Weber introduces the BIRD, a Espresso Brewer

Weber Workshops, the corporate identified for intense, micron engineered bespoke guide and electrical grinders (don’t even ask how a lot), $500 WDT instrument units, and $365 portafilters with complex filter out baskets inbuilt, has dipped their excessive precision engineer ft into the espresso brewing area.

Weber has offered the BIRD, a tool that in the beginning glance appears to be a press pot, however in point of fact is relatively other, and contours Weber’s standard tremendous engineering tweaks and refinement.

BIRD stands for “Brew in Opposite Course”, and this can be a no-bypass immersion taste brewer with inbuilt agitation methods. Certainly, it has an entire sequence of tips to ship a concentrated brew – someplace with reference to the energy of a moka pot espresso – however with an overly blank and subtle cup, offering as much as 350ml within the most brewing quantity. Weber says it’s sufficient for one very wealthy cup of espresso for a person, or for three or 4 demitasse servings to percentage.

So what precisely is that this factor?

Make-up of the Weber BIRD

This new brewer from Weber is composed of 3 primary elements: the glass brewing vessel with care for and a “pod” is the place the bottom espresso is living for far of the brew, and may be the instrument for the tool’s filtration; both a mesh filter out, paper filter out, or each. Those are the primary two parts.

The 3rd element is the place all of Weber’s engineering is living: the “Gizmo” as they name it. It is composed of a crown, a force shaft, a wingnut adjustment dial, the cap, and a spinning propeller claw beneath. It’s relatively onerous perceive or visualize precisely what this factor is with phrases, so why now not take a look at Weber’s promotional video of the BIRD to peer what’s happening.

Douglas Weber, the principle in the back of Weber Workshops, had this to mention in regards to the new BIRD brewer:

“The BIRD is our first front into the arena of brewing apparatus and, like every of our designs, we would have liked to manner it from an unexplored attitude. The usage of simplest high quality fabrics, we got down to deeply discover the uncharted territory that’s the heart floor between coffee and pour-over. With the BIRD we’ve created a wholly distinctive brewing taste and tool, and we’re excited to peer what the main cafés and residential baristas of the arena do with it.”

The Main points

It’s a Weber product, so you’ll be expecting the BIRD to be pricey and really well made. They’re pricing the BIRD first of all at $360USD. 1,000 gadgets, break up between two drops, are coming in January. The corporate says it’s making plans upper quantity manufacturing beginning within the spring.

The Weber BIRD weighs 830g (just about 2 kilos!) empty, can brew 20-35g of floor espresso, and takes 400g max water  in, turning in about 350ml brewed. 

While you purchase one, it comprises the brewer, a stainless mesh reusable filter out, 300 sheets of a distinct paper filter out (Abaca paper, by means of Cafec, made in Japan), a cast anodized aluminum paper filter out dock (Weber sells a variant of this by itself for $100!!), and a rubber drip catcher for resting the pod on.

There’s no plastic in any of this tool; it’s made with brass, stainless-steel, aluminum and silicone (for the seals). Weber says alternative portions shall be to be had for the BIRD, together with the brewing carafe, filters and different portions.

Preliminary Reception and Ideas

So the inside track of this tool and the above video have been leaked early by means of a web-based influencer having a look to get cred issues from espresso nerds on quite a lot of social media and dialogue platforms. It used to be intended to be formally introduced Thursday December 21, 2023, however because it leaked early, Weber’s lifted their embargo. 

What this implies is, there’s numerous early response to this. No longer it all excellent. At $360, that is costlier than a good access stage coffee gadget, just like the Breville Bambino. Within the Youtube feedback, many of us pointed this out. Nonetheless others felt it’s an over-engineered re-imagining of the AeroPress.

I’ve once in a while been a critic of Weber, however on the finish of the day, I’m a large fan of what they do, principally as a result of they push limitations and open probabilities. The HG-1 grinder used to be so wonderful and singular when it got here out. Positive, it had problems, but it surely simply set a brand new usual for what’s imaginable in espresso grinders. Final analysis is, any individual who’s a fan and adventurer in their very own global of uniqueness espresso advantages (and desires) the Weber Workshops of the arena to push those limitations. As they discover and evolve espresso merchandise, different producers keep in mind and get started bringing their very own new concepts down into extra price range pleasant territories.

In many ways, corporations like Weber are just like the System One groups in auto racing. Dear, bespoke, out of succeed in for many other folks. But the improvement and engineering F1 groups do at all times filters down in the end to lots of the vehicles we purchase as of late. The similar is correct of businesses like Weber within the uniqueness espresso sphere.

I will have to additionally be aware, the massive espresso producers of previous eras used to try this extra frequently, like Faema, Los angeles Marzocco, Gaggia and Elektra, and others. Now they most commonly play it secure (Los angeles Marzocco the imaginable exception, however I’m nonetheless looking forward to the successor to the Disco Volante grinder). Weber by no means performs it secure. They discover, they engineer, they believe out of the field. They take present concepts, ideas and parts of espresso and coffee, and take them to a wholly other engineering stage.

I imply… the BIRD in reality clicks, just like the winding of a mechanical watch, while you spin the wingnut! Come on!

I don’t know if the Weber BIRD in reality brews a excellent cup of espresso or now not. I almost certainly won’t ever know, except they begin sending some of the 1,000 they plan on making, for overview and analysis. I additionally know I might now not purchase one with the present expenses and loan bills I’ve to satisfy in my very own existence, and the place my present monetary priorities are.

However I additionally know this: if I occur to signal a significant contract for pictures paintings with a brand new shopper within the close to long term, or gained a scratch and win $5,000 lottery price tag, or the 50/50 draw on the subsequent Pacific FC football recreation I attend… I’d almost certainly purchase a BIRD. At $360, it’s pricey, however now not loopy obscene pricey. It’s additionally uncommon, very distinctive, and one thing that perhaps brews a excellent and engaging cup of espresso. 

Plus I’m a sucker for gorgeous, micron-precise engineering.