I own 4 other different coffee machines with this De'Longhi TrueBrew Coffee Maker being my newest 5th machine. Three machines use different pods. The fourth is a fancy espresso machine. I love exploring different brewing methods. I picked this De'longhi TrueBrew because it is a machine that is capable of handling coffee beans AND pre-ground coffee in addition to various brewing options.I am the only one who drinks coffee daily and did not want to brew an entire carafe with a traditional machine. For my other machines, I went with pods because it was simpler but they are not good for the environment. They were also more expensive. I also didn't want to deal with filters and cleanups with traditional drip brews. With the De'Longhi TrueBrew, I can buy coffee beans or use ground coffee without having to worry about price and the environment.Right out of the box, I noticed that this is a big machine and I couldn't wait to try its capabilities. There are not many parts to assemble, which was a great sign! The water reservoir easily snaps to the main machine. The grinder section is well sealed with a rubber-gasket cover that keeps the beans fresh and away from oxygen. The inner bean container is not removable so you will have to finish one type of bean before you can put in a different type.The main coffee drip section has a removable plate and a catch basin. The body of the machine can be pulled out to reveal two containers. One to catch the used ground coffee and another to catch the extra water. These can all be separated and cleaned. The infuser can also be pulled out for cleaning. It contains a stainless steel mesh instead of the traditional paper filter.What are the brewing options? The machine is very simple to operate. I have been exploring the different brewing options and found them to be significantly different. The strengths of the coffee increases as I tried light, gold, and bold settings, with bold being the darkest in color. I love the large spectrum of brewing sizes from 3oz to 24oz. Sometimes, I only want a quick kick in the morning and would either choose the 3oz or 8oz cup. If I'm heading to the office, I would pick the 20oz for my thermal.How doe the coffee taste? It's very smooth with medium roast. If you use different beans and want to adjust the temperature, you can go into the setting and set the relative temperatures from a range of 1 to 3. The manual doesn't specify the actual temperature so some experimentation is needed. I am very happy with the default setting and enjoy the ease of making coffee.Cleanup: Like with any other appliance, some cleanup is expected. After every few cups, I would clean the overflow and the catch containers inside the machine. I like to also clean the infuser because grounds tend to settle and dry on the mesh. It's relative easy and doesn't require any special effort.Sound: This machine makes some clicks and clacks when starting up, brewing, and after brewing. Don't worry, that is part of the normal operation!This is the perfect single cup machine that I have found so far. It has a built-in grinder, brews a single cup, minimizes waste, and has various brewing options. The coffee tastes delicious and all can be made by pushing two buttons. Instant fresh coffee every time!