INCLINE VILLAGE, Nevada – On December 21st, 2023, Weber Workshops is announcing the BIRD coffee brewer. It is not espresso, French Press, or pour-over. It is great strong coffee brewed in a novel machine with minimal fuss. Short for Brew In Reverse Direction, the BIRD is the first no-bypass brewer to create piston-actuated vacuum pressure brews in a glass device.
Navigating the zone between espresso and pour-over, the BIRD is an entirely new platform for baristas and coffee aficionados to explore uncharted territories in brewing, both in homes and in cafés alike.
The BIRD coffee brewer by Weber Workshops
At first glance it shares similarities with a French Press, but the brew style and resultant coffee are completely different.
The ability to use finely-ground coffee allows for rich extractions at any roast level, and the patent-pending mechanism for vacuum brewing allow for the use of either a paper or a fine mesh stainless filter.
The result is a brew that highlights the bean’s terroir, the roaster’s skill, and the grinder’s true potential.
With up to a 350mL extraction, the BIRD is perfect for single users or stretching out in demitasse cups for a small gathering of up to 3-4 adults.
The BIRD works by utilizing 3 main components — the Glass, the Pod, and the Gizmo. The Pod is assembled with a paper or mesh filter and placed into the bottom of the Glass. Freshly ground coffee is dumped directly into the Glass above the Pod, and hot water is poured on top of the coffee.
The Gizmo is then placed on top and with a couple of up/down plunges with the Crown, a helicopter-like movement of the Claw creates a vortex to evenly agitate the coffee + water slurry.
Next comes the difficult part — waiting for the brew, which could be as short as a few seconds or as long as 8-10 minutes, depending on the recipe.
Overnight cold-brews are also possible. When ready, rotating the Wingnut starts filtration, lifting the Pod up from the bottom of the glass to create a vacuum beneath.
This vacuum sucks the coffee through the coffee bed and the filter, on full display through the glass, leaving only a clean and aromatic brew inside the glass vessel. A Tungsten Carbide cam mechanism prevents the Wingnut from being pulled back down by the vacuum, allowing the barista to remove their hand as they brew.
The BIRD’s “French Pull” differs from a French Press in several ways. Since a strong seal is used in conjunction with a vacuum, the coffee may be ground much finer, extracting many of the desired subtle flavors typically left un- extracted.
After brewing, the coffee does not continue to stay in contact with the hot water, one of the well-known downfalls of the French Press that can cause bitterness in the cup.
The BIRD is made with all high-end food grade materials. The glass is a custom-crafted, precision 3mm borosilicate tube with a thick, robust base.
Replacement glass will be easily available to purchase on the Weber Workshops website and through distribution channels. The brewing Pod is all 316 stainless steel, with a food-safe silicone flange seal and the option of using either stainless mesh filters or Abaca pulp filters.
The Wingnut and Spinner knob are solid machined Brass, and the main shaft and paddle-lifter are made of Stainless Steel.
The Cap is made of anodized Aluminum with brass grommets. The handle is extruded and anodized aluminum with a solid brass cap, and an engineering polymer connection to the body to keep it thermally isolated and cool to touch.
When not in use, the BIRD cap and propeller mechanism (aka Gizmo) store on any flat surface sturdily by creating a tripod with its Claw. The Pod disassembles quickly and easily with a quarter-turn thread for a rinse & wash between uses.
Douglas Weber, the Founder and CEO of Weber Workshops, mentioned that: “The BIRD is our first entrance into the world of brewing equipment and, like all of our designs, we wanted to approach it from an unexplored angle. Using only quality materials, we set out to deeply explore the uncharted territory that is the middle ground between espresso and pour-over. With the BIRD we’ve created an entirely unique brewing style and device, and we’re excited to see what the leading cafés and home baristas of the world do with it.”
In particular when used in conjunction with Weber’s Coffee Grinders, the BIRD helps any barista achieve a delicious, repeatable, and enjoyable brew. The quality materials and construction guarantee a lifetime of performance, and spare parts will be easily and economically available. The hassle and
technique required from pour-over setups is not necessary when following a simple grind – temperature – time recipe, and the resultant cup will appeal to both coffee newcomers and seasoned professionals alike.
Included in the package with each purchase
• One BIRD device.
• One stainless mesh reusable filter.
• 300 sheets Abaca paper filters, made in Japan for WW by Cafec.
• One solid anodized aluminum Paper Filter Dock with microfiber foot.
• One rubber Drip Catcher for easy cleanup.
Other product details
• Price: $360 (USD)
• Size: 85mm diameter (glass) x 180mm height
• Weight: 830g (dry)
• Coffee Capacity: 20-35g of ground coffee
• Brew Capacity: Up to 400g water in, 350g water out.
• Availability & Delivery: Limited initial release of 1000 units, split between 2 drops in January ‘24. Higher volume production will scale up starting in Spring 2024.
About Weber Workshops
Weber Workshops was founded in 2014 by Douglas Weber, an Apple Product Design veteran with a deep passion for design, coffee and kitchenware.
Dedicated to breaking the cycle of wasteful consumption, the company creates heirloom-quality instruments by rethinking and reimagining the products used in specialty coffee preparation. In 2021 it won “Product of the Year” with the KEY Grinder at SCAA New Orleans, and in 2022 it won several product awards with the Unifilter.
