Best Beverage Refrigerator – Buyer’s Guide

As for me, my beverage refrigerator became a great addition to my apartment design and travel plans.

Really, a beverage refrigerator adds convenience and luxury to your parties, in or out. Putting it in the dining room will make serving drinks convenient and free up space in the main fridge. It’s important, though, to choose the correct size and proper features. In case you need help to make the right choice, here’s a TOP 5 and lots of useful info after the list.

Comparison Table & Main Features

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Buyer’s Guide: Beverage Refrigerator FAQ and Usage Tips

The right features for your beverage refrigerator depend on your lifestyle, budget, and size. You will have to decide which features are most important for you, and consequently what beverage refrigerators offer those features.

What Are the Main Features of a Cooler?

Here are some of the features to pay attention to when choosing a beverage cooler:
Capacity. Storing too much in a small one won’t allow proper cooling. And vice versa, if you store 12 cans in an 84-can cooler, there will be too much space, and the air there will heat quickly, which will make the cooler’s insulation ineffective.
Adjustable shelves. Beverage refrigerators differ from a standard fridge in certain ways, including adjustable shelves and trays for storing. The shelf configuration in a beverage refrigerator is typically two shelves at the top, two shelves in the middle, and three shelves at the bottom. You can easily change it around and make it work for your space.
Reversible door. The way the door of the cooler opens can limit the space where you can put the unit. But if it’s reversible, a lot more options are open.
Safety lock. A great feature if you have kids and store alcohol in the refrigerator.
Energy Star. Look for the models with an Energy Star (check energystar.gov). This means the appliance saves more energy than one without this label.
LED lighting. Good interior lighting helps you quickly read beverage labels. Most air conditioners use low-temperature LED bulbs, which are the most efficient option. Just watch out for hot spots that make it harder for your fridge to cool down inside.

Does Environment Temperature Affect the Work of My Cooler?

Among other things, yes, the temperature of the room or outside (depending on where you store the cooler) matters. Most beverage coolers cool between high 30 and low 50. Some can cool down to 30, such as the EdgeStar 103 Can and the Advanced 5 Bottle Beverage Cooler. If it’s outside this range, the appliance may have issues with reaching or maintaining the needed temperature.

The outside temperature also matters. If you increase the ambient temperature by 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, your CPU will lose 50 watts continuously with its cooling system at a constant level of cooling power (eg, constant fan speed or Peltier power), then the core temperature of the CPU will decrease. So even your cooler manages to work properly, its life expectancy becomes way shorter in the hot environment.

It looks like you should store the fridge in a room with climate control and close the door well to make sure hot humid air doesn’t get into the cooler.

How to Prevent Condensation and Mold?

The reason for both problems is humidity. The more you open the door and the more the difference between the refrigerator and outside temperatures are, the more condensation there will be. And humid air is inside the unit causes mold.
The best way out is to clean and wipe the refrigerator regularly. Take everything out of it before cleaning, and don’t forget to work on the shelves and the door seal. Also, it’s recommended to turn the unit off and unplug it prior to cleaning.
Here are some nice solutions:

1 part baking soda + 2 parts water;
1 part vinegar + 1 part water (may leave an odor for some time);
1 part bleach + 10 parts water;
1 tbsp. Borax + 1 cup water.

In addition to cleaning, try not to leave the door open for a long time to prevent warm humid air from going into the unit. If you need to use the cooler often, consider these moisture absorption options:

Why Is My Cooler Making Strange Noises?

A strange noise is one of the biggest concerns of beverage cooler users. In most cases, the sound comes from the fans inside the unit. Those help air circulation – getting warm air out and getting the cold air in. They also help make cooling in all parts of the unit as equal as possible.
Over time, dust builds up on the blades of the fans so they start wobbling a bit. Usually, this is the main source of the weird noises you may hear coming from the cooler.
Try locating the noisy fan by stopping them one after another. Clean it with a brush or a vacuum (use the additional brush-like head). If it doesn’t help, there must be a piece of debris in the rotor. You can take the fan out and clean it more thoroughly.
If you aren’t sure you can take the fan out yourself or if the noise comes from another part of the unit, call an expert.

Useful Tips on Using a Beverage Cooler

● Don’t put too much or a few cans and bottles in the cooler to make sure it works efficiently.
● Control the temperature inside with a thermometer. Keep in mind that the temperature of the inside of the cooler and the beverages stored will be different.
● If storing food (which is not recommended according to FDA), make sure it’s preserved.
● Control the amount of time the door of the cooler is open, try to minimize it.
● Organize the beverages inside to make sure you don’t need a lot of time to find what you need.
● Clean and wipe the unit regularly, check ice storages if any, inspect the fans.

So, What Is The Best Beverage Refrigerator?

Best Beverage Refrigerator

1. NewAir Beverage Refrigerator And Cooler – Great Temperature Control

[amazon box=”B07PH477F8″ tracking_id=”frozen00-20″]

NewAir Beverage Refrigerator (official website) SPECIFICATIONS

Capacity 3.4 Cubic Feet – 126 cans
Product Dimensions 18.4 x 18.9 x 32.9 inches
Net weight 65.9 pounds
Form Factor Compact
Installation Type Freestanding
Color Stainless Steel
Defrost Manual Defrost
Voltage 110 Volts
Power 85 watts
Defrost Manual Defrost
Door Hinges Right
Door Material Type Glass
Shelves 4, Wire
Certification ETL
Warranty One-year limited

Use Anywhere & Store Anything In

This powerful refrigerator is the perfect choice for any room in your home, including kitchens and offices. It has an efficient cooling system that can keep up with all of your drinks – even while not being used!

Set-and-Forget Thermostat

The NewAir 126 Can Compact Beverage Fridge will keep your drinks at an optimum temperature for refreshment. Choose from 7 custom settings with the powerful compressor cooling system to ensure great tasting beer and soda no matter which you choose!

NewAir

Compact but Spacious

The NewAir 126 Can Compact Beverage Fridge is the perfect size for your everyday needs. With a large 126-can capacity, you’ll never have to worry about running out of space in this fridge! And with its compact design that takes up minimal amount of room – it’s not just efficient. It enhances our lifestyle too! Check price at Newair.com, Homedepot.com, Walmart.com, Lowes.com.
Pros
  • Tinted door to prevent UV lights
  • Gorgeous design
  • Vibration-free
  • 1-year warranty
Cons
  • Has one adjustable foot

2. hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler – Smart Thermostat

[amazon box=”B0786TJC33″ tracking_id=”frozen00-20″]

hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler (official website) SPECIFICATIONS

Capacity 3.2 Cubic Feet
Product Dimensions 17.3 x 18.9 x 33.3 inches
Net weight 68.3 pounds
Form Factor Mini Fridges
Installation Type Under-Counter
Finish Type Glossy
Color Stainless Steel and Black
Voltage 120V
Power 240W
Defrost Auto Defrost Mode
Advanced Temperature Controls Cools down to 34°F, large digital display for quick monitoring and setting of any temperature, memory function
Lighting White LED interior light
Shelves 3 adjustable and removable chrome shelves
Power Cooling System Energy efficient advanced technology, Whisper quiet compressor, Consistent air circulation
Certification Energy Star Rated


You can also check our best beer fridges top.

Design

The hOmeLabs cooler looks elegant and suits both as a part of the kitchen ensemble and a couch-side part of the living room. It has a see-through glass door with a frame made from stainless steel. The door is reversible, although the manufacturer states it’s only left-hinge. There’s also an LED illumination, that you can turn on in the evening to see what’s inside.

Homelabs

Capacity and Performance

It can hold up to 120 standard-size cans, but you can also store bottles in there. The inside organization can be adjusted according to the drinks you’re going to store. There are three chrome shelves that can be removed for cleaning or additional space. There’s one temperature zone and it cools down to 34F. You can see and change it on the control panel.

Special Features

The cooler is equipped with a smart thermostat that will restore the temperature you set before in case of a power outage or unplugging. There’s also an auto-defrost feature to avoid ice buildup. It’s a great model that has everything I was looking for. Compact yet with a nice capacity, neutral metallic design, auto-defrost, and an easy-to-use thermostat. It’s also very quiet so I put it in the living room to save time running to the kitchen to get drinks for my guests. Check price at Homelabs.com, Walmart.com.
Pros
  • Smart thermostat
  • Quiet sound
  • Reversible door
  • Well-packed for delivery
  • Energy-star model
Cons
  • Not found

3. Antarctic Star Wine Cooler/Cabinet Beverage Refrigerator – Reinforced Door

[amazon box=”B07F9PH82Z” tracking_id=”frozen00-20″]

Antarctic Star Wine Fridge SPECIFICATIONS

Capacity 3.2 Cubic Feet
Product Dimensions 17.5 x 31.5 x 19.7 inches
Item Weight 48.5 pounds
Form Factor Mini Fridges
Installation Type Free Standing
Vibration control Low-noise, Low-vibration (According to the manufacturer)
Color Black
Voltage 120V
Minimum temperature 40 °F (4°C)
Maximum temperature 61 °F (16°C)
Temperature adjustment type Mechanical knob
UV resistance Double-paned glass
Interior light Soft blue LED with On/Off switch
Door type UV-shielded glass with black border and stainless steel frame Air-tight seal
Shelves 4 (3 of which are slide-out), Removable, Adjustable, Stainless steel wire
Warranty One-year

Design

This Antarctic Star cooler is made for storing wine, but you can use it for beer as well. It’s warmer than the other coolers so a higher alcohol volume of beer is preferred. The unit has blue soft LED lights inside to show the wine to advantage. It’s compact and stylish, good both for the kitchen and for the living room.

FYI: Best mini-fridges TOP.

Capacity and Performance

It’s said to store 26 standard wine bottles. It’s important to remember what a standard wine bottle looks like. It’s quite good for the long-term aging of your wines due to its flexible temperature settings. The cooler works at 40F to 61F and the perfect temperature is said to be 55F.

Antarctic Star

Special Features

The unit has a reversible reinforced glass door that keeps UV rays outside and helps maintain air humidity inside. It doesn’t vibrate to make sure the natural sediment in wine is not disturbed. This one has great features but seems a bit too professional for me. Besides, some reviews say it’s not very long-lasting temperature-wise, cools more than it should in several months. However, it’s not a mass problem, so I still recommend this model due to its special features and great design. Check price at Walmart.com.
Pros
  • Reinforced glass reversible door
  • Quiet sound
  • 1-year warranty
  • Soft LED lights
Cons
  • May be too cold for some wines even at the warmest temperatures
  • Capacity may not be 100% accurate

4. Vremi Beverage Refrigerator – Digital Command Center

[amazon box=”B07Y297DKL”]

Vremi Beverage Refrigerator (official website) SPECIFICATIONS

Capacity 3.2 Cubic Feet
Product Dimensions 18.9 x 17.3 x 33.3 inches
Item Weight 68.3 pounds
Form Factor Mini Fridges
Installation Type Free Standing
Color Stainless Steel and Black
Voltage 115V
Wattage 75W
Working Temperatures 34F to 50F
Material Type Stainless Steel
Door Type Glass, Reversible
Noise Level 42 dB
Interior light Soft white backlit LED lighting
Defrost Auto defrosting function
Shelves 3 adjustable and removable chrome shelves
Special Features Energy-efficient advanced cooling technology, whisper-quiet compressor, a small convection fan
Certification Energy Star Rated

Vremi Beverage Refrigerator

Design

The Vremi cooler is very much like the hOmeLabs one. It has almost the same level of quality and features yet it’s cheaper. There are three chrome shelves you can adjust to put non-standard cans or bottles there. The raised edges of the shelves allow you to arrange the cans and bottles anyway you want – they won’t fall out when the door’s open.

Capacity and Performance

The unit stores 120 standard-sized cans but isn’t limited to one size. The working temperatures are 34F to 50F.

Vremi

Special Features

The air is evenly distributed within the cooler due to the Vremi Vortex special cooling tech. There are also the auto-defrost feature and a smart thermostat. It’s a nice cheaper version of my favorite cooler, great for standard use. If you don’t need anything extra-fancy, this may be your choice. Check price at Vremi.com, Walmart.com.
Pros
  • Reversible door
  • Smart thermostat
  • Quiet sound
  • Auto-defrost
  • Energy-star model
Cons
  • Not found

5. EdgeStar Stainless Steel Beverage Cooler – Great Capacity and Lock

[amazon box=”B00OM1NFIM” tracking_id=”frozen00-20″]

EdgeStar Stainless Steel Beverage Cooler (official website) SPECIFICATIONS

Capacity 142 standard 12 oz. cans
Product Dimensions 33 1/2″ H x 23 1/2″ W x 22 1/2″ D
Item Weight 97 lbs
Installation Type Freestanding or built-in
Temperature range 38-50 degrees F
Color Stainless Steel
Voltage 115 V/60 Hz
Wattage 120 W/1.1 A
Material Type Stainless Steel
Door Type Solid stainless steel door, Reversible
Defrost Auto defrosting function
Shelves 4, Glass
Special Features Powerful compressor-based cooling, Factory installed lock, Built-in carbon filter, Digital temperature controls
Certification Energy Star Rated

EdgeStar Stainless Steel Beverage Cooler

Design

The EdgeStar cooler has a standard appealing stainless steel design. Its door isn’t transparent but there are glass shelves inside that create an illusion of additional space. The unit is only for indoor use, but the company has a similar model for outdoor use as well.

Capacity and Performance

The unit holds up to 142 standard cans, which is great for a big family or large parties. The temperature range is 38F to 50F, and fan circulation helps avoid hot and cold spots.

Special Features

There’s a lock on the door so you can keep children out if you store alcohol or want to limit their sugar intake. The model also has the auto-defrost feature. Besides, there’s a built-in carbon filter. I’d recommend this one if you need to store a lot of drinks all the time. The model is limited in usage but great for indoor large parties. Check price at Edgestar.com, Lowes.com, Homedepot.com, Walmart.com.
Pros
  • Door lock
  • Built-in or freestanding
  • Carbon filter
  • Auto-defrost
  • Great capacity
  • Energy-star model
Cons
  • For indoor use only

6. Dukers DSM-15R 14.7 cu. ft. Commercial Display Cooler Merchandiser Refrigerator – First-Rate Showcase for All Your Merchandise

[amazon box=”B077Y79NGQ” tracking_id=”frozen00-20″]

Dukers DSM-15R (official website) SPECIFICATIONS

Capacity 14.72 cubic_feet
Product Dimensions 27″ Width x 24″ Depth x 76″ Height
Weight 187.0 pounds
Installation Type Free Standing
Material Commercial-Grade Aluminum , Stainless Steel , ABS
Color Black
Voltage 115 volts
Wattage 260 watts
Lower Temperature Rating 32 degrees_Fahrenheit
Upper Temperature Rating 50 degrees_Fahrenheit
Shelves 5 adjustable and removable wire shelves
Power Source Type Corded Electric
Special features Digital controls with LED display , Automatic defrosting , Self-closing door
Warranty 2 Year Parts & Labor Warranty , 5 Year Compressor Warranty
Specific Uses For Product Commercial

Design

This unit is a standard vending machine that can store beverages. It is quite spacious and has plenty of room for drinks of different sizes. The shelves themselves are also adjustable and detachable. You can easily make changes to the shelving to make more room depending on your needs. There are five wire shelves in total.

Special Features

Some of the most useful features of this display cooler unit include the fan-assisted evaporator, self-closing glass doors, and digital temperature controls. All of these features help greatly in maintaining the proper temperature. The fan-assisted evaporator prevents internal cabin fluctuations. In addition, the glass doors close airtight automatically after dropping the beverage. You can also manually adjust the temperature settings with the digital controls.

Duker

One of the few downsides is that the lining on the inside of the unit is made of plastic. Metal is more ideal since it is a sturdier material. Also, metal also helps with maintaining temperature. However, the other features may make up for this. Another downside might be the white noise this produces while it is running. Check price at Dukersusa.com, Homedepot.com, Walmart.com.
Pros
  • Comes with removable beverage dividers and shelves
  • Good value for its price
  • Self-closing glass door for temperature regulation
  • Bright LED lighting
Cons
  • Inner lining is made of plastic not metal
  • Might be noisy while running

FAQ

Is the delivery inside or curbside?

The items are delivered curbside only. There is no way to change it.

What plugs is this compatible with?

This machine has a standard plug and it requires 115V to 120V.

Does this unit come with beverage dividers?

Yes, this unit comes with detachable beverage dividers.

What is the lining on the inside made of?

The machine’s inner lining is made of plastic.

Can the signage on top of the unit be removed?

Yes, you can remove or replace the signage.

How to Install A Beer or Wine Fridge (video)

Consider Every Point Before Choosing a Perfect Beverage Refrigerator

There are so many types of coolers that it’s easy to get lost. So, start with the purpose of the purchase: why do you need it? This question will start a chain of other questions and answers that will eventually lead you to the best model. It will suit your needs, design, and budget.
Don’t be afraid to research the market, even if you think it’s too difficult for someone who doesn’t know a lot about coolers. Nowadays, information is presented in understandable ways, just like this guide.