I have removed them with force using a tool I crafted to hook into the 5 holes on the cap. I have also dipped in acetone for a few minutes and then just unscrewed it.
I am happy to remove for you or others if you send me a empty cartridge, I will send you back a plastic cap.
This was the single primary reason that I have not purchased the Coravin. The “proprietary” argon cartridge system is really annoying since regular argon cartridges aren’t very expensive.
And, this place seems to get your cost down to about $3.25/cartridge after shipping. A lot better than the proprietary $10 ones (don’t know what they charge for shipping in addition).
I can’t tell from the picture, but those might not be threaded. You need threaded cartridges. I am going to check into seeing if I can get a discount from the manufacturer I listed earlier if I buy in quantity.
Anyone know if the ReServe argon cartridges will STILL work in a Coravin despite their disclaimers that they will not work? I know you can remove or rather unscrew the Coravin cartridge top using a pliers and/or first soaking it a few minutes in acetone & rinsing the cap, however the latest ReServe cartridges & Will Not Work disclaimers concern me. Anyone using the latest Reserve cartridges in their Coravin as of this date, 11-18-14?
BTW, I had a chance to meet Greg Lambrecht a few weeks ago at a conference here in Montreux. The real reason they are so hardcore about the Argon is that, in his own tests over the years before they launched, he has found VERY wide variability in the quality/purity of Argon from different suppliers and correspondingly variable results. They stand firmly behind the ones they are selling. Your results may vary dramatically if you get the cheapest ones on the market and shove their adapter on. They picked one of the most expensive Argon sources to ensure the best WINE PRESERVATION results.
I compare the cost of the cartridges to the cost of the wine, and for me at $10 a cartridge the cost is justified. I only use the CV for wines over $50, and get 15 pours out of a cartridge. That’s about 5 bottles per cartridge because I only CV the first 3 glasses out of a bottle. It adds roughly $2 to the cost of the bottle. For that money I get a fresh glass every time.