Weber Workshops | The BIRD
Exploring the uncharted middle ground between espresso and pour-over ratios.
On December 21st, 2023, Weber Workshops announced 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.
At first glance it shares similarities with a French Press, but the brew-style and resultant coffee is 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 allows for the use of either a paper or a fine mesh stainless filter. The result is a brew highlighting 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.
Like most WW products, the BIRD celebrates high-end materials, fun mechanisms, and innovative manufacturing processes. The coffee only interacts with noble materials (glass and stainless steel, and the optional paper filter). The barista twists and spins with solid machined brass parts that will take on a unique patina as they age through the decades. The glass carafe is thick borosilicate with a unique optically flat base. The gizmo mechanism allows perfect agitation and a smooth, mechanically assisted piston action that creates a vacuum beneath the puck to brew smooth shots every time.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of the BIRD is how simple it is to create ideal brews, repeatably. Knowing the “recipe,” which consists of the amount of ground coffee, volume and temperature of the water, and the steep/rest time, the BIRD allows a very repeatable and nearly impossible-to-mess-up platform for making great brews. When using high-end specialty coffees, this helps get the most from the brew regardless of skill level.
