A method of brewing a beverage using a beverage maker having a brew container, a first cylindrical section having a first diameter and a second section attached to the first cylindrical section having a portion with a second greater diameter; a liquid reservoir; a liquid delivery system to deliver the liquid to the brew container; a plunger assembly having a filter portion to filter the substance to produce the beverage from the liquid and a gasket to form a seal between the plunger assembly and an inner wall of the brew container in the first cylindrical section. As the plunger assembly is raised through the liquid a vacuum is formed between the plunger assembly and the bottom of the brew container and the filter traps and separates the substance to produce the beverage from the beverage.