Douglas Weber flips The Bird at the specialty coffee industry

In this interview I did with Douglas Weber, he concluded with this answer to me asking what’s next for Weber Workshops:

Just stay tuned and I promise a constant stream of innovations and surprises.

He didn’t disappoint. Enter the BIRD.

The first collaboration between Weber Workshops and American designer and Kyoto resident, Christopher Flechtner, well known in the industry as the lead industrial designer for Slayer Espresso, the BIRD was designed and refined through dozens of iterations over the course of more than a year. An acronym for “brew in reverse direction”, this manual brewer combines elements of pourover, full-immersion, and espresso. With its unique design reminiscent of a French press, the BIRD stands out in a sea of coffee gadgets, offering a truly distinct brewing experience.

At the core of the BIRD’s innovation lies its unconventional brewing process. Unlike traditional methods, the BIRD starts with the filter at the bottom of the chamber, followed by coffee grounds and water. A propeller-like agitator, called the “claw,” ensures thorough extraction by stirring the slurry. As the claw connects to the brewing pod, the filter ascends, collecting the grounds along the way.

What truly sets the BIRD apart is its utilization of vacuum pressure – a rarity in manual brewers. This feature gives users unprecedented control over extraction, allowing for experimentation with various grind sizes and brewing techniques. The result? A rich, complex cup of coffee that rivals even the finest espresso shots or delicate pourover brews.

Another standout feature of the BIRD is its “no bypass” brewing method. By ensuring that every droplet of water passes through the coffee grounds, the BIRD maximizes flavor extraction.

Crafted from premium materials such as borosilicate glass, stainless steel, and solid brass, the BIRD exudes elegance and durability – as we’ve come to expect from Weber Workshops. Each component is meticulously designed to ensure longevity and performance.

All of which makes the USD 360 price point very palatable.

The first drop of the device sold out in 10 minutes. The second drop, at the time of publishing this article, goes live in less than 24 hours. Click here to see if you can snag yours. I know I’ll be trying to do just that.