In today’s design of new kitchens, great rooms and basement playrooms, the homeowners are looking for alternative ways to store different types of drinks and food without running to the main refrigerator.
Undercounter refrigerators can store cans and food, but not wine. Wine units are meant to store just wine in their custom shelving. Beverage centers, on the other hand, can store every item.
A beverage center can store up to 16 bottles of wine for short term storage. You can place cans or bottles of beer and drinks for the kids. Plus you can hold deli platters and other types of food in there. Beverage centers have a multi-purpose use in a home. It can also be used in an outdoor application for certain brands.
Let's look at both brands.
General Electric
GE was formed in 1892 by two companies merging Edison General Electric Company and Thomson-Houston Electric Company. They called the company General Electric. Over the 20th Century, GE developed into a multi-national company that divided many different divisions. They include GE Capital, GE Power & Water, GE Oil & Gas, GE Energy Management, GE Aviation, GE Healthcare, GE Transportation, and GE Home & Business Solutions. They are headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut.
GE distributes widely through builders unlike most appliance companies. To be completely transparent, we do not carry any GE appliances.
True Manufacturing
The True Company started in 1945 in a Missouri garage owned by Robert Trulaske with his father and brother. They developed a roll-top bottle cooler. In one year they moved out of the garage and into a manufacturing warehouse. The company then started selling their products to soft drink companies like 7UP and Pepsi. The company developed and researched many different types of refrigerators for commercial use. Today, 69 years later, the company is an industry leader in commercial refrigeration. Chances are when you go to a convenience store, the refrigerators are True.
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Last year, True finally developed a product for residential use. It's produced to the same commercial standards with an all stainless chassis and solid shelving.
Let’s compare the two beverage centers
True TBC-24-L-SG-A - $2,999.99
- Industry exclusive, 300-series stainless steel interior and exterior
- Zero-clearance hinging allows integrated installation for cleaner look
- Tri-Lumina® LED lighting with 3 different lighting schemes (white, amber, blue)
- Double pane UV tinted glass
- Balanced, forced-air refrigeration system enables rapid product pull down for even temp
- 2 adjustable/removable stainless steel shelves and 2 wine shelves (holds 13 bottles)
- True-Flex® allows convertibility to a fridge or a wine cabinet
- Standard door lock comes with every unit
- UL rated for outdoor use (not many beverage centers can be used outdoors)
- Temperature gets down to 33° degrees for perfect cooling
- Star K compliant for Sabbath and holiday mode
- 3-year full warranty and a 6 year sealed system warranty
GE Monogram ZDBR240PBS - $1,799
- LED Temperature display allows you to monitor the temperature at a glance
- Beverage Shelf on Full-Extension Slides
- Total Capacity 10 Wine Bottles Plus 126 12-Oz. Cans or Total of 146 12-Oz. Cans
- Tempered Glass Door Tinted UV-Resistant
- Can be finished to compliment surrounding cabinetry
- Removable Spill proof Glass Shelves helps contain spills for ease of cleaning
- Quick Space Shelf quickly slides out of the way to make room for tall items
- See through Glass Door with soft Interior Lighting
- Automatically illuminates when the door is opened but can be activated by an internal on/off switch as well
- Reversible Door Swing
- Flush installation allows near-seamless integration with surrounding cabinetry
- Limited 1 year warranty and 5 years limited warranty on sealed refrigeration system
True vs. GE Monogram Undercounter Beverage Centers
First, both companies produce a worthwhile product. The Monogram piece is $1,200 cheaper and is really sharp looking.
From a specification standpoint, True seems to be the better machine. If we start with temperature maintenance, True will maintain a lower temperature of 33 versus GE at 40. Drinks especially will be better at the lower temperature.
The True unit is constructed with all stainless steel and has a better warranty than the GE at 3 years versus 1 year.
It is also more flexible, the True is UL approved for outside as well as indoor use. The unit can also be converted to all wine as well as be used for beverages. True also has three different LED lights; blue, yellow and white for a really cool look.
So, if you are looking for a more affordable item look at GE (and U-Line or Marvel), but the better unit is True.
Additional Resources
Download the Yale Undercounter Refrigeration Guide with specs, features and inside tips to all the major undercounter refrigerators, ice makers and beverage centers on the market. Over 45,000 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.
