Bottle openers

A bar blade is a single flat piece of metal with a notch at each end, used with a simple lever action against the cap. It's the cheapest, quickest option and has nothing to fold or break. A waiter's friend is a folding tool that combines a bottle opener, a small foil-cutting knife and usually a two-stage corkscrew lever, so it handles both wine and beer. It takes up more pocket space and has moving hinges that can eventually loosen, but it's the standard choice for anyone serving both wine and bottled beer, since one tool covers both jobs. For a home kitchen drawer, a bar blade is usually enough. For table service or hospitality work, a waiter's friend earns its place.

The classic method is to hook the cap's edge under a firm, straight edge, such as a kitchen counter, a table lip or a door frame, and push down sharply on the neck so the cap pries off in one motion. A cigarette lighter, a sturdy spoon handle or the edge of another bottle cap can work the same way, using leverage rather than force. Keys or a metal ring can also lever a cap off if you catch the edge properly. These methods put pressure on glass and metal in ways a proper opener is designed to absorb, so there's a real risk of chipped glass, a slipped hand or a cut if the cap doesn't give cleanly. They're fine as a one-off when you're caught out, but a u00a33 bar blade removes the risk entirely and is worth keeping to hand.

A wall-mounted opener needs two screw fixings, so it leaves two small holes whether you're fitting it to plasterboard, brick or the underside of a shelf. Beyond that, it doesn't damage the surface in normal use, though the downward pull of opening a bottle does put ongoing strain on the fixing point, which is why a solid wall or a screwed-down worktop edge works better than plasterboard alone. If you're renting or don't want to drill, some cap-catcher styles can be fitted to the underside of a shelf or bar top instead of a vertical wall, and a few sit in a weighted or clamp-on base that needs no fixings at all. For a permanent home bar or a trade kitchen, screwing one to a stud or solid surface is still the sturdiest option.