September 27th, 2024 | 6 min. read
Learn how to find the perfect refrigeration products with our Refrigerator Buying Guide
Beverage centers are the most popular undercounter refrigerators. They can hold a variety of drinks, including wine bottles, cans, and sports drinks.
These specialty refrigerators are flexible, fitting several wine bottles and at least 70 cans of beer — all within a compact 24-inch size.
There are plenty of brands to choose from, including reliable options like Perlick, U-Line, Marvel, Sub-Zero, Monogram, and Electrolux.
In this post, we'll cover the best beverage centers to consider.
With models varying significantly in features and price, your choice will ultimately depend on your specific needs.
Let's dive in.
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4 Best Undercounter Beverage Centers for 2024
Best Built: True TBC-24-R-SG-C ($4,299)
True, a commercial refrigeration company from St. Louis, started making residential products about 15 years ago.
This beverage center is well-built and reliable.
True uses stainless steel throughout the interior and includes a large convection fan on the back to keep the temperature consistent, which is great for frequent use.
Stainless steel is one of the best materials for a refrigerator interior because it holds cold air well.
True’s construction is strong enough to be used in outdoor kitchens and bars.
The shelves slide out smoothly, making it easy to access your drinks.
You can customize the exterior with 11 color options and six hinge accents.
You can also choose between a glass front or a fully panelized look.
The interior lighting has 14 color choices.
While True is the most expensive option, it’s the only refrigerator built to this level of quality.
Features:
- Exclusive stainless-steel interior and exterior (300-series)
- 5.6 cubic feet of storage space
- Zero-clearance hinges for seamless, built-in installation
- Patented TruLumina® LED lighting with 14 color options
- Low-E, double-pane glass with UV protection
- True Precision Control® for accurate digital temperature control
- Balanced, forced-air cooling for fast and even temperature distribution
- Adjustable stainless-steel shelves and wine racks that hold up to 13 bottles
- TrueFlex® shelving system allows easy conversion between a refrigerator or wine cabinet
- Sabbath mode available
- Lock included on stainless steel models
- Rated for outdoor use by UL standards
Best Overall: Sub-Zero DEU2450BG/L ($2,960)
Sub-Zero, based in Madison, Wisconsin, has been leading the way in built-in home refrigeration since 1945.
Surprisingly, this might be one of the few times Sub-Zero is priced lower than other brands.
It's significantly less expensive than True, though it doesn't have the stainless steel interior or customizable colors.
However, Sub-Zero makes up for it with a strong magnetic seal that helps keep food fresher for longer.
The temperature control is very precise, with only a one-degree variation from the selected setting.
The shelves are coated with nanotechnology, which prevents spills from spreading—no more dealing with sticky messes later on.
All Sub-Zero refrigerators come with Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can monitor the temperature and run diagnostics from your phone.
For $500 more, you can also upgrade to an outdoor-ready Sub-Zero beverage center.
Features:
- Fully customizable exterior with options for custom panels or stainless steel to match Sub-Zero®, Wolf®, and Cove appliances
- Seamless integration into any room, whether for a master suite or a beverage corner in your study
- Patented full-extension beverage shelf with adjustable gates to keep items upright or fold flat for larger items
- Full-extension multipurpose shelf for bottles, soft drinks, and food
- Easy-to-use on-door touch control panel for quick access to settings
- Spill-proof shelves with a nano-coating for simple cleanup
- UV-resistant glass door to protect food and beverages from harmful light
- Magnetic door seals to keep cold air inside, boosting energy efficiency
- Precise temperature control, within one degree of the set point, perfect for preserving wine, beer, dairy, produce, and other perishables
- Soft-on LED lighting with four adjustable settings to brighten the interior when the door is opened
- Wi-Fi enabled for remote temperature control, door-ajar alerts, and service diagnostics via your mobile device
Yale Beverage Center YPBEV24-SS-ADA ($2,599)
We designed our beverage centers to have similar features to other premium brands.
The temperature range is set between 34-65 degrees, and fan-assisted cooling ensures even temperatures and faster cool-down times.
Zone 1 can hold up to 72 cans, each 12 oz., and maintains a temperature range of 34-50 degrees.
Zone 2 is designed to store 14 wine bottles, each 25 oz., with a temperature range of 40-64 degrees.
You also have the option of a cool blue interior with this refrigerator (13 fewer color options than True).
Unlike anything else on the market, the Yale beverage center is covered by a full 5-year warranty backed by our team:
Features:
- ADA height compliant, fits under a 34" countertop
- 5-Year Parts & Labor Warranty
- Signature blue interior
- Fully wrapped in stainless steel
- Self-closing hinges with a door stop, hidden from view
- Triple-paned glass door with UV protection and Argon gas for insulation
- Easy-to-use touch controls
- Temperature range: 34°F to 65°F
- Fan cooling for even temperatures and faster cooling
- LED lighting displays your collection for 4 or 6 hours, with a Nightlight option
- Clear crisper drawer at the bottom
- Comes right-hinged, with doors that can be reversed
XO Undercounter Weed Refrigerator XOU24WWGS ($2,099)
XO WINE AND WEED PRESERVATION SYSTEM
It's for wine and weed, but close enough. If you're looking to safely store your stash, this fridge is patented to protect your marijuana.
It's a brand-new product from XO, the company that distributed Marvel refrigerators for about 30 years.
Features:
- Separate wine and cannabis zones, controlled from one panel
- Cannabis zone temperature: 54°F to 75°F
- Wine zone temperature: 41°F to 64°F
- Two styles of stainless-steel handles included
- Tri-color interior lighting
- Easy-to-use digital touch controls
- 6.5-foot power cord with a low-profile flat plug
- Low-E glass to block harmful UV light
- Alarm functions and Sabbath mode
Choosing Between Beverage Centers and Wine Coolers
Freestanding vs. Undercounter Beverage Centers
When browsing home centers or online retailers, you might come across beverage centers priced around $500.
It’s like the one I had in college back in the last century.
Meanwhile, many blogs recommend undercounter beverage centers that range from $1,500 to $5,000.
So, what’s the difference?
A freestanding beverage center has a compressor in the back and isn’t designed to go under your cabinets.
With the compressor in the back, these units don’t get enough airflow and will eventually overheat and stop working—think of it like putting your hand over a hair dryer.
Freestanding refrigerators are usually made of plastic with cheaper shelving, and they typically have only one temperature zone, which isn’t as precise as undercounter models.
An undercounter beverage center, on the other hand, has a compressor at the bottom and is designed to fit between your cabinets.
It breathes through the front toe kick, offers better temperature control, and has sturdier shelving. Plus, it’s built with metal, not plastic.
If you’re on a tight budget and don’t need to install the unit between cabinets, a freestanding option could work.
However, undercounter beverage centers are higher quality and the only choice for between-cabinet installations.
Undercounter Beverage Centers vs. Wine Coolers
Wine coolers are specifically designed for wine bottles.
The best wine coolers, like those from Sub-Zero and True, are engineered to maintain the ideal temperature and humidity for wine, while minimizing vibration and light exposure to preserve the wine’s flavor and tannins.
Beverage centers, on the other hand, are designed to store beer, soda, and wine, so the shelving is different.
While many beverage centers now have UV-resistant Low-E glass, they’re often not designed for long-term wine storage.
The better option depends on what you plan to store and how long you'll need to store it.
Which Undercounter Beverage Center Should You Buy?
You have four very different products, each with its own strengths:
The True undercounter beverage center is the best-built, but also the most expensive.
The Sub-Zero undercounter beverage center is an excellent choice overall, especially if you plan to store fresh produce.
Your choice will come down to your budget, where you’re installing the unit, and what you need to store.
Additional Resources
Get the Yale Undercounter Refrigerator Guide with features, specs and inside tips to all the beverage centers, refrigerators, freezers and ice makers. Over 1 million people have read a Yale Guide.
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A Note About Pricing
Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.
