Standard ‘waiter’s friend’ with the hinged thingy.
Great discussion here! We have a number of really cheap waiter’s friend style devices that never get used, mostly because they’re all cheap (i.e. free) and seem to break after just one or two uses. I should probably try one of the Pulltap or similar double hinged ones just to see what a proper version is like.
Mine looks like the attachment (except for being at least 15 years old). Works great, except on corks that are really tight I sometimes feel like I’m going to snap the lever at the point where it thins down. When that happens I usually reach for the Durand and just twist the cork out.
I have a similar opener, although a cheaper knockoff. I actually prefer using the waiter’s type but agree that the giveaway variants aren’t so great.
The other type of Screwpull I suspect some people are using is shown in the image below (there are a few variants). I have one, mainly use the removable screw to help when the end of the cork breaks off (sometimes when I should have used the ah so as a makeshift Durand, sometimes when someone else opened a wine at a dinner).
Ah-so, so I get practice for the problem corks1
Coutale Sommelier Prestige - a very well made tool, fast, dependable. Bought one for all the family members. Cheers!
Monopole Stainless Ah-So.
One that says “Liquid Farm” on it.
I have an Ah-So and a Durand, but don’t usually think of them until it’s too late.
Screwpull for everyday corks. Easily centered, nothing to think about and no hinges to swap out.
Durand for anything that is much older or damaged.
Jim, can you please share how to do this?
Ditto. And I have a few pulltaps for travel. And an Ah So for DIY Durand when needed.
Sure — this has been one of the greatest finds for me.
Www.bottlethief.com (just Google Coravin argon hack)
Basically, you get a tank of food grade argon from a gas dealer and hook it up to the contraption sold via that site. So, all in, I’m guessing it’s a +/- $400 investment. It allows you to use your Coravin set up without regard to canisters, which, IMO, are a pain in the butt (and very expensive). Some comments on this:
- I’ve been using the same tank pretty much daily for over two years. Refills will cost +/- $100, eventually.
- The large tank is concealed in my cellar in a cabinet with the hose running up to the counter top.
- This allows me to have 4-5 bottles open at any given time and I can open a red and a white for dinner knowing that I won’t come close to finishing either.
- I often use the system to do comparative tastings of a flight of wines — lately, I’ve been opening 2-3 Barolos or older Bordeaux to do side-by-side comparisons
- I generally am not using it for wines that are older than 25 years — so, I cannot comment on the efficacy of using it with really old bottles; however, it works great with 1996 Bordeaux and older whites, 20 year old Sauternes, etc.
- I always finished bottles within 2 weeks and never experience any deterioration over that time. And, I mean never.
- I always immediately stick a toothpick in the hole created by the process. I also re-use the same hole.
- People complain about needing to buy a lot of needles — I go through capsules and a single easy pour needle lasts me a year, easy.
Particularly with COVID, this has proven to increase my enjoyment of the hobby immeasurably. I can’t think of anything wine related I would recommend more than this system. And, the woman in Oregon who sells it is very helpful if you ever run into an issue (I had an initial issue with a rubber gasket that was a quick fix).
I was confused by the Screwpull references as well, as the product I think of by that name is the one Al pictured in his post (screw by hand, not by lever).
I am surprised not to hear more love for the Rabbit-style openers (although some folks’ “Screwpull” references seemingly are to those; see Jeff’s picture). I thought them too gimmicky until someone gave me one as a gift, about 15 years ago. After pulling a single cork, it won a place in my cabinet, despite the relative bulk. Just too convenient and fast to pass up for the average cork (excluding rubber and older bottles). Maybe a sign of my impatience, but it takes me 15-30 seconds to remove a cork with the “waiter’s helper” and under two seconds with the Rabbit-style opener.
The one I got as a gift was a cheap, knockoff brand, and when it broke about three weeks ago, I did two things. First, I bought another cheap knockoff and resolved not to wait 15 years this time to replace a worn worm with the backup that comes in the package. Second, in an entitled, pandemic-induced, I-don’t-have-enough-to-buy-and-I-never-get-out-anymore splurge, I bought a Durand, to supplant my usual practice with old crumbly corks of shoehorning a two prong opener and the worm from my (manual screw) Screwpull into the cork at the same time. The pricing is silly, but it is the right tool for the job.
– Matt
Monopol Bacchus is the one I use all the time. I love it.
i think that’s the hicoup one i referenced earlier.
I use my Laguiole as my regular corkscrew. It’s gorgeous and feels nice. But if I’m honest, one of the 4-5 $10 double hinged corkscrews in the drawer get the job done more efficiently.
+1
I know everyone thinks these are gauche, but I open 90% of my wine with a cheap electric opener. Currently using the $20 Ozeri Nouveaux.
Of course, even better than the best corkscrew is unscrewing a screwcap. 
I use many different ones depending on the bottle I’m opening from a waiter’s friend generic model to a screwpull to a Durand and rarely my Coravin for high end wines I want to just drink a small amount a time. I like the look of the Campagnola that Robert posted. Are these the same folks that make gears and brakes for bicycles?
Le Creuset Waiter’s Friend Corkscrew, because I haven’t broken it yet.
+1
I use the same on 97% of bottles too.
I’ve noticed it doesn’t work so well on the rare plastic cork though.