Weber Workshops BIRD – No-Bypass Vacuum Brewer made of Glass, Stainless Steel, and Brass
You put coffee into the glass, pour hot water over it, stir with the claw – and then slowly turn the brass wing. The stainless steel pod rises, creating a vacuum, and through the thick borosilicate glass, you can see the coffee separating from the grounds. Not a single drop bypasses the coffee. What ends up in your cup is neither espresso nor classic filter coffee – it's 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 piston-driven no-bypass vacuum immersion brewer made from 3mm borosilicate glass, 316 stainless steel, 304 stainless steel, brass, and anodized aluminum. Developed together with Christopher Flechtner. We offer the Metal Handle version. Coffee Coaching Club is the exclusive Swiss importer for Weber Workshops.
What Makes the BIRD Different
Most brewers rely on gravity: water flows downwards through the coffee, with some bypassing the grounds. The BIRD reverses this. The coffee sits above the water, and the filter pod is at the bottom. As the pod is pulled up, a vacuum is created – the water is drawn upwards through the coffee, filtered, and remains in the glass. No bypass, no dripping through.
Because the water is drawn through the coffee under controllable pressure, you can grind finer than with a pour-over. This results in higher extraction, more dissolved aromas, and more body – a range between espresso concentration and filter clarity that previously didn't exist. The claw stirs during brewing, then evenly pulls the pod upwards and keeps the vacuum pressure constant.
The Brew Ritual
Using the BIRD is a conscious process, not just pushing a button. You prepare the pod (mesh filter, optionally an additional paper filter), add 20 to 35g of ground coffee to the glass, then up to 400g of hot water. Stir with the claw and let it steep – from a few minutes to overnight for cold brew. Then you turn the brass wing, the pod rises, and the vacuum separates coffee and grounds. This takes about 30 seconds and feels like winding a mechanical watch. Afterwards, you click the pod into the Drip Catcher and carry it drip-free to the sink.
At a Glance
| Brewing Method |
Piston-driven no-bypass vacuum immersion |
| Coffee Quantity |
20 to 35 g |
| Capacity |
Up to 400 g water, approx. 350 ml output |
| Glass |
3 mm borosilicate glass (precision tube with fused bottom) |
| Filter Pod |
316 stainless steel with vacuum seal |
| Drive Shaft |
304 stainless steel |
| Wing and Crown |
Solid brass |
| Cap and Handle |
Anodized aluminum (Metal Handle) |
| Filter |
Reusable stainless steel mesh, plus Abaca paper filters (Cafec, Japan) |
| Size |
Approx. 85 mm diameter × 180 mm height |
| Weight |
Approx. 830 g (dry) |
| Application |
Hot brewing (short or long), cold brew overnight |
What You Get
The delivery includes the BIRD (Metal Handle), the reusable stainless steel mesh filter, a supply of Abaca paper filters (made in Japan by Cafec for Weber), the milled, anodized Filter Paper Dock with a microfiber base and magnet (centers itself on the shoulder of the EG-1), and the silicone Drip Catcher. If you prefer the Glass Handle, you can order the matching replacement glass separately as an accessory.
Who the BIRD is Made For
The BIRD is not a brewer for a quick cup on the go. The brewing process is deliberately manual, and cleaning by hand takes longer than with a V60. What it offers in return: no-bypass with controllable vacuum, a finer grind than for pour-over, a concentrate with filter clarity. If you enjoy brewing and see the journey to coffee as part of the pleasure, the BIRD is exactly your thing. If you're looking for something practical for every morning, a V60, Chemex, or French Press are the sensible choices. Nobody needs the BIRD – you either want it or you don't.
Honestly: The Limitations
Cleaning is more involved than with simpler methods: disassemble the pod (tool-free with a quarter turn), rinse, wash out the glass, no dishwasher. The 3mm glass is robust but still glass – a replacement glass is available as an accessory. The capacity is about 350 ml, so one to two small cups. And the BIRD brews differently from anything you know: grind size, steep time, and pull speed all influence the result, so the first few brews will be experiments. Weber publishes recipes on their website and YouTube.
What Goes Well With It
The Filter Paper Dock magnetically centers itself on the Weber EG-1; the compact Key delivers an equally precise finer grind. From our import range, the Varia Single-Dose grinders cover the range from espresso to filter, and the Varia AURA kettle precisely sets the temperature. For exact dosing, an Acaia scale.
Order Online Directly
The BIRD is available directly in the webshop in the Metal Handle version. Delivery throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein in 2 to 4 working days. Click and Collect in Bern, Gerberngasse 44 and Zurich, Hagenholzstrasse 50b. You can see Weber products live in both showrooms; since not everything is permanently on display, please contact us briefly beforehand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the BIRD a French Press?
No. While there are superficial similarities, the method is fundamentally different. With a French Press, a plunger presses the grounds down and remains in contact with the water. With the BIRD, a vacuum pulls the filtered coffee away from the grounds – resulting in a cleaner cup, and you can grind finer.
Which filters should I use?
The BIRD comes with reusable stainless steel mesh and Abaca paper filters. With mesh, you get more body and oils in the cup; with paper, it becomes cleaner and clearer. You can also use both together. Replacement paper filters are available as accessories.
Why do you carry the Metal Handle version?
We carry the BIRD with a Metal Handle. If you prefer the Glass Handle, you can order the matching replacement glass separately and swap 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, then pull up the pod in the morning. The vacuum separates cleanly even at room temperature.
How do I clean the BIRD?
Disassemble the pod with a quarter turn, dispose of coffee grounds, rinse all parts with warm water. No dishwasher. It takes a little longer than with simpler methods, but nothing gets stuck or is hard to reach.
How fast is delivery in Switzerland?
2 to 4 working days throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein. Click and Collect is possible in Bern and Zurich.
Roaster's Tip
The BIRD changes how you perceive filter coffee. We like to use it when we have time – in the evening, on weekends. A good starting point that works well for us: our Cozy Chocolate, 20g to 300ml, around 93 degrees Celsius, steeping for about four minutes, then slowly pulling up. The cup delivers the body of a strong filter coffee with the clarity of a pour-over; the chocolate notes appear richer than in a V60. Our Nutty Delight brings nutty warmth for an evening cup. Lighter roasts with slightly longer steeping times – that's a matter of experimenting and your taste. This is our recommendation, one of many.
