Weber Workshops BIRD – no-bypass vacuum brewer made from glass, stainless steel and brass
Put coffee in the glass, pour hot water over it, stir with the claw – then slowly turn the brass wing. The stainless steel pod rises, creating a vacuum, and through the thick borosilicate glass you watch the coffee separate from the grounds. Not a drop bypasses the coffee. What lands in the cup is neither espresso nor classic filter – 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 plunger-driven no-bypass vacuum immersion brewer made from 3 mm borosilicate glass, stainless steel 316, stainless steel 304, brass and anodised aluminium. Developed together with Christopher Flechtner. We carry it in the Metal Handle version. Coffee Coaching Club is an importer of Weber Workshops.
What makes the BIRD different
Most brewers work with gravity: water flows down through the coffee, and some of it bypasses the bed (bypass). The BIRD reverses this. The coffee sits on top in the water, the filter pod below. Pulling the pod up creates a vacuum – the water is pulled up through the coffee, filtered, and stays in the glass. No bypass, no dripping through.
Because the water is drawn through the coffee under controllable pressure, you can grind finer than for a pour-over. This gives a higher extraction, more dissolved aromatics and more body – a range between espresso concentration and filter clarity that didn't exist in this form before. The claw stirs during brewing, then pulls the pod up evenly afterwards and keeps the vacuum pressure constant.
The brewing ritual
Using the BIRD is a deliberate process, not the push of a button. Prepare the pod (mesh filter, optionally an additional paper filter), add 20 to 35 g of ground coffee to the glass, then up to 400 g of hot water. Stir with the claw and let it steep – from a few minutes up to overnight for cold brew. Then turn the brass wing, the pod rises, and the vacuum separates coffee from grounds. This takes around 30 seconds and feels like winding a mechanical watch. Afterwards, click the pod into the Drip Catcher and carry it drip-free to the sink.
At a glance
| Brewing method |
plunger-driven no-bypass vacuum immersion |
| Coffee amount |
20 to 35 g |
| Capacity |
up to 400 g water, around 350 ml output |
| Glass |
3 mm borosilicate glass (precision tube with fused base) |
| Filter pod |
stainless steel 316 with vacuum seal |
| Driveshaft |
stainless steel 304 |
| Wing and crown |
solid brass |
| Cap and handle |
anodised aluminium (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) |
| Use |
hot brewing (short or long), overnight cold brew |
What you get
Included in delivery: the BIRD (Metal Handle), the reusable stainless steel mesh filter, a supply of abaca paper filters (made in Japan by Cafec for Weber), the machined, anodised Filter Paper Dock with microfibre foot and magnet (centres itself on the shoulder of the EG-1), and the silicone Drip Catcher. Anyone who prefers the Glass Handle can order the matching replacement glass separately as an accessory.
Who the BIRD is made for
The BIRD isn't a brewer for a quick cup on the way out the door. The brewing process is deliberately manual, and hand-cleaning takes longer than with a V60. What it offers in return: no bypass with controllable vacuum, a finer grind than pour-over, a concentrate with filter clarity. If you enjoy brewing and see the journey to the cup as part of the enjoyment, the BIRD is exactly your thing. If you're after something practical for every morning, V60, Chemex or French press are the sensible choice. Nobody needs the BIRD – you want it, or you don't.
Honestly: the limits
Cleaning takes more effort than with simple methods: disassemble the pod (tool-free with a quarter turn), rinse, wash out the glass, no dishwasher. At 3 mm the glass is robust, but it's still glass – a replacement glass is available as an accessory. Capacity is around 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 affect the result, and the first brews are experiments. Weber publishes recipes on its website and YouTube.
What goes with it
The Filter Paper Dock centres itself magnetically on the Weber EG-1; the compact Key delivers the finer grind just as precisely. From our import range, the Varia single-dose grinders cover everything from espresso to filter, and the Varia AURA kettle sets the temperature to the exact degree. For precise dosing, an Acaia scale.
Order directly online
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. Our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b) show a wide selection, but not our entire range – the display changes. Since not everything is on permanent display, just get in touch with us beforehand.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BIRD a French press?
No. There are similarities in appearance, but the method is fundamentally different. In a French press, a plunger pushes the grounds down and stays in contact with the water. In the BIRD, a vacuum pulls the filtered coffee away from the grounds – a cleaner cup, and you can grind finer.
Which filters should I use?
The BIRD comes with a 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. Both together also works. Replacement paper filters are available as an accessory.
Why do you carry the Metal Handle version?
We carry the BIRD with Metal Handle. Anyone who prefers the Glass Handle 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. Add coffee and cold water, let it steep overnight, pull the pod up 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 the coffee grounds, rinse all parts with warm water. No dishwasher. It takes a little longer than with simpler methods, but nothing jams or is hard to reach.
How quickly do you deliver in Switzerland?
2 to 4 working days across Switzerland and to Liechtenstein. Click and Collect available in Bern and Zurich.
Roastery tip
The BIRD changes how filter coffee is perceived. We like to use it when there's time – in the evening, on weekends. A starting point that works well for us: our Cozy Chocolate, 20 g to 300 ml, around 93 degrees, steep for about four minutes, then pull up slowly. What lands in the cup is the body of a strong filter coffee with the clarity of a pour-over; the chocolate feels richer than in a V60. Our Nutty Delight brings nutty warmth for the evening cup. Lighter roasts with a slightly longer steep time – that's a matter of experimenting and your own taste. That's our recommendation, one of many.
