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The Breakthrough System by Johannes Mengel
If this is the first you’re hearing of this, I’d be surprised. Craig Petty and Lloyd Barnes have made videos about it, the Magic Cafe thread for it has gone crazy (not necessarily in a good way), and many big names have given outstanding quotes about it.
It’s easy for this to all feel like hype and marketing propaganda. I’m here to cut through the noise and be totally transparent about what this is/isn’t and what you can expect from it if you decide to purchase it.
First off, Johannes is releasing this fully independently. He isn’t using a big magic company to produce it. His marketing strategy is the sort of “classic” strategy for someone selling a masterclass. Think about a youtube ad promising you they can give you 1M views on every video. You click their link and it takes you to a sales funnel that is doing everything they can to encourage you to invest in their masterclass to learn those techniques. The product page for this feels very similar. I think that immediately turns a lot of people off because they associate that type of marketing with scams or “masterclasses” that end up being information you already know. So I totally understand why some people feel a little put off by the marketing.
However, I’ve had a video conversation with Johannes (a one-on-one session with him is included in your purchase) and he seems to be a stand up guy with honest intentions. I don’t get “scammer” vibes from him at all. I get the vibes of someone who is passionate about the thing he’s created and wants to have full control over how it is presented. So even though it’s not my preferred marketing technique, I understand why he’s gone this route.
What exactly is it?
This is a digital masterclass that teaches you 10+ versions of how to make a tab melt through the bottom of a can. Johannes has redefined the “coin through can” premise. I think it’s safe to say the best version before this was Wayne Houchin’s “Sinful,” but this is a different level. It’s also super unique because he teaches multiple versions where the spectator does the entire trick. How many tricks do you know can be done with totally borrowed objects and be fully performed by the spectator? A really interesting thing about this that sets it apart from other tricks is that it’s almost entirely an audio and cerebral illusion. There’s nothing visual (except for one handling with the gimmick.) In a way, the magic happens in their imagination and then they see the proof of it. So if you’re looking to add something to your set that feels different than anything else you’re doing, this is great.
There are so many versions taught that you can be ready literally any time you see a can with a tab. Johannes shares some routines that go over variations that work well together in a certain order, but it’s also very easy to improvise a routine in the moment when you have the knowledge of all the versions. And each version is so easy that you don’t have to worry about forgetting how to do it. Once you learn it, you’ll be able to do it forever. There are versions using just a single can and tab, versions that use an extra something, and versions that use a simple gimmick.
Almost every version can be done as a single phase stand alone moment, but when you combine two or three into a routine, you really get to take full advantage of the system because the multiple methods cancel each other out. Just when they think they’re catching on, you’re using a totally different method. I had that experience as I watched the videos. I would feel like I was following, but then the next version would fool me. One of the best versions on the project is one that only uses a borrowed can and tab–nothing else. It fooled me badly when I saw it. Another version also totally fooled me. It happened multiple times throughout the project. I think that's a great testament to how fooling it is just from a psychological standpoint.
There are a few different variations using a gimmick, but truthfully, I don’t think you even need the gimmick. In fact, I imagine most people who buy this are only going to use the ungimmicked versions because they are that good and can be done anywhere and anytime. The only advantage to the gimmick is that it makes it a little easier to perform and allows you to do a visual penetration of the tab, but I don’t think you lose a single thing by not using the gimmick. If you just want to use the gimmick, it is very easy and cheap to make. I can see why Johannes doesn’t provide a gimmick; that would have been silly. It would have cost more to ship than it does to get what you need. Plus you’d want to make sure the gimmick matches the can you use and that would be way easier to do if you just make it yourself. And trust me, anyone can make the gimmick in about sixty seconds.
Here’s the god's honest truth: I’m going to use this often. Like many Americans, I’m a diet coke addict; I drink one or two cans a day. Everyone in my life is used to seeing me with a can of diet coke, so it’s the perfect thing I can go into anytime. You can even literally take a can out of the trash and use it. I do think it’s more suited for casual situations. Johannes shared an idea he had for how to use it on stage, but there’s no doubt about it, the impact will be much stronger as a spur of the moment thing in casual situations.
Look, I’m not going to be like some other people and say this is the most incredible magic trick ever invented. I’m not going to say it’s guaranteed to make spectators run away and scream. I can, however, guarantee that all of the methods are practical, fooling, and worth having in your brain. It’s the perfect party trick. It can be done surrounded, and most versions can even be done totally nude (not recommended, btw.) I really don’t think you could be disappointed with it. The methods are all simple, but when you try them out, you’ll see just how effective they are because of the psychology of each moment. There are no funny moves at any point. There are one or two versions that I don’t think I’ll ever use, but I could see myself using the other dozen or so techniques. The great thing about there being so many variations taught is that you’re bound to find at least a handful that you like.
Now here’s the absolute worst thing about the project: The price. I think it’s very expensive, and I’m not a fan of the trend of pricing a purely digital product at over $100 (almost $150 in this case.) It’s currently “on sale” for €74.95 through January 2026, but it jumps to €125 in February. So if you think you want it, now’s the time to get it before the price increase. That price includes all of the videos in the masterclass, a one-on-one session with Johannes, and access to the community. As I often say here, creators are free to charge whatever they want. Self producing a product is a lot of work; I get it. I certainly don't think it's a ripoff or anything. I mean heck, Hector Mancha sold a card trick for $500.
Is it “worth it” for the price? That’s a question I often get about products, but it’s one I can never answer because that’s totally subjective. All of the methods taught are great, practical, fooling, and I will use them. Is that “worth” $147? That’s up to you. You’ve made it this far in your life without needing to put a tab through a can in 15 different ways… but if you now feel the overwhelming urge to do so, you’ll learn a ton of really awesome methods in this project.
It’s currently available for €74.95 but the price goes up to €125 in February.
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