serving size.
So both of them have 6 serving sizes, but with a slight difference in what they offer.
DeLonghi TrueBrew Brew Styles
Both TrueBrew models have the same 5 brew styles:
Espresso style: Since TrueBrew is a drip coffee machine, it does not make an authentic shot of espresso. But it does make an ‘espresso style’ 3 oz shot that you can use to make a latte or cappuccino. You will, however, need an external device for milk like an electric milk frother.
Light: this is for anyone who enjoys a milder taste of coffee. The machine will brew the coffee in less time to make it milder in taste.
Gold: When selected, DeLonghi TrueBrew will use the Golden Cup standard in terms of temperature and extraction time, as approved by European Coffee Brewing Centre.
Bold: This is a classic strong brew. The machine will steep the coffee for a longer time to give you a stronger and more robust cup of coffee.
Over Ice: For a refreshing iced coffee that is never watered down, use this feature. DeLonghi TrueBrew will lower the temperature and adjust the dose for a stronger coffee. When mixed with ice, you’ll get the perfect smooth cup of coffee over ice.
Also, Over Ice cuts the serving size by half. So if you’re brewing 8 oz, you’ll get 4 oz dispensed + ice, and when it’s all mixed, you’ll get the correct amount of coffee.
DeLonghi TrueBrew Over Ice
If you’re familiar with DeLonghi’s super automatics like Magnifica Evo or Eletta Explore, you know that DeLonghi excels in Over Ice technology. Now, they have added this feature to TrueBrew coffee maker.
DeLonghi’s TrueBrew Coffee Maker features TrueBrew Over Ice Technology which allows you to enjoy a refreshing, rich iced coffee. This innovative technology adjusts brewing to ensure full-bodied, smooth, and flavorful iced coffee that is never watered down. You’ll consistently get great-tasting, cold drinks perfect for those hot summer days.
Built-In Grinder
DeLonghi TrueBrew has a built-in grinder to give you a full bean-to-cup experience of drip coffee. The bean hopped capacity is 250g and it comes with a sealed lid to keep your coffee beans airtight sealed.
Since TrueBrew is a drip coffee maker, the grinder on this machine does one grind setting only, which is medium grind for drip coffee.
If you don’t want to use the built-in grinder, you can use the bypass doser for pre ground coffee. It allows you to add in several scoops of ground coffee to match whichever serving size you want to brew, from an espresso shot to a full 40 oz carafe.
Other DeLonghi TrueBrew Features
- Control Panel: Touch buttons with colored icons
- Digital clock with Auto brew: works for any serving size.
- Cup tray holds short cups high to avoid splashing.
- Can accommodate large travel mugs (up to 24 oz serving size)
Features of DeLonghi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema
The DeLonghi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema is a stylish and sophisticated espresso machine that provides users with an easy and convenient way to craft coffee drinks from the comfort of their own home.
It’s equipped with all the features necessary for brewing delicious espresso-based beverages, such as a built-in conical burr grinder with 13 settings, a LatteCrema system for texturing milk or milk alternatives, and 7 one-touch recipes with intuitive color icons. The unique My Latte function allows you to personalize your drinks by saving your own custom recipes.
Preset Drinks
Espresso – Coffee – Over Ice – Cappuccino – Latte – Hot Water
Espresso, Latte and Cappuccino are what you know and love. With this machine, you have the option of adjusting strength, using single or double espresso or adjusting the foam settings.
Coffee option does a larger serving of coffee to imitate drip coffee, but it’s not the same. It’s still espresso based, and it does a long brew of espresso up to 8 oz.
The Over Ice option, works similar to Philip’s, by brewing at lower hot temperature and bolder taste.
On the control panel, you’ll notice a x2 button, which when pressed the espresso button lights up. This actually does NOT make a double espresso, it just splits your espresso shot into two cups, which I don’t see the point of. If you want to make a double espresso, you’ll basically have to press the espresso option twice instead of using the x2 button.
LatteCrema System
The detachable automatic frother makes it easy to prepare cappuccinos and lattes with adjustable foam in no time at all. The mark on the frother guides you in how much milk is required for each recipe. Plus, all removable parts are dishwasher safe which makes them easy to clean after use. LatteCrema is even designed to be stored in the fridge if you still have any left over milk in it, which eliminates any waste.
Built-in Grinder and Bypass Doser
In terms of capacity, the bean container holds 9 oz of coffee beans. It has 13 adjustable grind settings, and a bypass doser for using ground coffee.
Adjustable Settings
- Coffee strength: select from 3 settings
- Froth settings which is adjusted by dialing a knob on the frother and not through the menu on the machine.
MyLatte Option
This is a nice memory function the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo that allows you to save your favorite adjusted setting and then reuse it with a press of the MyLatte button.
Overall, the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an user-friendly espresso machine that won’t cost you an arm and a leg but still delivers delicious results every single time. Not only does it give you one-touch access to all kinds of coffee-based beverages but also offers excellent convenience features such as adjustable grind settings.
