Abstract: A bottle decapper for removing twist-type bottle caps from bottles is disclosed. A conveyor means moves the bottles relative to a frame while holding the bottles rotationally stationary relative to the frame. A cap engaging means positioned above the conveyor means and fixed to the frame includes a primary segment and a back-up segment. The primary segment has a hard file surface positioned in a plane to engage a sidewall of a passing bottle cap in rolling contact to unscrew the bottle cap from the bottle. The back-up segment has a softer surface than the primary segment surface and is positioned downstream from the primary segment surface with the back-up segment surface in approximately the plane of the primary segment surface. The primary segment surface loosens the bottle caps from passing bottles and the back-up segment surface completes unscrewing any caps which were not completely unscrewed by the primary segment surface.