Weber Workshops BIRD – No-Bypass Vacuum Brewer made of glass, stainless steel & brass
You put coffee in the glass, pour hot water over it, stir with the claw – and then you turn the wingnut. Slowly. The stainless steel pod rises, creates a vacuum, and you see through the thick borosilicate glass as the coffee separates from the grounds. Large drops fall from the honeycomb filter back into the cup. Not a single drop escapes the coffee – this is no-bypass. And what ends up in the cup is neither espresso nor pour-over. It's something in between. More concentrated than a V60, cleaner than a French press, with a body you wouldn't expect from filter coffee.
The Weber Workshops BIRD (Brew In Reverse Direction) is Weber's first brewer – a vacuum immersion brewer made of 3mm borosilicate glass, 316 stainless steel, brass, and anodized aluminum. Weighing 830 grams, it sits on the counter like a musical instrument. Available in the metal handle version at our Coffee Coaching Club, as a partner of Weber Workshops .
What makes the BIRD different
Most brewers work with gravity: water flows downwards through the coffee, with some of it bypassing the coffee bed. The BIRD reverses this process. The coffee sits at the top in the water, while the filter pod sits at the bottom. When the pod is lifted, a vacuum is created – the water is drawn upwards through the coffee, filtered, and remains in the glass. No bypass, no dripping, no dependence on gravity.
Because the water is drawn through the coffee under controllable pressure, you can grind finer than with a standard pour-over. This means higher extraction, more dissolved aromas, and a more intense body. The results lie somewhere between espresso concentration and filter clarity—a territory that didn't exist before. Weber calls it "the uncharted middle ground." That sums it up perfectly.
The Brew Ritual
Using the BIRD is a conscious process. No button press, no automation. You prepare the pod (mesh filter, paper filter optional), and slide it into the glass using the Brew Arm. You grind your beans – 20 to 35g, finer than for pour-over – and add them to the glass. Then you pour on 300 to 400ml of hot water. You stir with the claw, let the coffee brew – for as long as you like, from a few minutes to overnight for cold brew. Then you turn the brass wingnut, the pod rises, and the vacuum separates the coffee from the grounds. This takes about 30 seconds and feels like winding a mechanical watch.
Then: Click the pod into the drip catcher and enjoy your coffee. Cleaning is more involved than with a V60 – most community members agree. But those who use the BIRD take the time for it. It's part of the experience.
All features at a glance
What you will receive
- 1× Weber Workshops BIRD (Metal Handle Version)
- 1× Stainless steel mesh filter (reusable)
- 300× Abaca paper filters (made in Japan by Cafec for Weber Workshops)
- 1× Filter Paper Dock (milled, anodized aluminum, with microfiber base and magnet for EG-1 users)
- 1× Drip Catcher (silicone, for catching drips after brewing)
Those who prefer the glass handle can order the replacement glass with glass handle separately as an accessory from us.
Who is the BIRD suitable for?
The BIRD isn't an everyday brewer for people who need a quick cup in the morning. Cleaning takes longer than with a V60, the brewing process is intentionally manual, and the price is in the category that defines Weber Workshops. Within the community, the BIRD is often described as "gorgeous but expensive" or as a "work of art in the kitchen"—and both are true.
What the BIRD offers is an experience and a result that other brewers simply can't deliver. No-bypass brewing with controllable vacuum pressure, a finer grind than possible with pour-over, and a concentrate with filter coffee clarity. If that appeals to you—if you enjoy brewing, if you appreciate the process, if you prepare a cup of coffee in the evening as a conscious break rather than a quick caffeine fix—then the BIRD is exactly what you're looking for. If you're looking for something more practical, there's the V60, Chemex, or French Press.
Known limitations
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Cleaning: More involved than with simple pour-over methods. Disassemble the pod, rinse it, wash the glass. Not dishwasher safe. This is the most frequently mentioned point in community reviews – and an honest trade-off for what the BIRD offers.
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Price: The BIRD is significantly more expensive than most brewing machines. The materials (borosilicate glass, 316 stainless steel, brass) and the manufacturing are premium. Forums regularly debate whether the taste justifies the price – most users say: not necessarily the taste alone, but the overall experience does. You only live once.
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Glass: The 3mm borosilicate glass is more robust than regular glass, but it is still glass. A replacement glass is available from us as an accessory.
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Capacity: Max. 350ml output. Enough for one person or two small cups. Larger quantities require multiple batches.
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Learning curve: The BIRD brews differently than anything you've experienced before. Grind size, brewing time, draw speed – everything affects the result. The first brews are experiments. Weber publishes recipes on the website and on YouTube, but there's hardly a standard instruction manual in the classic sense.
Coffee Coaching Club tip: Grind size and BIRD
The BIRD allows for finer grinds than a standard pour-over because the water is drawn through the coffee by vacuum pressure, not gravity. This opens up a range that other methods don't offer – finer than filter coffee, coarser than espresso. The community recommends a grind approximately 25% coarser than espresso.
Our Cozy Chocolate is a great choice for beginners – the chocolatey notes come through very richly and clearly with no-bypass methods. Use 20g of coffee to 300ml of water at 93°C, brew for 3-4 minutes, then slowly increase the heat. The Nutty Delight is similarly approachable. If you try lighter roasts, experiment with a longer brew time and a slightly higher temperature – the BIRD extracts differently than a V60, and it takes a few tries to find your ideal profile. But when it works: The clarity and body that the BIRD can deliver with light roasts is something you simply can't achieve with a standard pour-over.
Availability at the Coffee Coaching Club
As a partner of Weber Workshops, we offer the BIRD in the metal handle version in our webshop. Delivery throughout Switzerland and Liechtenstein takes 2–4 days. The replacement glass with glass handle can be ordered separately as an accessory.
You can see Weber-Workshops products in person at our showrooms in Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b) and Bern (Gerberngasse 44) . Since not all products are permanently on display, it's best to contact us beforehand.
Perfectly combined with
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Weber Workshops EG-1 – the BIRD filter paper dock has a built-in magnet that auto-centers on the EG-1 shoulder. Same design language, same standard.
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Weber Workshops KEY – compact single-dose grinder that precisely delivers the finer grind for the BIRD.
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Varia grinders (VS4, VS6) – as the official importer, we carry the complete Varia range. The VS4 covers everything from espresso to filter coffee – including the BIRD grind setting.
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Varia AURA Kettle – precise water temperature setting, relevant for the BIRD where temperature and brewing time are directly linked.
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Weber Workshops Moonraker – if you use the BIRD alongside your espresso setup
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Acaia precision scales – for accurate dosing of coffee and water
Frequently Asked Questions about Weber Workshops BIRD
Is the BIRD a French press?
No. There are some external similarities, but the brewing method is fundamentally different. In a French press, a piston pushes the grounds downwards – the coffee remains in contact with the water. In the BIRD, a vacuum draws the filtered coffee away from the grounds. No bitterness aftertaste, a cleaner cup, and you can grind much finer.
Which filters should I use?
The BIRD comes with a reusable stainless steel mesh filter and 300 abaca paper filters. Using the mesh filter results in more body and oils in your cup (similar to a French press). Using paper filters produces a cleaner, clearer brew (similar to a pour-over). You can also use both methods simultaneously. Refill paper filters are available as accessories.
Why do you only offer the metal handle version?
We stock the BIRD with a metal handle. If you prefer the glass handle, you can order a replacement glass handle separately from us and exchange it – the glass is the only component that differs between the versions.
Can I use the BIRD for cold brew?
Yes. Fill with coffee and cold water, let it steep overnight, and pull up the pod in the morning. The vacuum seal separates cleanly even at room temperature.
How do I clean the BIRD?
Disassemble the pod with a quarter turn, compost the coffee grounds, and rinse all parts with warm soapy water. Do not use a dishwasher. Cleaning takes a little longer than with simpler methods, but the parts are designed so that nothing gets stuck or is difficult to access.
How long is the delivery time?
We deliver throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein within 2–4 working days. Click & Collect is available during business hours at our showrooms in Zurich and Bern.
Questions about the BIRD, recipes, or grind settings? Write to us.
Email: office@coffeecoachingclub.ch
Website: coffeecoachingclub.ch
Showrooms: Bern (Gerberngasse 44) | Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b)
Roastery tip
The BIRD changes how you experience filter coffee. We use it in the roastery when we want to take our time – in the evenings, on weekends, when the espresso workflow is paused. Our Cozy Chocolate is brewed at 93°C, 20g to 300ml, steeped for 4 minutes, then slowly drawn up. What ends up in the cup has the body of a strong filter coffee and the clarity of a pour-over. The chocolate is richer than in a V60, the aftertaste longer. The Nutty Delight brings a nutty warmth that's perfect for an evening cup. And yes – cleaning up afterward is part of the process. But anyone who uses the BIRD has decided that the journey to the coffee is part of the enjoyment.
