Most restaurants underestimate their Coravin costs by at least 30%. They calculate wine cost per glass but forget device depreciation, capsule costs, and gas loss. The real cost price includes four hidden components most operators miss completely.
What makes Coravin different for cost price calculation?
Regular wine service means you pull the cork and finish the bottle within 2-3 days. Coravin lets you pour exactly what you need without opening the bottle. That changes everything:
- You can sell expensive wines by the glass
- Zero waste from open bottles
- But extra costs: Coravin capsules and device depreciation
The cost price elements of a Coravin pour
Every Coravin pour has 4 cost components you must include:
💡 Example cost price Barolo per glass:
Barolo bottle: €45.00 (750ml)
- Wine per 150ml glass: €9.00
- Coravin capsule (1/15th): €0.33
- Device depreciation: €0.20
- Argon gas loss: €0.10
Total cost price: €9.63 per glass
Formula for Coravin cost price calculation
Cost price per Coravin glass = (Bottle purchase price / Number of glasses per bottle) + Capsule costs + Device depreciation + Gas loss
Where:
- Number of glasses = 750ml / your glass volume (usually 125-150ml)
- Capsule costs = €5.00 / 15 glasses = €0.33 per glass
- Device depreciation = €300 / 1500 glasses = €0.20 per glass
- Gas loss = €0.10 per glass (estimate)
⚠️ Note:
Always calculate with your actual glass volume. A 'glass of wine' can be 125ml, 150ml or 175ml. This makes €1-2 difference per glass with expensive wines.
Calculate Coravin device depreciation
A Coravin Model Two costs approximately €300. The lifespan is about 1500 glasses with normal use. That's €0.20 depreciation per glass - the kind of thing you only learn after closing your first month at a loss.
💡 Depreciation calculation:
- Coravin purchase price: €300
- Expected lifespan: 1500 glasses
- Depreciation per glass: €300 / 1500 = €0.20
Capsule costs per pour
A Coravin capsule costs approximately €5.00 and works for 15 glasses of wine. That's €0.33 capsule costs per glass, regardless of which wine you pour.
Is Coravin profitable?
Coravin adds €0.60-€0.70 costs per glass. This only works with wines you sell for at least €12-15 per glass. With cheap wines (€6-8 per glass) it destroys your margin.
💡 Break-even example:
Without Coravin: €30 bottle = €6 per glass cost price
With Coravin: €6 + €0.63 = €6.63 per glass cost price
At €15 selling price: margin drops from 60% to 56%. Still profitable.
VAT and selling price calculation
Alcoholic beverages have 21% VAT. If you sell a Coravin glass for €18.00, that's €14.88 excluding VAT. With a cost price of €9.63 you have 35% drink cost. That's standard for premium wines by the glass.
⚠️ Note:
Always calculate wine with 21% VAT, not 9%. And use the price excluding VAT for your margin calculation.
How do you calculate the cost price of a Coravin pour? (step by step)
Calculate the wine cost price per glass
Divide the purchase price of the bottle by the number of glasses you pour from it. With a 750ml bottle and 150ml glasses = 5 glasses per bottle. A €45 bottle then becomes €9 per glass in wine costs.
Add the Coravin costs
Add €0.33 capsule costs, €0.20 device depreciation and €0.10 gas loss. Total €0.63 extra costs per glass from the Coravin system.
Calculate your total cost price and margin
Add wine + Coravin costs for your total cost price per glass. Divide this by your selling price (excl. 21% VAT) to calculate your drink cost percentage. Aim for maximum 35% for premium wines.
✨ Pro tip
Track your capsule usage weekly - if you're getting fewer than 14 glasses per capsule, your needles need replacing within 48 hours. Clogged needles waste €2-3 in argon gas per bottle.
Calculate this yourself?
In the KitchenNmbrs app you can do this in just a few clicks. 7 days free, no credit card.
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Frequently asked questions
How many glasses can I pour from a Coravin capsule?
A standard Coravin capsule works for about 15 glasses of 150ml. After 15 glasses you need to insert a new capsule, which costs €0.33 per glass.
Do I need to include VAT in my Coravin cost price calculation?
No, always calculate excluding VAT for your cost price. Wine has 21% VAT, so a glass of €18 incl. VAT is €14.88 excl. VAT for your margin calculation.
From what wine price is Coravin profitable?
Coravin adds about €0.63 costs per glass. This only works with wines you can sell for at least €12-15 per glass, otherwise it destroys your margin.
How long does a Coravin device last?
A Coravin lasts about 1500 glasses with normal use. At a purchase price of €300 that's €0.20 depreciation per glass you pour.
📚 Sources consulted
- EU Verordening 852/2004 — Levensmiddelenhygiëne (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 853/2004 — Hygiënevoorschriften voor levensmiddelen van dierlijke oorsprong (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 1169/2011 — Voedselinformatie aan consumenten (2011) — Official source
- NVWA — Hygiënecode voor de horeca (2024) — Official source
- NVWA — Allergenen in voedsel (2024) — Official source
- Codex Alimentarius — International Food Standards (2024) — Official source
- FSA — Safer food, better business (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- BVL — Lebensmittelhygiene (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- Warenwetbesluit Bereiding en behandeling van levensmiddelen (2024) — Official source
- WHO — Foodborne diseases estimates (2024) — Official source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) — https://www.food.gov.uk
The HACCP standards shown in this application are for informational purposes only. KitchenNmbrs does not guarantee that displayed values are current or complete. Always consult the FSA or your local authority for the latest regulations.
Written by
Jeffrey Smit
Founder & CEO of KitchenNmbrs
Jeffrey Smit built KitchenNmbrs from 8 years of hands-on experience as kitchen manager at 1NUL8 Group in Rotterdam. His mission: give every restaurant owner control over food cost.
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