There’s nothing quite like the simple pleasure of popping open a perfectly chilled beverage and taking that first sip. While regular refrigerators tend to nail that temperature for soft drinks, they’re often colder than the ideal temperature for things like wine, beer, water, and even juice. Of course, you can’t increase the temperature too much because regular fridges are first and foremost for safely storing food. Fortunately, specially designed beverage fridges hold your drinks at just the right temperature, and under counter options mean you don’t even have to give up floor space. Whether you keep in your kitchen or under a home bar, you’ll love having wonderfully cooled drinks at your fingertips.
And to help you find just the right under counter beverage center for you and your home, we reviewed dozens of options to identify the best of the best. We looked at a wide variety of different fridges with varying capacities, exterior dimensions, temperature settings, noise levels, and other features to narrow down your options to only the truly outstanding.
The Phiestina Wine and Beverage Refrigerator stood out as a clear winner, earning its place as our top pick. With it’s captivating French-style glass doors, 78 can and 20 wine bottle capacity, blue LED light feature, and adjustable temperature settings, this beverage center is a top of the line option.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Under-Counter Beverage Refrigerators, Coolers & Beverage Centers
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Phiestina Wine and Beverage Refrigerator | 4.2 |
| Runner Up | Aobosi Dual Zone Beverage Refrigerator | 4.5 |
| Best Budget Buy | hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler | 4.6 |
| Best Triple-Paned Under-Counter Beverage Refrigerator | Euhomy Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler | 4.7 |
| Best Low Noise Beverage Refrigerator | Crownful Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler | 4.2 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Our Top Pick: Phiestina Wine and Beverage Refrigerator
For a beverage center that’s as good as it gets, look no further than the Phiestina Wine and Beverage Refrigerator. It has all of the features that you could need or want from a beverage fridge, wrapped in a sleek, understated stainless steel package.
This drink cooler will not only store 78 drink cans, but also 20 bottles of wine. One of the things we most love about this option is its versatility. You can easily remove any of the 12 shelves to better accommodate the particular drinks you wish to store. What’s more, you can also adjust the temperature to match your needs thanks to the fridge’s advanced temperature control technology system. The left side of the wine cooler can be set from 40 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit, while the right side of the beverage cooler can be set from 38 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Phiestina Wine and Beverage Refrigerator comes complete with energy-efficient blue LED lights and non-slip handles. With so many features on offer, it’s hardly surprising that it has a solid average customer rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars and dozens of rave reviews. The only potential problem we found with this top pick is that it doesn’t have any safety locks, so it may be most suitable for adult-only households.
Phiestina Wine and Beverage Refrigerator Key Features
- 20 wine bottle and 78 can capacity
- 40℉ to 66℉ left zone temperature range
- 38℉ to 50℉ right zone temperature range
- Blue interior LED lights
- Adjustable temperature control
- Low noise, high energy efficiency
- Stainless steel construction
- Compact and easy to fit into most spaces
- 22.4″ W x 33.9″ D x 23.4″ H
Our Runner Up Pick: Aobosi Dual Zone Beverage Refrigerator
Another top of the line option is our runner up choice, the Aobosi Dual Zone Beverage Refrigerator. This fridge has a designated space for 18 standard Bordeaux bottles of wine, as well as 57 cans. Like with our top pick, the heights of the shelves are staggered to fit different sizes of cans and bottles in the most space-efficient way possible, and the beverage fridge is front vented so it fits inside your cabinetry efficiently as well. Adjustable height feet allow you to keep the fridge level, even when the floor is not.
You use the digital control panel to set your preferred temperature. The temperature range on the left zone (the beverage cooler) is 35.6 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature range on the right zone (wine cooler) is 41℉ to 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit. This option is keeps your beverages cool via its well-designed compressor system, and even includes a safety lock. A soft blue LED light provides stylish aesthetics while illuminating the contents of the fridge for convenience.
Aobosi Built-in Beverage Refrigerator Key Features:
- 18 bottles of wine and 57 can capacity
- 23.43″ W × 22.64″ D × 34.25″ H
- Removable shelves
- Adjustable feet
- Digital control panel
- 35.6℉ to 50℉ for the beverage cooler, and 41℉ to 64.4℉ for the wine cooler
- Double-layer glass door
- Blue LED light
- Stainless steel
- Safety lock
Best Budget Pick: hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler
One downside of beverage coolers, especially under counter ones, is that they’re frequently quite costly. Fortunately, they don’t have to be, and you don’t even have to sacrifice quality with options like the hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler. It’s not quite as large as our top two picks, but with an impressive 3.2 cubic foot interior that holds 120 standard drink cans or 60 standard wine bottles, it’s still plenty large enough for the average family. These drinks can be stored on the floor of the unit or on one of the three removable, adjustable height chrome wire shelves.
The glass door and white interior LED light keep the drink station’s contents nice and visible. A digital display allows you to adjust the temperature setting (down to 34 degrees Fahrenheit), turn the light off and on, use the memory function, and monitor fault indicators, which notify you if an issue occurs with the beverage cooler. The memory function allows the beverage cooler to return to its previous settings, after regaining power, if the appliance loses power for any reason. The quiet fan and compressor keep the noise of this beverage fridge at an unobtrusive level.
hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler Key Features:
- 3.2 cubic feet interior with 120 can or 60 wine bottle capacity
- Three removable, adjustable shelves
- White LED light
- Digital display
- Temperature can be set as low as 34℉
- Memory function
- Fault indicators
- Quiet fan and compressor
- 18.9″ W x 17.30″ D x 33.3″ H
Best Triple-Paned Under-Counter Beverage Refrigerator: Euhomy Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler
Needless to say, the whole point of a beverage refrigerator is to keep your drinks refreshingly cool. So if there’s one feature you should be particularly mindful to look out for, it’s excellent thermal insulation. And that’s precisely what you’ll get with the Euhomy Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler. It features a triple-paned, tempered glass door as well as air-tight seals to promote optimal air flow and an ideal humidity level. So with this fridge, you can feel confident that your drinks will always be kept at just the right temperature.
If you’ve noticed something different about this fridge’s looks, you’re right on the money. The Euhomy Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler boasts a unique black stainless steel frame. Inside, you can store up to 120 cans, but you can also choose to remove and/or rearrange the shelves to store some bottles of wine as well. Similar to the other options in our Top 5, this one features an easy-to-use digital touch control panel and an LED light.
Euhomy Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler Key Features:
- Up to 120 can capacity
- Black stainless steel frame
- Ability to store wine bottles
- 3 removable shelves
- Triple-pane glass doors
- White LED light
- Digital touch control panel
- 34℉ to 50℉ temperature range
- Quiet operation
- Energy efficient
- 17.3″ W x 18.9″ D x 33.3″ H
Best Low Noise Beverage Refrigerator: Crownful Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler
While there are numerous well-made under-counter beverage refrigerators on the market, many are quite loud to operate. If you want to ensure the option you choose isn’t an earful, we recommend taking a look at the Crownful Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler. This refrigerator and cooler features a low-noise compressor, so you won’t need to worry about it emitting any annoying noises. In fact, the noise during operation is less than 42 decibels!
So how does it fare in terms of capacity? Depending on the size of the cans you wish to store as well as how you store them, this fridge should fit around 80 to 118 canned drinks. The Crownful Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler also features an adjustable temperature range of 40 to 61 Fahrenheit, and has a convection fan designed to evenly distribute cold air.
Crownful Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler Key Features:
- 80-118 can capacity
- Double-paned glass door
- LED light
- Digital touch control panel
- 12-month warranty
- Lifetime support
- 17.52″ W x 19.69″ D x 31.5″ H
Who Should Buy an Under Counter Beverage Refrigerator
Beverage refrigerators can be useful in pretty much any home by keeping drinks at just the right temperature, but they’re especially nice to have in certain situations. Under counter options are particularly good for rooms where floor space is limited or when you just want to avoid taking up unnecessary floor space and keep your cabinetry or bar sleek.
For one, in homes with a lot of people, beverage refrigerators can be used to make valuable space in the primary fridge. In fact, beverage fridges are generally designed with shelves at optimal heights to hold as many cans as possible, so drinks actually take up less overall space in a beverage fridge than they would in a regular fridge or mini-fridge since there is less wasted space.
They’re also great for rooms and spaces where you really only need to store drinks, like home bars, game rooms, and home theaters. Beverage fridges are even cold enough to store most drink garnishes, though you should always check the safe storing temperature before keeping any food items in your home fridge. You could even place a beverage fridge in your home gym to store water, sports drinks, and pre- and post-workout smoothies and shakes.
If you’re looking for other storage options that don’t require any kind of cooling or refrigeration, then you may want to check out The Best Storage Trunks.
Important Features to Consider
An under counter beverage refrigerator should have a few important features. Here’s what to consider when selecting an under counter beverage refrigerator for your home:
- Capacity. Consider what types of drinks you’ll be storing and how many of each type. 80 to 100 cans is typically plenty for a typically sized family or set of roommates, but if you frequently entertain, you likely want something higher capacity. If you want to store things other than canned drinks, look for fridges with adjustable shelving heights to make sure you can fit taller containers. Some fridges even have built-in wine racks to efficiently store your bottles of vino.
- Exterior size. Of course, a high capacity beverage center is great, but you also need to make sure that your beverage center will fit where you need it go. Measure and remeasure the space where you’d like to place your beverage center and check the external dimensions of the fridge before you buy. Make sure you leave a little extra space on each side to actually move the cooler in and out, too. Most under counter beverage centers are front vented, but be sure to also check how much space the manufacturer recommends for venting and add that to the external dimensions as well. Standard cabinets are 24 inches deep and 34.5 inches tall. Width generally ranges between 12 and 36 inches. Again, however, be sure to carefully measure your actual space, then measure again to confirm, especially if you’re working around other features integrated into the cabinetry, like drawers or other built-in appliances.
- Temperature. Know what temperature you want to store your drinks at and make sure that your beverage center works at that temperature. Most beverage fridges have an adjustable temperature, but the size of the range and temperatures at either end can vary widely between fridges. If you’d like to keep beverages at different temperatures, consider a dual-zone beverage fridge, which has two areas with independent temperature settings.
- Noise. In general, the quieter the fridge the better, but this is more important in some situations than in others. For example, in a busy kitchen, the sound of a beverage fridge might go totally unnoticed, but in a home theater, it may not take much noise at all to be annoying and distracting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an under counter beverage center and how does it work?
A beverage center, also called a beverage cooler or beverage fridge, is a refrigerating appliance specifically designed to cool drinks. While there are also freestanding beverage centers, under counter (or “built in”) beverage centers are designed to be placed within existing base cabinetry, underneath the countertop, similar to a dishwasher or built-in trash compactor.
Beverage fridges and regular fridges work in essentially the same way, by using a compressor and a substance called a refrigerant to cool the air inside of the refrigerator. However, a beverage fridge is from a regular fridge in a couple of ways. For one, beverage fridges typically keep their contents at a higher temperature than a fridge does since fridges are intended to cool for safe food storage, while beverage fridges are more focused on pleasurable consumption. Beverage fridges aren’t intended for food storage and aren’t cold enough to keep many foods safe to eat. In addition, beverage centers may have other features that make them ideal for storing drinks, like built-in wine racks, shelving spaced at optimal heights for efficient storage of bottles and cans, and locking doors to prevent unauthorized access to alcohol.
What is the difference between a wine cooler and a beverage cooler?
The primary difference between a wine cooler and beverage refrigerator is the shelving style. Wine coolers typically contain built-in wine racks, while beverage coolers will have shelving at ideal heights for cans and possibly bottles. Some beverage coolers, especially dual zone beverage coolers, may have a wine rack in addition to shelving. In addition, beverage coolers frequently have LED lights to illuminate their contents, but wine racks often do not have lights or have automatic lights because light can cause reactions with certain compounds in wine and impact the flavor. Wine coolers may also have other features to protect wine from damage, like tinted doors.
How cold should a beverage refrigerator be?
This depends heavily on what you’re storing. Soft drinks are typically best served around freezing, while beers and wines are typically better between 40 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit with the exact temperature depending on the specific variety. Just set your fridge at the best temperature for whatever it is you’re storing. If you’d like drinks at different temperatures, consider a dual-zone beverage fridge.
Can you use a beverage cooler as a refrigerator?
A beverage cooler is not designed to be a substitute for a regular refrigerator and should not be used as one. Beverage coolers typically do not maintain temperatures low enough for the safe storage of many foods, like meat, eggs, most dairy, and, of course, frozen foods. With that said, the temperature is the primary issue, so if a food can be stored at the temperature at which your beverage cooler is set, you can keep it in the beverage cooler if you’d like.
For example, fruits and vegetables are primarily refrigerated to retain freshness and extend their life rather than for safety, so you could store a vegetable tray for a party in your beverage cooler overnight. Certain cheeses, condiments, pickled items, and cured meats may also be able to be stored in beverage centers. However, you should always confirm the safe storage temperature for items before electing to keep them in your beverage cooler and when in doubt err towards colder storage.
Other Under-Counter Beverage Refrigerators, Coolers & Beverage Centers We Reviewed
We looked at 20 other under counter beverage refrigerators. Even though they didn’t make our 5 best under counter beverage refrigerators list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for your home. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
- Large Capacity Under Counter Beverage Centers
- Dual Zone Under Counter Beverage Center
- Slim Under Counter Beverage Centers
- Mini Under Counter Beverage Centers
Large Capacity Under Counter Beverage Refrigerators
EdgeStar CBR1501SLD Built-in Stainless Steel Beverage Cooler
If you don’t want the contents of your beverage cooler on display, you’ll like this one’s stainless steel door.
Key Features:
- 142 can capacity
- 38 to 50-degree temperature range
- Reversible, locking stainless steel door
- Auto defrost
- Carbon filter
Cost: $780
EdgeStar CBR1502SG Built-in Beverage Cooler with Tinted Door
This beverage cooler offers a similar design with a tinted glass door and some slightly different features.
Key Features:
- 142 can capacity
- 38 to 50-degree temperature range
- Reversible, locking tinted glass door
- High/low temperature and door ajar alarms
- Incandescent interior light
- Carbon filter
Cost: $770
Kalamera 24″ Beverage Cooler and Fridge with Blue Interior Light
With the ability to fit 175 beverage cans in a footprint of less than four square feet, the capacity of this fridge is difficult to beat.
Key Features:
- 175 can capacity
- 38 to 50-degree temperature range
- Temperature memory function
- Low noise compressor
- Blue interior LED
- Safety lock
Cost: $800
NewAir ABR-1770 Built-In Beverage Cooler and Refrigerator
This beverage cooler has a similar footprint to the Kalamera cooler we just discussed, but just barely tops its capacity.
Key Features:
- 177 can or 92 bottle capacity
- 36 to 64-degree temperature range
- Reversible triple pane glass door
- Low noise, low vibration compressor
- Blue interior LED
- Safety lock
Cost: $600
NewAir Beers of the World Design Beverage Refrigerator
The fun exterior of this beverage fridge makes it excellent for under counter or freestanding placement.
Key Features:
- 126 can capacity
- 32 to 50-degree temperature range
- Limited edition “Beers of the World” exterior design
- Modular, adjustable height shelving
- LED light
Dual Zone Under Counter Beverage Refrigerators
EdgeStar CWB1760FD 24 Inch Built-In Wine and Beverage Cooler
Use this beverage center to store your wine and other drinks side by side.
Key Features:
- 17 wine bottle and 53 can capacity
- 36 to 43-degree left zone temperature range
- 41 to 68-degree right zone temperature range
- Safety locks
- Double paned, tempered glass doors
- ADA compliant
Cost: $1,100
Kalamera 24” Dual Zone Beverage and Wine Cooler
This sleek, quiet beverage and wine cooler makes an elegant addition to any kitchen, bar, or entertainment room.
Key Features:
- 20 wine bottle and 60 can capacity
- 40 to 66-degree left zone temperature range
- 38 to 50-degree right zone temperature range
- Safety locks
- Temperature memory
- Independent temperature controls
Cost: $940
Lanbo Built-in Dual Zone Wine and Beverage Cooler
The high capacity of this dual zone beverage cooler is rivaled only by our top pick for dual zone drink centers.
Key Features:
- Impressive 33 wine bottle and 70 can capacity
- 41 to 64-degree left zone temperature range
- 39 to 50-degree right zone temperature range
- Double pane glass doors with safety locks
- Temperature memory
- Adjustable feet
Cost: $990
Lanbo Compact Built-in Wine and Drink Center
The automatic lights and double-paned glass doors make this drink center highly energy efficient.
Key Features:
- 18 wine bottle and 55 can capacity
- 41 to 64-degree left zone temperature range
- 39 to 50-degree right zone temperature range
- Double-paned, tempered glass doors with safety locks
- Independent digital controls
- Automatic white interior lights
Cost: $880
NewAir AWB-400DB Beverage Cooler
This beverage cooler stacks its zones to balance a higher capacity and minimal area.
Key Features:
- 22 wine bottle and 70 can capacity
- 36 to 50-degree upper zone temperature range
- 50 to 66-degree lower zone temperature range
- Safety lock
- Triple paned insulated glass door
- Modular split shelving
Slim Under Counter Beverage Coolers
EdgeStar 80 Can Built-In Beverage Cooler
This slender beverage cooler is perfect for making use of narrow cabinet spaces.
Key Features:
- 80 can capacity
- 40 to 50-degree temperature range
- 15″ wide
- Reversible, tinted, locking tempered glass door
- Auto defrost
Cost: $640
Kalamera 15″ Built-in Touch Control Beverage Fridge with Interior Light
The temperature memory function of this beverage cooler means your fridge will go right back to work after losing and regaining power.
Key Features:
- 96 can capacity
- 38 to 50-degree temperature range
- 15″ wide
- Temperature memory function
- Removable wire shelves
- Safety lock
Cost: $455
Koldfront 80 Can Built-In Beverage Cooler
The black exterior of this beverage cooler is great for those who don’t like the more popular stainless steel finish.
Key Features:
- 80 can capacity
- 38 to 50-degree temperature range
- 15″ wide
- Blue LED interior light
- Auto defrost
Cost: $525
Lanbo 15 Inch Built In Compressor Beverage Fridge
This beverage fridge has a glass top shelf, two lipped wire shelves, and a wire basket, ideal for securely storing a variety of drink types and other items.
Key Features:
- 70 can capacity
- 37.4 to 64.4-degree temperature range
- 15″ wide
- Locking door with double layer, anti-UV glass
- Glass shelf, wire shelves with lips, and a wire basket
Cost: $500
NutriChef Beverage Cooler Refrigerator with Glass Door
You can use the external LCD control panel to change the settings of this beverage cooler without even opening the door.
Key Features:
- 77 can capacity
- 41 to 64-degree temperature range
- 20″ wide
- External control panel
- Interior LED
Cost: $220
Sipmore Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler
The seamless stainless steel finish and long, polished handle give this drink fridge a modern feel that’s at home in any room.
Key Features:
- 88 can capacity
- 34 to 50-degree temperature range
- 15″ wide
- Sliding stainless steel shelves
- Digital control panel
Cost: $500
Whynter BBR-801BG Built-in Beverage Refrigerator
This compact beverage fridge has a recessed handle for space efficiency and is perfectly sized to fit in almost any room.
Key Features:
- 80 can capacity
- 34 to 43-degree temperature range
- 15″ wide
- Interior light
- Recessed handle
Mini Under Counter Beverage Fridges
COSTWAY 23751-CYPE Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler
This miniature beverage center is great for placing over or under other cabinet features like drawers and built-in microwaves.
Key Features:
- 52 can capacity
- 39 to 50-degree temperature range
- 17″ W x 17.5″ D x 22″ H
- Double pane glass door
- Interior LCD light
Cost: $230
Tavata Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler
This mini beverage cooler is taller than our other option, but would still fit below a shallow drawer or above a built-in step, or just under lower countertops.
Key Features:
- 85 can capacity
- 40 to 61-degree temperature range
- 16.9″ W x 18.1″ D x 29.1″ H
- Auto defrost
- Humidity controlled
Cost: $210
