With the scorching summer heat we're experiencing, there's nothing better than going home to an ice-cold beer (or water) to satisfy your thirst. It's the easiest way to refresh yourself, but it would be a total bummer if your drinks aren't cold enough.
Probably one of the coolest reviews we've covered so far is looking for the best beverage coolers and fridge that won't cut a hole in your pocket, too. Find out what came out on top.
Top 5 Beverage Coolers in 2020
Danby DBC120BLS Beverage Refrigerator
On top of the list of the best beverage cooler is this budget-friendly yet high-rated fridge.
The Danby beverage refrigerator offers a large-sized area where you can store up to 120 cans of beer, water, fruit juice, just about any beverage you want. It includes three adjustable shelves that allow you to fit taller bottles too.
The blue interior LED lighting adds a nice touch as it creates an eye-catching glow to your drinks like a mini-bar vibe.
The cooling range of Danby DBC120BLS is 43-57 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ventilation for this stainless steel refrigerator is on the back, which means it can’t be fully enclosed.
It also offers a security latch feature to keep your stash safe from children and possible intruders.
This cheap beverage refrigerator has a manual thermostat knob on the back that most users find as a downside.
Key Features:
- Large Capacity of 93.5 Liters / 120 Drink Cans
- UV Protection (Blocks out UV Rays)
- High-Tech Mechanical and Digital Thermostat
- Sturdy Glass Door
Kalamera KRC-90BV Beverage Cooler
Perhaps you’re trying to find the best drink refrigerator that you can install under a kitchen counter or in a man cave.
If that’s the case, then this might be the beverage fridge that suits your needs.
Since it’s front-vented glass door, you can enclose it on all sides and install it anywhere you want for quick access to ice-cold drinks.
This will also look like a built-in beverage cooler; that’s a sure conversation starter piece.
At only 15″ wide, this stainless steel beverage cooler holds an impressive number of cans (96). It has six small wire shelves that can be adjusted; however, you see fit.
You can use the space to store beer, soda, wine bottles, and more. It has a Temperature Memory Function, so even after a power loss, it remembers the previous temperature setting, or you can set temperature.
An electronic thermostat also gives you full control over the temperature so you can keep your drinks as cold as you like. As for the temperature range, it’s from 38 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Like our top pick, it has blue LED lighting, to help you see your drink in the dark. You can also keep safeguard over your cold beverages at home with a handy small key.
Key Features:
- Carbon Filter (Odor-Free)
- Cooling Range: 38 to 50 Degrees Fahrenheit
- Temperature Memory Function
- Stainless Steel, Shifting Glass Door, and Blue LED Lights
- Digital Display
- Storage Space / Capacity: 96 cans
Edgestar BWC70SS Beverage Refrigerator
We wanted to try out a beverage center cooler with only one removable rack, and look what we found. It has the nifty features and a reasonably low price at that.
With this stainless steel mini bar fridge, you can stock up to 62 cans. That’s a fair amount of cold beverages for such a low price.
Keep in mind that the refrigeration vent is on the back. This means you won’t be able to enclose it.
However, this beverage center cooler does have a shifting glass door with stainless edging so you can flip it if you need to place it next to a wall.
It also has a compressor-based cooling system to help in quick and optimal cooling time. The steel can even go well with other kitchen appliances because of its sleek look.
One thing we wished it had is a door lock. That’s not a huge deal-breaker, though. If you’re looking for a cheap beer or wine cooler that can hold your favorite drinks at home, this can be the right choice. You don’t need to spend much on costly drink coolers like the Homelabs Beverage Refrigerator.
Key Features:
- Storage Space / Capacity: 62 cans
- Manual Temperature Control Knob
- Double-Panel Glass Door
- Built-in Compressor System
Kalamera
This is another one of the best beverage centers for one reason – it holds up to 150 cans. For home use, this product is a good deal at a reasonably affordable price.
It features a built-in thermostat panel with touch controls so you can keep your stash at a specific temperature.
It includes four moveable shelves to rearrange your cans and bottles as you’d like. It’s back-vented, so you have to keep it in an open space.
No wonder it’s one of the cheaper options compared to other stainless steel beverages or wine coolers in this list because it doesn’t have a shifting door.
But you do get an electronic thermostat so you can set the right temperature for your drinks. And lastly, the blue interior light will help you in locating your drink in the dark.
Key Features:
- Storage Space / Capacity: 150 cans / 118 liters
- Built-in Intuitive Touch Control
- Stainless Steel
- Blue LED Lighting
- Four Removable Shelves
- Transparent Glass
Edgestar CBR901SG Beverage Cooler
Our final recommendation for the best beverage cooler is another unit you can get from Edgestar.
It only holds 80 cans, has three removable glass shelves, security lock, shifting door, and a front vent.
The door is tempered, black dotted, and has blue interior lights. The Edgestar has a built-in soft-touch electronic thermostat and a compressor-based cooling system.
The Auto-Defrost feature is what makes it stand out form all the other top picks on this list.
This feature will prevent frost from building up on coils and ensure that drinks are chilled at all times in your home.
Even though it may not sound as nifty as the other products above, what’s important is it could chill your drinks in the right temperature.
Key Features:
- Storage Space / Capacity: 80 Cans
- Built-In Auto Defrost Feature
- Stainless Steel
- Electronic Thermostat
- Soft-Touch Electronic Thermostat
Key Considerations Before You Buy
There are some key elements you’ll want to consider before buying a beverage refrigerator for your home. Beverage centers offer a lot more than your standard mini-fridge. That’s what makes them such a great investment to have around the home.
However, not all beverage fridges come with the same perks. By paying attention to what options are available, you’ll be able to find the best beverage refrigerator for your needs while saving the most amount of money.
Storage Capacity (Number of Cans or Bottles)
Do you know the old saying that more is better? Well, this is true for the number of drinks and different sizes of containers you can fit into your new drink cooler.
These types of refrigerators are measured by the number of 12-ounce cans they can hold. Storage size ranges for these items to hold 62 to 150 cans.
If you like to stock up on a lot of different varieties of beer cans and bottles, you might want to consider looking for a bigger fridge.
There are even coolers that come in two temperature zones, in such cases of a wine cellar. That way, you can hold everything you need as well as an assortment of container sizes without running out of space.
Beverage Cooler Adjustable Racks
There are two types of racks: Adjustable up and down. When you’re thinking about which beverage refrigerator to buy, it’s important to think about the kinds of drinks you’re going to store in it. This will affect your decision on which type of drink refrigerator will be the best for you.
If you’re only going to stock 12-ounce cans of soda or beer, then moveable racks don’t matter since all of your containers are of the same height. Slide-out shelves are perfectly fine.
However, if you plan to keep an assortment of beverage types in your new fridge (sports drinks, wine bottles, taller beers, etc.), then moveable racks are the way to go so you can make sure everything fits.
Three of the products we tested above have moveable shelves while the other two are removable only. Choose the one that makes the best sense for your beverage needs.
Thermostat Type of Fridge Coolers
In the world of beverage fridges, there are two types of thermostats:
- a manual knob for setting low to high temperature
- an electronic control panel with touch controls for precise temperature controls
If having a cold drink is all you care about, a manual knob is a fine choice. But, if you want to stock your craft brews or wine at a specific temperature for optimal taste, a drink cooler with an electronic thermostat is well worth the investment.
Beverage Fridge Reversible Door
While it may not seem like a huge deal, reversible glass doors are a great option to have. Not only does it make using the fridge more comfortable for the primary user (who may be right or left-handed), but it also gives you more options for where to stock it.
You may find that you want to place the refrigerator up against a wall or install it under a cabinet. If that’s the case, the direction that the door swings open becomes a big concern.
A shifting door allows you to position your new drink cooler anywhere you like inside your home without any inconvenience.
Ventilation System (Front or Back)
Before you choose the best beverage cooler, you’ll have to decide where you’re going to place it. This will determine the type of ventilation that is required for it to work properly. All refrigerators need proper ventilation, so they don’t overheat. [1]
If you want to enclose the unit on all sides by installing it under a cabinet or tucking it away in a corner under a desk, you’ll need a front-vented cooler. It will look like a built-in beverage cooler and should be way too cool for the man cave, game room, or a dorm room.
If you’re going to keep the fridge out in the open without enclosing the sides, then a back-vented cooler is the better choice.
Just know that front ventilation is the more expensive option to have. In many cases, it can double the cost of the fridge. Back-vented refrigerators are the cheapest way to go, and if you don’t have to fit the cooler in a specific space, then you can save a lot of money by going this route.
Three of the beverage refrigerators we reviewed are back-vented. The other two are front-vented for custom installation purposes.
Secure Door Latch on Beverage Fridge
Lastly, having the option to secure your stash of drinks may be an important concern for you.
That's incredibly important if you want to keep alcoholic drinks out of the hands of your rising teenagers. Make sure no one touches your stash Especially when you're not home.
Having the peace of mind that comes with a security door latch and a key is hard to put a price tag on. Three of the best beverage coolers we reviewed come with this handy feature.
FAQs
A refrigerator’s primary purpose is to stock foods, while a beverage cooler is used to chill drinks. Beverage centers usually have transparent glass doors and are made of stainless steel. On the contrary, a refrigerator doesn’t.
Do not be confused at times, that beverage center, beverage center cooler, beverage refrigerator, or a wine cooler are interchangeably used to call a beverage cooler.
A refrigerator stores food that has a cold temperature range to make sure the food doesn’t go bad. While a beverage cooler is meant to keep the drinks (like beer) cold, it’s refreshing to drink straight out of the beverage cooler.
No, you cannot use a beverage cooler as a food refrigerator. Beverage refrigerators are designed to chill wine, beers and other beverages. That’s the reason why refrigerators have different cooling zones for meats, vegetables, and other miscellaneous foods, to keep all food bacteria-free.
The temperature range of these beverage refrigerators is 39-65 degrees Fahrenheit. My preferred temperature on the other hand is 34 degrees Fahrenheit. The average temperature of drink coolers is 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range is not enough for meats and vegetables. [2]
And the Best Beverage Cooler Is …
With 120-beer can storage and digital display feature, we recommend Danby 120 as the best beverage refrigerator today.
My team and I were impressed with its shifting door hinge. It also comes in a neat sleek design to give your kitchen a modern look. It doesn't take up much floor space, too and has a nice LED light finish.
The security latch makes it safe even with children (and unwelcome guests) around. To top it all, the Danby 120 beverage cooler is very budget-friendly.
Danby DBC120BLS Beverage Refrigerator
Our #1 Recommendation
- Large Capacity of 93.5 Liters / 120 Drink Cans
- UV Protection (Blocks out UV Rays)
- High-Tech Mechanical and Digital Thermostat
- Sturdy Glass Door
