There is a lot of buzz about Coravin and the idea interests me. I would just like to know more about the economics of it and would appreciate your input.
Four questions.
1 – Where I live, Amazon sells two types of machines, a basic one for 299 euros and a souped-up version for 721 euros. Is the price difference worth it?
2 – Amazon sells two capsules for 20 euros. About (roughly) how long does a capsule last? Does Coravin use become more expensive the less wine there is left in the bottle? Can anyone come up with an average sort of ballpark figure for evaluating the cost - per glass, per bottle, or per something I can relate to - to use the contraption?
3 – We saw what happened when Nestlé came out with their espresso machine. Despite having patented their capsules to the teeth, there were soon cheaper capsules out on the market. Do you think this will happen with Coravin?
4 - In today’s world, we are used to replacing our computers, smartphones, electrical appliances, etc. after a couple of years. How robust and long-lasting is Coravin, and what about replacement parts and after sales service?
Hi Alex. I have owned a Coravin for a while now and love it. Most nights my wife and I don’t want to down a whole bottle and are good with a glass during dinner. In this aspect, Coravin has been a game changer in this household and allowed us to drink some nicer wine more often. Here are my thoughts to your questions.
No, not worth it. There are now two versions of Coravin and they range from $300-$330. You can get them packaged with accessories like the carrying bag, but that only adds $20 or $30. The 721 EUR price is waaay too high.
Coravin claims that a capsule is good for 15 5oz glasses. I do the quick taps to be efficient with the capsules, but still find their number a bit ambitious. I tend to use it until the bottle gets slightly below half, and then we just pop the cork and finish it, which helps conserve quite a bit of argon.
This YouTube video shows a guy using some generic capsules, though not sure if there is a pressure difference or anything. Coravin capsule alternative - YouTube
I have had my Coravin for quite a while and have gone through many bottles with it. It is well-built and still in perfect shape. I have had to replace the needle - the black Teflon coating gets worn off and the needle becomes harder to push through the cork. The needles run about $30 USD and my last one was good for 15 months or so. They are easy to order and take just a minute to screw into the Coravin.
I like the Pungo. No experience with Corovin. One unexpected outcome is I find that I’ll tap a bottle with the intention of having maybe half and then the whole bottle is gone. Half way through the bottle I just pull the cork. It’s usually two or more of us just wanting another short taste of something - yeah right!