Gransnet forums

Chat

Douwe Egberts Coffee Jar Tops; one of [my]lifes little mysteries....

(12 Posts)
Tegan Tue 22-Sept-15 11:29:03

I bought some last week because it was on offer and the jars are nice for keeping things in [buttons etc]. But I've decanted the coffee into a Kenco jar because I find it virtually impossible to get the top off without a]using a crowbar and b]breaking all of my nails in the process. Is there a knack to getting the top off these jars; Kilner ones are similar but easy to open? Am I just very weak and/or impractical?? Have the people who make them ever actually tried to take the tops off [or do they buy Kenco/Nescafe/own brand instead]. Has anyone ever actually TOLD them it's impossible to get the tops off?

tanith Tue 22-Sept-15 12:20:26

You need to twist as you pull , I agree they aren't easy..

Greenfinch Tue 22-Sept-15 12:22:13

I totally agree with you Tegan.
I just twist and wiggle till they budge.-grin

trisher Tue 22-Sept-15 12:25:04

Oh so agree. I thought it was an age thing but the other day DDIL couldn't manage either! Such a bad design.

FarNorth Tue 22-Sept-15 12:38:37

I was just thinking that recently too. Have to hold it over the sink to avoid coffee sprinkles everywhere.

Indinana Tue 22-Sept-15 12:48:16

Yes, totally agree. Ridiculous design. Have you told them Tegan? They have a Facebook page - might be worth mentioning it on there. Someone else has, so the more people complain maybe they'll do something.

Copied from their FB page:

"I love the taste of your coffee but have difficulty getting the top off . Today I bought a jar . Tried for 5 mins to get the top of with no success . I asked my partner bearing in mind he is gym fanatic with weights and even he could not get the top Off . After 10 minutes of him trying he eventually got the top of but as he pulled it off the force of it made half the contents go all over my freshly mopped floor . So I went to get my dustpan and brush and at the same time my mop bucket but by the time I came back my shin-poo had locked up half of what was on the floor . I have now got a hyper dog with very bad flatulence that smells of coffee"

Tegan Tue 22-Sept-15 12:55:34

My dog did that last night! I said to her 'well, you won't be able to sleep now after alL that caffeine'. However, in desperation I just attacked the lid with a knife [grrr] and realised that the plastic bit comes off. So, I'm assuming that it's only there to keep the coffee dry until it's sold and then you take the plastic off [mind you, it will then get damp as the glass isn't very airtight]. Still, at least I can now use it to store buttons etc. My daughter has DE coffee; I wonder if she knows the plastic comes off??

soontobe Tue 22-Sept-15 13:06:42

I give the jar to DH since on the last occasion I tried, I literally managed to fling a 1/3 of a nearly full jar over the inside of one of my kitchen cupboards. The sheer number of granules reminded me of grains of sand.

If he is not likely to be around, I keep the lid very loose.

Tegan Tue 22-Sept-15 13:15:35

I had to clean the soles of my shoes in case I'd got a few grains on them and it would have stained my new carpet in the living room.

loopylou Tue 22-Sept-15 18:52:38

I agree!
And has anyone tried realigning Carte Noire plastic lids? They don't square up to the jar after I've opened the jar the first time hmm

There must be a knack.....

Elrel Tue 22-Sept-15 20:37:51

Thanks, everyone - I truly thought it was just me and my small and clumsy hands!

thatbags Tue 22-Sept-15 20:47:35

Blunt knife blade, edge not end, under the edge of the lid and lever (bit like those old shoe polish tins with that thing that you twist to get thetop off) used to work but we don't use that coffee so I haven't had to do it for yonks.