At a Glance:
Different Types of Beverage Centers
Which Rooms Are Great for a Beverage Center?
If you’re in the market for a new beverage center, or even if you want to know more about them, you’ve come to the right place. These drink refrigerators are an excellent addition to almost any room of the house, whether that be your kitchen or your entertainment areas. In this article, learn what a beverage center is, the different types you can buy, and the best brands of beverage centers currently available.
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What Is a Beverage Center?
A beverage center for your house is a dedicated space designed to store and display various types of drinks. It’s often a compact appliance, which makes it ideal for entertaining guests or for simply keeping your refreshments cool and at the ready.
These drink coolers often feature adjustable temperature settings, glass doors for easy visibility, and multiple shelves to accommodate different-sized drinks and bottles. Compared to a normal refrigerator, these appliances are often more aesthetically pleasing and elegantly designed. This makes them perfect for almost any room in the house.
Different Types of Beverage Centers
Here are some of the different beverage centers available to you:
Panel Ready
A panel-ready beverage center is one that’s designed to be seamlessly integrated into your kitchen cabinetry. These units are specifically constructed to accommodate custom panels that match your kitchen’s design, allowing them to blend in.
Here are some pros to buying a panel-ready beverage center:
✓ Customization: The primary benefit of panel-ready refrigerators is the ability to customize them to match your kitchen’s design. You can often choose a custom panel that closely matches your cabinetry or provide one yourself from the same cabinet line and install it on the front.
✓ Home Value: When you have a kitchen with a well-integrated and custom panel appliance, you can potentially increase the value of your home. Buyers often appreciate the seamless and upscale appearance of panel-ready appliances.
✓ Design Flexibility: If you ever decide to redo the design of your kitchen, you don’t have to worry about replacing quality appliances for the sake of design. You can alter or change the front panel of your beverage center to meet the needs of your remodeling.
Here are some cons to buying a panel-ready beverage center:
✗ Installation Complexity: If you’re adding a customized panel that directly matches your kitchen, you often need that customized panel from the cabinet makers. This can often create more complexity to the installation because you need pieces from multiple sources before the installation can be complete.
✗ Lack of Portability: Because panel-ready appliances are often customized to fit their designated area, it’s not easy to move them around on a whim. If you ever feel like you want to change the layout of your kitchen or entertainment center, you might need to get a new custom panel for its new location.
✗ Limited Availability: Panel-ready beverage centers may not be as readily available as standard models. This can cause the selection of panel-ready options to be more limited, so you might have fewer choices in terms of features, brands, or models.
Built In
Though often similar and interchangeable with undercounter beverage centers, built in beverage centers have one main difference: size. Undercounter models often come in smaller sizes that allow them to fit into a variety of rooms, including kitchens and entertainment areas. Built in centers, on the other hand, are often a bit larger in size and have a higher storage capacity. This makes them ideal for kitchens or bars because of the volume of beverages they can hold, and the space needed to accommodate them.
Here are the pros of getting a built-in beverage center:
✓ Space optimization: Built-in appliances are typically designed to fit flush with the wall or cabinetry of the room. This can help you maximize the use of your space.
✓ Ventilation: Built-in appliances are often built to handle ventilation a little better than freestanding models. That’s because they’re built to ventilate from the front, knowing they might be surrounded by cabinetry. Often, the better the ventilation, the less chance there is for maintenance or repair issues.
✓ Easy integration: Because built-in appliances often fit under your counters, they’re able to create a seamless aesthetic for whatever room you put it in. That helps you keep the design of your space how it was before introducing a new appliance to it.
Here are the cons of getting a built-in appliance:
✗ Installation Required: Proper installation of built-in appliances often requires professional assistance. This often involves precise measurements and sometimes electrical or plumbing considerations. That’s why buying a built-in beverage center can often be more complex and time-consuming than simply placing a freestanding one.
✗ Less Flexibility: Given that the built-in beverage center is installed in the room, it’s also important to note that you won’t have an easy time moving it around. If you ever feel the need to redo your space, you might have to hire someone to properly uninstall it before moving it to a new location. Then, you’ll need to reinstall it again.
Freestanding
A freestanding beverage center is a standalone appliance, that’s not intended to be integrated or built into cabinetry or countertops.
Here are some pros to purchasing a freestanding beverage center:
✓ More Freedom: Unlike under counter or built-in models, freestanding beverage centers are generally not restricted to a specific installation location. That means it can be placed anywhere in your living space, as long as there is sufficient clearance around the unit for proper ventilation.
✓ Portability: Freestanding appliances can be easily moved to different locations or even taken with you if you move homes. This level of portability is beneficial if you want the flexibility to change the appliance’s position.
✓ Cost-Effective: Freestanding appliances tend to be more budget-friendly compared to built-in or integrated models. They often have a lower initial purchase cost and do not require additional expenses for custom cabinetry or professional installation.
Here are some cons to purchasing a freestanding beverage center:
✗ Space Requirements: Freestanding appliances require dedicated floor or countertop space. They might even occupy valuable square footage, which can be a limitation in smaller kitchens or rooms.
✗ Design Limitations: Because freestanding beverage centers can’t be easily integrated into existing cabinetry, they might break up the cohesive look of your kitchen. If you prefer a seamless look, freestanding centers may not provide that level of integration.
Which Rooms Are Great for a Beverage Center?
Beverage centers can be a convenient addition to many rooms in your home, depending on your preferences. Here are some common rooms where beverage centers are often installed:
➤ Kitchen: The kitchen is the most popular location for beverage centers. That’s because kitchen beverage centers can be placed as standalone units or integrated into cabinetry. This provides easy access to chilled beverages while cooking, entertaining, or enjoying meals.
➤ Home Office: Some people choose to have a beverage center in their home office to have refreshing drinks at hand while working. It’s also a great way to offer beverages to clients or colleagues during meetings.
➤ Living Room: Placing a beverage center in your living room or entertainment area can provide convenient access to refreshments while watching movies or hosting gatherings. It can save you time from having to go to the kitchen, and it creates a fun movie theater experience for you and your guests.
➤ Game Room: Drink coolers can often be a fun and practical addition to your game rooms. It keeps the drinks within reach and enhances the overall entertainment experience without pausing the games or breaking up the fun.
➤ Home Bar: If you have a dedicated home bar or entertainment area, a beverage center is an excellent addition. That’s because it can allow you to store a variety of beverages, including wine, beer, and mixers, ensuring they’re readily available for your guests or personal enjoyment.
➤ Outdoor Spaces: Beverage centers designed for outdoor use can be installed on patios, decks, or even outdoor kitchens. They’re built to withstand the elements and provide a convenient solution for keeping drinks cool during summer gatherings or barbecues.
Top Beverage Centers
Now, let's take a look at some of the top beverage centers at Fuse Specialty Appliances.
Sub-Zero Designer 5.5 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Beverage Center
Shop the Sub-Zero Designer 5.5 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Beverage Center
This Sub-Zero beverage center has a fully customizable exterior. That means it can integrate anywhere in your home. Next to that, this beverage center comes with multiple features, including an intuitive on-door touch control panel, UV-resistance glass doors, and a magnetic seal to lock in cold air and ensure freshness.
Zephyr Presrv 24” Panel Ready Beverage Center
Shop the Zephyr Presrv 24” Panel Ready Beverage Center
This Zephyr beverage center is perfect for matching your cabinetry with ease. Create the most luxurious home bar or kitchen space with this 24-inch beverage fridge and the features it offers. That includes a door-open alarm, PreciseTemp control, and a full-extension wood rack to hold your favorite wine and craft brew.
Café 5.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Beverage Center
Shop the Café 5.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Beverage Center
The Café beverage center is perfect for any home that likes efficiency. With its LED light wall, you’ll be able to find any beverage inside with ease. That’s especially helpful given that this 5.1 cubic foot drink fridge can hold 126 cans and 14 bottles. It even has magnum bottle storage, which lets you chill up to four 1.5 liter bottles of wine.
Summit Commercial Series 5.0 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Beverage Center
Shop the Summit Commercial Series 5.0 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Beverage Center
This Summit Commercial Series beverage center has a sleek and elegant design, perfect for any home. That’s because it comes with a front-breathing design, which can easily be built-in to cabinetry or used freestanding. The reversible glass door and LED lighting also provide an attractive display for any room of the house.
Perlick C-Series 5.2 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Beverage Center
Shop the Perlick C-Series 5.2 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Beverage Center
The Perlick C-Series beverage center allows customization for any room through its panel-ready options. But it also allows even further customization by selecting either a door or drawer model to fit your beverage storage needs. It also comes with a commercial-grade stainless steel interior and exterior for easy cleaning.
Viking 5 Series 2.7 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Beverage Center
Shop the Viking 5 Series 2.7 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Beverage Center
This mini beverage fridge is perfect for any home with limited space. Though it’s small, it can hold up to 35 12-oz cans or 6 wine bottles, making it perfect for entertaining small gatherings and parties. Thanks to its fully adjustable shelving system, it’s also customizable to fit your storage needs.
XO Luxury 15” Black Stainless Steel Beverage Center
Shop the XO Luxury 15” Black Stainless Steel Beverage Center
This XO Luxury beverage center is perfect for game rooms and entertainment areas of the house. Thanks to its zero-clearance door hinges, this fridge also has a flush installation that works with any cabinetry space. It also has clear glass shelves that fully extend, helping you find what you’re looking for with ease.
Elica RISERVA 4.8 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Beverage Center
Shop the Elica RISERVA 4.8 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Beverage Center
If you’re looking for some kitchen beverage center ideas, this gorgeous double-door fridge is perfect for it. Not only can it hold up to 60 12-oz cans and 21 bottles of wine, but it also has Beechwood shelves to reduce vibration. That keeps your drinks cold and protected while cooling, making this an ideal wine and beer fridge. This heavy-duty mini refrigerator is a perfect dual-zone wine and beverage cooler, allowing you to host parties with guests of any drink preference.
FAQ
What is the difference between a beverage cooler and a beverage refrigerator?
The difference between a beverage cooler and a beverage refrigerator lies mainly in the temperature range and intended use. A beverage cooler typically has a narrower temperature range and is designed to chill drinks quickly, while a beverage refrigerator offers a broader temperature range and can also store other food items.
Do I need a beverage fridge?
Whether you need a beverage fridge depends on your preferences and lifestyle. If you frequently entertain guests and want to keep drinks at the perfect serving temperature, a beverage fridge can be a convenient addition to your home.
What is the difference between a wine cooler and a beverage center?
The difference between a wine cooler and a beverage center is their primary focus. A wine cooler is designed specifically for storing and preserving wine bottles at the ideal temperature and humidity levels, while a beverage center is more versatile and can accommodate various types of beverages, including cans, bottles, and other drink containers.
What do you put in a beverage center?
In a beverage center, you can store a variety of beverages, such as soft drinks, juices, beer, wine bottles, water bottles, and other non-alcoholic drinks. Some beverage centers also come with adjustable shelves, making it possible to store different sizes and types of drink containers.
Why Trust Fuse Specialty Appliances?
Fuse Specialty Appliances carries an incredible selection of premium and high-end appliances for your home. With over 30 years of appliance knowledge, our team of experts represents the best and brightest in the industry. Our teams bring decades of experience working with designers, architects, cabinet makers, contractors, and anyone else who is involved in designing and building a dream kitchen. We provide our customers with a unique, boutique-style experience where we get to know your goals for your kitchen. This more connected dynamic helps us ensure that we help you realize your kitchen dreams.
Shop Beverage Centers at Fuse Specialty Appliances
Visit one of our 4 South Florida locations to see what a difference shopping locally with an experienced staff can make. Or shop beverage centers online! Our friendly experts are always happy to help you find a perfect beverage center — whether you call us, use our online chat feature, or visit us in person.
Learn more: 5 Stainless Steel Refrigerator Styles You'll Love