Beverage Refrigerator Buyer’s Guide

Beverage refrigerators can add convenience and ease to your life. They are functional, useful, and highly stylized. It adds luxury to everyday living and impresses your guests during a party. We’ve put together all the information you’ll need including uses for a beverage refrigerator, things to consider when shopping, and brand overviews.

Overview

A beverage refrigerator is a great addition to any home or office. It provides convenient access to soda, beer, or wine and looks great as part of the décor. It differs from a regular refrigerator because the layout is optimized for storing cans and bottles. They aren’t confined to the kitchen area and can be located in a space that’s most convenient for your life.

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Skip Ahead:

• Why you need a beverage refrigerator
• What to consider when shopping
• Brand Overview

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Why you need a beverage refrigerator

Beverage coolers are great for freeing up space in your main refrigerator as well as conveniently bringing cold drinks closer to where they are most often consumed. Because they provide additional space for bulky cans and bottles, the refrigerator will have more space available.  With a beverage refrigerator you will never have to worry about where that 12-pack of soda or beer is going to go.

Since beverage refrigerators are quite a bit smaller than a full-size refrigerator they can easily be an addition to most spaces without disrupting the décor.  For multi-level homes or offices, it’s more convenient to grab a drink from a close beverage refrigerator instead of going up or down the steps.

If you’re outside, it’s easier to grab a cold drink from an outdoor beverage refrigerator than heading back inside.  They are also sure to impress any guest.

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What to consider when shopping

The first thing to consider when purchasing a beverage center are the dimensions and location. Do you plan on having it stand alone in a room or building it into cabinetry?

Freestanding units need to have 2-3 inches of clearance on the top and sides of the unit and 3-5 inches on the back. If you plan on building it into a cabinet be sure to check the width. Most cabinets are a standard 24” wide and most built-in beverage refrigerators are the same width.

There are also slimmer designed units built to fit in 15” wide spaces. We offer a slim width unit EdgeStar 80 Can Built-In Beverage Cooler which would fit perfectly into that space. A built-in unit can be used as a freestanding unit, but a freestanding unit cannot be built-in because it would not be able to cool properly.

Indoors or Outdoors?

If you plan on keeping it outdoors, be sure to check out our selection of outdoor beverage refrigerators. These units are built of durable stainless steel and triple pane glass to keep drinks cool in extreme weather year-round. They come as built in models or freestanding models so be sure to check where the vents are located and if that fits your needs. An outdoor beverage center makes an afternoon spent grilling or a day hanging by the pool even nicer.

Can Capacity:

Next thing to consider is the can capacity you are looking for. If it’s a personal beverage refrigerator for 1-2 people, a 50-60 can capacity would be good. For a family of 4 or more people, we recommend looking at units that hold at least 80 cans. Beverage refrigerators that hold up to 150 cans or more are ideal if you host a lot of gatherings or parties. A larger can capacity unit can also save you money because you will be able to buy and store beverages in bulk. If you have wine enthusiasts in the family, dual zone units are great because it allows you to store wine at a warmer temperature for optimal storage and other beverages at a cooler temperature.

Budget:

Finally, budget is important to keep in mind while shopping. Units range from $150-$2000. Generally if a unit is less expensive it will hold fewer cans and bottles. The more expensive models will hold more cans and may also include features like dual zone temperature, digital temperature control, or safety locks. Built in beverage refrigerators tend to be more expensive than freestanding units because the engineering to vent hot air through the front is more complex. Beverage refrigerators can be an investment, but the convenience and style make it a great addition to any room!

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Brand Overview

Avanti:

Avanti is an innovative leader in full line compact, countertop, and specialty appliances for over 41 years.

Danby:

Danby is the largest compact and specialty appliance company in North America. Danby’s products exceed environment and safety standards, while providing superior products and competitive prices.

Edgestar:

Edgestar is an industry leader in the compact appliance field and guarantees quality, innovative products. Edgestar’s customer service team stands behind the products and provides helpful, friendly customer support.

Marvel:

Marvel is a premium line of refrigerator and cooking products. Today, Marvel continues to stay at the forefront of refrigeration technology.

Summit:

Summit has been a leading supplier of compact, specialty, commercial and medical refrigerator and freezers since 1969. Summit products embody quality from the inside out.

More on Beverage Fridges

• Beverage Refrigerators FAQs: Questions & Anwers
• Beverage Refrigerator Glossary: Common Terms You Should Know
• 6 Reasons to Add a Beverage Refrigerator to Your Entertainment Areas
• Freestanding vs. Built-in Beverage Refrigerators: Utilize Your Space