A brewing apparatus and method of use thereof is disclosed. The apparatus includes removeable lower and fixed upper parts of a vertically aligned two-part vessel are brought together to seal the vessel from atmosphere. The required amount of water is introduced into the vessel and the required amount of solid beverage making material is placed in an adjacent open topped hopper connected to the vessel by a conduit. The air between the top of the water surface and the vessel is pumped out by a vacuum means and the beverage making solids are drawn into the vessel below the surface of the water by means of the differential pressure thereby created. When all the solids have been transferred, a valve in the interconnecting conduit is closed and a partial vacuum is drawn within the vessel. After the beverage has brewed for the required time, the vacuum is released and the strained beverage is discharged from the base of the vessel.