The Truetap hasnt had any stock issues since we published this guide, but if you cant find it, we recommend OXOs Steel Double Lever Waiters Corkscrew. Then use the mechanics of the lever to lift it, and your vino is ready to go. You just need something thatll get corks out easily and that will last. Unfortunately for us, there are countless knockoff brands around the world. A quick search on Amazon shows this to be true, with dozens of models that claim to be the real thing. Nick Guy is a former senior staff writer covering Apple and accessories at Wirecutter. Hold it right and this wont be an issue, but we suspect many people will make this mistake at least a few times. Subscribe now for unlimited access. Waiters corkscrews go by many different names: sommelier knife, waiters friend, and wine key among them. To figure out the best options, we spoke to a number of wine servers and sommeliers people who open bottle after bottle, night after night, among other experts. I really believe that a wine key is something quite personal. Having been with Wine Enthusiast catalog since 2005, when he is not writing about wine he also runs the wine storage division and is head of W.E.s in-house education program. However, with knockoffs rampant and high shipping fees on those shipped directly from the Barcelona-based Pulltaps, we set out to find the Pulltaps design from a reliable source. If you have only ever tried lever-assisted wine openers and want something that is faster and easier on the hands than a waiters corkscrew, our tests showed that electric openers are much easier to use. For home use, simple is best, Ray Isle, Food & Wines executive wine editor, agreed. Not surprisingly, they all worked exactly the same. Its also 1.7 ounces heavier than the Oster. For testing, we narrowed this list down to five corkscrews: Cork Pops Legacy ($25), Metrokanes Rabbit Vertical Lever Style Corkscrew ($45), Osters Electric Wine Bottle Opener ($19), Ozeris Nouveaux II Electric Wine Bottle Opener ($20), and Waring Pros WO50B Cordless Wine Opener ($35). As for the lever, this one is double-hinged but actually more difficult to use. Starting at about $7 apiece, the Truetap is an affordable upgrade if you dont like the wine opener you have now. Although we find the Truetap to be an easy-to-use, portable, and inexpensive corkscrew, its not for everyone. Its also slightly larger than Truetap in all dimensions and heavier by 44 grams, which lends it a pleasantly heavy feel in the hand. During the first attempt to use it, we were shocked by just how quickly the cork popped out and how much wine splattered on us and the inside of the tool. We tested each corkscrew by, well, opening bottles of wine. Its not a bad opener, but it doesnt stand up to the Oster or Waring Pro. Within about 6 or 7 seconds, the cork will have been removed from the bottle. Youre able to see whats going on through the action window (and ours has the blue light, so its really easy to see). Weve outlined the steps below, as demonstrated by our VP of Sales in this video tutorial! It has a thin worm that is made of strong metal., Jill Zimorski, wine director at the Hotel Jerome and formerly of Bryan Voltaggios Volt in Frederick, MD, agreed.
It does require a degree of physical strength and dexterity that some people may not possess. The third electric opener we tried was Ozeris Nouveaux II Electric Wine Bottle Opener ($20). From no-fuss WINE OPENER BUYING GUIDE Just like there are many ways you can skin a cat, there are even more ways WINE OPENER BUYING GUIDE Just as wine drinkers prefer different styles of wines, many also have a preference to the WINE OPENER BUYING GUIDE After a certain amount of usage, sometimes corkscrews will not remove the cork as easily as 2016 - 2020 Enthusiast Companies. Both are variations on the traditional Pulltaps-style design. So they are electric, so they have a charge. This is a good option, but doesnt beat our top choice. We eliminated the majority based on ease of use but also considered size and price. While its a knockoff of the stylereally, identical save for the name engraved in the hingeits a high quality option with all the same benefits. These options are nice but not necessary for most wine drinkers. Of the assistive wine openers, we preferred the electric models to the mechanical favorite from last year. Its small, light, and easy to use, and it feels totally sturdy. Yes, it is a knockoff of the Pulltaps corkscrewthe corkscrew that most experts recommendbut in our tests, we found it to be similar in handling, one of the least expensive models we tried, and solidly built. The best assistive wine opener for most people is Osters Electric Wine Bottle Opener. Easy to grab, easy to use, and inexpensive, you cant go wrong with this electric opener. And if you want flair, then you can order a colored one. Oster says the wine openers battery will last for 30 bottles before it has to be recharged, but theres really no reason not to return it to the base after each use. But often bottles sold through wine clubs arent the best quality and are overpriced. Pick up a Pulltaps, and youre all set. Again, itll take a long time for people to hit this wall, but it certainly doesnt hurt to have more power. Simply place the corkscrew right on top and press the down button. If we can help to recommend the right wine opening accessory for your needs, visit our online store and talk to one of our expert staff members! So it sounds pretty straightforward, right? One advantage to this one is the longer-running battery, which is supposed to last for 60 bottles. In total, we tested these eight models: True Fabrications Truetap, The Wine Enthusiasts Pulltap's Double-Hinged Waiters Corkscrew, another Wine Enthusiast Pulltaps with the same name but from a different vendor , Pulltap's Double-Hinged Waiters Corkscrew, OXOs Good Grips Waiter's Corkscrew, the OXO Steel Double Lever Waiter's Corkscrew, the PullParrot, and Innovation Coutales Sommelier. He has been reviewing iPhones, iPads, and related tech since 2011and stopped counting after he tested his 1,000th case. *At the time of publishing, the price was $6.
All rights reserved. There are also some slightly fancy versions (chrome and such) if desired.. The Truetap from True Fabrications was identical to the Pulltaps-engraved models from Amazon. We conducted an additional 7.5 hours of research on Amazon and sites including AbleData, the National Public Website on Assistive Technology, and Wine Folly, and ended up with a list of 21 options. None of the openers fell apart, and none broke the cork. The double-hinge makes pulling the cork out of a bottle a simple process. If thats the case, consider the Oster Electric Wine Bottle Opener we discuss below. Read on to learn more. So, lets see how they work. We measured it at about 74 decibels from a distance of 11 inches, a little quieter than a power drill and just a few dB louder than the Waring Pro. There are actually two steps; you first lift from the lip in the middle, and then, once the lever has reached its apex, the one at the end. The craziest opener we tested was Cork Pops Legacy ($23). The Truetap is simply going to be easier for most people to get their hands on, and its a high-quality product in its own right. Cheers! We couldnt see any reason to choose any of the more expensive models we tested over this one. Again and again, the experts told us Pulltaps is the way to go. It also has a slightly different lever design, bottle cap opener, and blade design. Rather than the smooth motion that Truetap offers when you open and close it, the metal lever on this one clicks into place when compacted or extended. If it seems hard, dont worry. I found it to be a totally smooth process, as did my testing assistant. For those with grip issues, or those looking for an opener that can handle multiple bottles without tiring out your hand, we recommend the Oster Electric Wine Bottle Opener. The design is sleek, and user interface is simple. Once the worm is in, turn the corkscrew the rest of the wayabout five rotations total. Because theyre so similar, all the input from the experts we spoke to still applies. Laguioles Waiters Corkscrew is $20, while the handmade options from Code38 start at more than $200. It takes one finger to do, its a lot of fun, and they make for a really nice decorative piece as well. It got Wine bottles with cork closures typically have a protective foil wrapping around the top of the bottles neck. Theyre all available at wineenthusiast.com. Of the trio purchased from Amazon, which ranged in price from $2 to $10, one came with no logo etched into the metal arm, one came with the Pulltaps name and the phrase Patent, and the other took weeks to arrive from China. If you cant find the Truetap, go with OXOs Steel Double Lever Waiters Corkscrew. We found it somewhat difficult to get the corkscrew to catch the cork. Consumer Reports tested a number of electronic corkscrews, but included a few manual models in the mix, calling Pulltaps one worth trying. Maggie Hoffman is the drinks editor for Serious Eats, and has also pitted wine openers against each other to find the best. The Oster Electric Wine Bottle Opener costs half as much as Cooks Illustrateds top pick, the Waring, and is in fact the least expensive of the assistive openers we tested. If you dont hold it the right way, the lever slips right off of the mouth of the bottle. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, OXOs Steel Double Lever Waiters Corkscrew, Bar Boulud, Epicerie Boulud, and Boulud Sud, The Wine Enthusiasts Pulltap's Double-Hinged Waiters Corkscrew, another Wine Enthusiast Pulltaps with the same name, Pulltap's Double-Hinged Waiters Corkscrew, OXO Steel Double Lever Waiter's Corkscrew, Metrokanes Rabbit Vertical Lever Style Corkscrew, National Public Website on Assistive Technology, Ozeris Nouveaux II Electric Wine Bottle Opener, Metrokane Rabbit Vertical Lever Style Corkscrew, How to Open a wine bottle with Gary Vaynerchuk, How to Set the Table for Your First Dinner Party, Everything Wirecutter Recommends From OXO, The Open Secret Behind Many Trendy Wine Clubs Overpriced, Mediocre Wines. Its hard to actually find a Pulltaps that you know is a Pulltaps, at least in the States. A nudge got it back on track, but it would still be askew about half the time. Hosting your first dinner party may seem daunting, but we've found all the best items youll need to throw a casual, stress-free dinner. You want a corkscrew that is easy to use and takes up as little space as possible. The other difference is how the double lever works. The double hinge makes a big difference by providing so much leverage. Of the 2,370 customers whove reviewed it, 1,652 have left five-star ratings and it has an average of 4.3 stars. How do we get the cork back out of the corkscrew? Previously we had recommended Metrokanes Rabbit Vertical Lever Style Corkscrew, but we wanted to test it against some of the different assistive openers available now. Even more sleek and sophisticated, our 6-piece Electric Blue Pro All-In-One apparatus tackles opening, preservation, and aeration. The WO50B works the same way as the Oster Electric Wine Bottle Opener, although it took a few seconds longer at 8.5 seconds. Instead, the included charger plugs directly into the back of the opener, which actually allows it to take up less table space. A tab at the far end of the lever must be pushed in towards the bottle to activate the first lever. It works the same way as our main pick, but shows OXOs style. This list includes some electric options, others that use a lever system, and even one that removes corks using pressurized gas. Its hard to say if any were authentic for sure though, because none of them came in Pulltex or Pulltaps packaging. For non-wine professionals, a simple $10 Pulltaps model with the double-action hinge is perfectly appropriate and acceptable. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Their primary function, as with any corkscrew, is to remove the corks from bottles of wine, of course, but they generally have a small blade for removing the foil, as well as a bottle opener for popping the top off a beer. Press the up button, the worm comes back out of the corkscrew, and the cork pops right out. We wish it were easier to recommend Pulltaps, as Pulltex deserves credit for originating the look and feel. Most similar to the Deco is our Electric Blue Automatic Wine Opener, whose 3-piece set comes with a foil cutter, charging stand, and option for personalization. Either way, for many people at home, this wont be a huge advantage. With the double-hinged style, the cork comes right out. Though its few dollars more expensive, it at least comes from a well-known company and isnt a knockoff being sold by someone claiming to be a different company. Of the manual corkscrews, the $10 Pulltap's got the most mentions from experts. This wouldnt be so bad if Pulltex sold directly in the US, but the Barcelona-based companys website adds exorbitant shipping fees. I found it took a lot of strength to raise the lever once the corkscrew was in the cork, and so did my second tester. Unfortunately, its not that easy. There are many different styles of corkscrews, ranging from a simple wing, where the worm (the metal helix that is driven into the cork) runs perpendicular to a wood handle, to electronic beasts that do all the work for you at the push of a button. This is our Electric Blue Deco Corkscrew, which is actually pretty cool because itll tell you the temperature of the bottle as well just by aiming the gauge at it and pressing the button. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Sure, there are nail guns, but if youre just driving one nail, theyre not really necessary. Not surprisingly, they all worked exactly the same. They range from no-name companies to more premium sellers. Aside from the lower prices and color variety, there is no difference. Holding them side by side, we found this to be totally true. %PDF-1.6
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In a New York Times article about the Code38, the papers wine critic Eric Asimov called Pulltaps his standby home corkscrew. Cooks Illustrated picked the Pulltaps as its top choice. He once had the bright idea to build and burn down a room to test fireproof safes. This one also houses a rechargeable battery, but theres no charging dock. Then theres the Innovation Coutale Sommelier ($10). This ones plugged in. While its functionally the same, the bottle opener and blade are better; the double lever works as well as Truetaps. Youll feel it release and maybe even hear a small pop. The smallest tool of the bunch, its a plastic housing on top of a long needle, with a canister of compressed air. He earned his Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Certified Specialist of Wine with the Society of Wine Educators. When asked what the difference between the models was, True Fabrications Lindsey Wilcox told us, The Pulltaps and Truetap are essentially the same product. The same goes for Electric Wine Bottle Openers. You can think of a wine opener like a hammer. The Pulltaps and Truetap are essentially the same product. Cooks Illustrated (subscription required, and encouraged) offers its recommendation, saying, This opener removed corks effectively, yet it was significantly louder than the others. We didnt find the sound output problematic at all. Very cool. For the size and complexity of this one, you dont really get any real benefits compared to a standard double-hinged waiters corkscrew. When it did, it also said Pulltaps, but wasnt better than the other models we tried. The cork is out! 30 0 obj
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We found that $10 or less is all thats necessary. It took about 14 seconds to remove a cork, which is double the amount of time of our pick. Although you can spend plenty of money on a gadgety wine opener, every wine expert we spoke to said they preferred a simple, double-hinged corkscrew. As far as build goes, if youve used OXO products before, the steel body and matte rubber handle will be very familiar. While Pulltexs Pulltaps is the major name brand when it comes to waiters corkscrews, there are many others. Usually retailing for around $15, it competes with Truetap in every way. Its sort of like the stick shift of wine keys. Once the bottle is open, weve found that the best way to keep open wine fresh is to pick up a can of Private Preserve, recork it, and refrigerate it. You also want ones that are made well and arent too expensive, said Michael Madrigale, head sommelier for Michelin-star chef Daniel Bouluds Bar Boulud, Epicerie Boulud, and Boulud Sud. Once the corkscrew catches, itll drive its way down, at which point an internal mechanism will begin to push against the neck of the bottle, lifting the cork. hbbd``b`$ @,`1 A| H$.t A ? "(
What more could you want? Heres our advice on all-in-one problem solvers. Its not as easy to use as the Oster and Waring, though. The Electric Wine Bottle Opener is a 10.75-inch-long, 2.25-inch-diameter plastic tube and comes with a plastic charging base that holds it upright and stores the foil cutter. We cant recommend this one. Others may not be thrilled with purchasing whats perceived as a knock-off product, but it is the best value for the dollar. 43 0 obj
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Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. We independently review everything we recommend. %%EOF
Hi, Im Marshall Tilden with The Wine Enthusiast, and today were gonna learn how to use an electric corkscrew. While they all look pretty much the same, small differences in the details of the no-name model make it feel cheaper. Unlike wing corkscrews, the True Fabrications' Truetap is compact, slim, and affordable, which means you can buy a couple and keep extras in your desk, glove compartment, or backyardso youre always ready to open up a bottle. We compared notes afterwards and were able to come to an easy consensus. Really, its a one-two step process. Once it did, the engine really sounded like it was straining, much more so than in either of the other openers we tested.
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