This capacious black fridge only burns through 84 kilowatts per year, so it will be able to work efficiently without needlessly raising your electricity bill. The model also comes with a lock and 2 keys that will keep the contents guarded and away from the young ones.
The thermostat is mounted to the rear wall, which is rather inconvenient.
The Subcold fridge is as quiet and compact as the more basic counterparts but its main advantage lays in just how capacious it is. With 49 litres of space, this is one of the best fridges for a homeowner that likes to throw parties. It's going to keep your guests refreshed with chilled beverages while the stylish design and lit-up interior, visible through the glass door, will surely attract their attention and become a welcome addition to your living room's decor.
49 litres (45 cans)
2 adjustable shelves
AC
Adjustable thermostat (1°C - 18°C), Auto defrosting, Reversal door feature, Tempered glass door with stainless steel trim, Integrated lock with key, Interior light, Height-adjustable feet
44 x 50 x 52.5 cm
2 years
The cooling fan in this model is extra quiet, running below 38 dB. This makes the bar@drinkstuff cooler one of the few fridges that you could keep in your bedroom without disrupting your sleep.
The interior light stays on when the door is closed so you'll have to occasionally change the light bulb.
Plenty of mini fridges out there aren't exactly energy-efficient or environmentally friendly, but the Drinkstuff cooler does not belong on that list. The small appliance in question is quiet, childproof, and great for those that care about the environment. It won't take up too much space in your living room while cooling a whole lot of drinks at once.
17 litres (20 cans)
1 adjustable shelf, door rack
AC
Adjustable thermostat (5°C - 18°C), Auto defrosting, Integrated lock with key, Interior light, Non-skid feet
38.4 x 40.5 x 33 cm
1 year
The fridge has a stylish design allowing it to be a perfect addition to any setting, be it your bedroom, office or countertop. Can be used as a warmer or cooler for warming or cooling your drinks.
The temperature inside the chamber may vary if you open it too frequently.
For those looking to buy a really small and easy-to-carry mini-fridge to store some food, drinks, cosmetics, or medicine, the Russell Hobbs RH4CHL1001B will fit the bill. It has compact overall dimensions but offers ample room inside to hold up to 6 cans. In addition, it produces almost no noise and works from a car cigarette lighter port, which makes it an ideal travel companion for just about anyone.
4 litres (6 cans)
2 adjustable shelves
AC, Car cigarette lighter port
Adjustable thermostat (20°C - 65°C), 230v power lead and a handy 12v, folding handle
25 x 18 x 24 cm
1 year
Due to its small size and light weight, this mini fridge will easily fit into the boot of your car or boat. The self-locking door handle along with a retractable carry handle adds to the convenience of using the fridge on the go.
The cooling capacity is a tad bit less powerful than advertised.
Among many mini-fridges available, this one offers the best size/cooling efficiency ratio. It utilises the CFC-free thermoelectric technology and can keep items cool up to 18°C below ambient temperature, which's nothing short of impressive considering its small size. Fitted with 12V DC/240V AC plugs, this fridge is perfect for home and travel use.
4 litres (6 cans)
2 adjustable shelves
AC, Car cigarette lighter port
CFC-free thermoelectric technology, Adjustable thermostat (18°C - 57°C), Semiconductor heating and cooling module, selflocking door, Frosted perspex window, Carrying handle
17.3 x 17.8 x 25.4 cm
90 days Parts and Labor
You can choose between the 2 power levels depending on your needs and requirements. The Max mode is best for chilling produce while the ECO mode is recommended for keeping the beverages cool.
Some customers have complained about this model being too noisy.
If you enjoy camping and fishing trips, this is the fridge for you. Easy to carry thanks to its modest size and a special handle, the IceQ cooler will add a touch of luxury to your weekends as you'll be able to take in the beauty of nature whilst still enjoying a cold can of beer straight out of the fridge.
15 litres (15 cans)
1 adjustable shelf, door rack
AC, Car cigarette lighter port
Hot and Cold modes, 2 power levels, Frosted perspex window, Carrying handle, Non-skid feet
27 x 30.5 x 41 cm
1 year
Energy-Efficient and Powerful
Want to stock up on your favourite drinks but don’t have that much space in your refrigerator? Well, you’ve come to the right page then, because the Subcold Super50 will prove to be a perfect solution to your problems. With a 49-litre capacity, you can store enough beer, soda, or other soft drinks to last for weeks or even more. Though we'd advise putting in a maximum of 45 bottles or cans to leave some space free. This makes it easier to take the containers out and lets the cold air flow freely, chilling the drinks and keeping them cool for you to enjoy.
While this kind of appliance may seem like a luxury item, it’s actually pretty efficient since it cools beer and other beverages without costing too much in terms of maintenance. With an annual consumption of 84 kilowatt, the fridge will barely have an impact on your electricity bill. Is a couple of pounds per year too much for such a convenience? We’d say it isn’t, considering that it’s practically as powerful as a regular refrigerator and even has an ice maker to keep your drinks chilled when you take them out of the cooled compartment. Many users undervalue the importance of a good ice maker but if you’ve ever had a get together at your house during the summer, then you already know how useful this little feature can be. We do wish it'd be built in the appliance but that clearly could only be done by sacrificing space in the fridge itself and it’s always better to have that space for an extra beverage.
Adjust Temperature in Wide Range
We’ve read a lot of concerns from parents saying that they’re afraid of kids getting into beer fridges and taking out the alcoholic beverages, so it's a good thing that you'll never have to worry about that with the Subcold Super50. This model comes with a lock and 2 keys that will keep the contents guarded and away from the young ones.
For further convenience, the model has a pretty silent compressor, which emits just 42 dB of noise. You’ll barely register its hum over the sound of a quiet conversation, even when standing right next to it. Also, the double-glazed glass door on this mini fridge is not just extra sturdy but reversible as well. This makes it much easier to find a proper spot for the fridge as you don’t have to worry about the door hitting other appliances. If it’s in the way, just reverse its direction and you’re good to go.
While the Subcold Super50 Mini Fridge is one of the best beer fridges on the market, it does have some flaws. For example, you might not be too thrilled with the thermostat being placed in the rear. If you want to change the temperature, you’ll have to move the refrigerator so you can see the controls. Of course, having a 1-18°C cooling range is pretty amazing but we still wish the thermostat was a bit easier to get to.
With that said, the aforementioned flaw is no dealbreaker and the Subcold Super50 is still one of the most capacious beer fridges out there. You can fill it with your favourite beverages and, if you need some extra space, the 2 sturdy chrome wire shelves can be slid out to make room for another can or two. It’s the perfect choice for large families or anybody that likes to throw parties in the summer.
| Last updated price | £159.99 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B076M5MS5D |
Optimises Temperature Automatically
Not everybody has the space for a huge refrigerator but the convenience of having chilled drinks or snacks in your living room or an office is quite tempting. Which is why plenty of people opt for a compact model like bar@drinkstuff ChillQuiet, which is as powerful as bigger appliances but won’t take up that valuable free space. It is also a great countertop model thanks to its compact size of 46.6 x 43 x 40 cm.
While 17 litres of storage might not seem like much, the fridge can hold up to 20 cans of beer, soda, or any beverages you prefer. Of course, it’s also good for snacks that you want to keep from going stale. The Drinkstuff ChillQuiet isn’t intended for storing perishables for too long but leaving your sandwich there until lunch is certainly a viable option. The temperature range of 5-18°C is also quite impressive for such a small unit. This is possible thanks to the technology that adjusts the fridge's inner temperature according to the room one. That way, less energy is spent and the drinks and snacks stay cool without freezing. Of course, if you want a higher or lower temperature, the thermostat is fully manually adjustable. However, we’d recommend letting the fridge itself pick the optimal level as it will use less energy that way.
Extra Quiet Fridge for Your Bedroom
If you have a party coming up and want more space to store drinks, the single shelf in the DrinkStuff ChillQuiet slides out easily, giving you more room to work with. Plus, the door has a separate storage compartment which can hold smaller cans, snacks, or cartons. It is a bit too small for regular cans or bottles though, so fit those into the main one.
Plus, you won't have to worry about the fridge sliding if you bump into it as the rubber feet will keep it planted firmly. And, speaking of safety, the door is lockable, so you can keep your kids away from the drinks or, if your son/daughter has a sweet tooth, the candy bars.
We have also noted that the Drinkstuff refrigerator eats up around 35 kilowatts per year, which is a relatively small number. This is due to the special technology that reduces carbon emissions and cuts down on energy use by only working to sustain the temperature and not to constantly keep the chill up. The chill is kept up by the cooling fan, designed specifically to be as quiet as possible. With a sound level of just 38 dB, this is one of the least noisy fridges available, which is especially important if you’re going to place it in your office. An appliance this quiet won’t disrupt your work at all and you’ll barely even notice the sound it makes.
All of that makes the Drinkstuff Mini Beer Fridge great if you want to save money on the electricity bill while also helping the environment. Not to mention the fact that you can tuck it in the corner or place it right by your couch so you’ll always have a chilled beverage ready while enjoying TV or relaxing with your friends.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | £124.99 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B0081YFGCY |
Best for Travelling
Keeping food and drinks cold when travelling in a truck, car or boat can be rather difficult, especially when it comes down to such drinks as wine. However, with a mini-fridge at hand, things will change. Not only will it allow you to store your drinks, food, and other things cool or warm for a long time but you will also get a chance to vary the temperature depending on the contents. Which portable fridge to get? Consider going with the Russell Hobbs Mini Fridge RH4CLR1001B.
Measuring just 25 x18 x 24 cm, the RH4CLR1001B doesn't take up a lot of space and can be easily carried in hands if needed, making it an ideal option for outdoor activities such as picnics, beach parties with friends, road trips, etc. The item weighs just 2.15 kgs and offers 4L of internal space, so its total weight will only slightly exceed the mark of 6 kgs, making it quite bearable for most people.
A nice little addition that we especially like about this fridge is that it has two adjustable shelves inside. This way, even though the capacity of the fridge isn't generous, you'll be able to use it wisely by properly rearranging items inside. And if you need to store bulkier stuff or taller bottles, you'll be able to remove those shelves at any time.
The handy features of the Russell Hobbs Mini Fridge RH4CLR1001B do not end there though. One of the biggest benefits of the RH4CLR1001B, especially in view of its price and size, is that it can act as both a cooler and a warmer, effectively cooling things up to 20°C below the room temperature and heating them up to 65°C above, which adds to its versatility.
A Cosmetic Bag Too
Of course, we don't usually buy home appliances for aesthetics only, but it never hurts when an appliance looks good. When it comes to the Russell Hobbs RH4CLR1001B Mini Fridge, you get the best of both worlds. This fridge is not only functional but also great-looking, with its 1950s style retro design, chrome handles, smooth lines, and gloss finish. So, it can be placed pretty much anywhere including your makeup table to store cosmetics and skincare products.
As for small features, the fridge is supplied with a 12V DC car adaptor and a 230v power lead. Thus, you get all the necessary components included in the box, which saves you from additional costs.
In the essence, the Russell Hobbs RH4CLR1001B has all the features that make it a great portable fridge, including light weight, adjustable cooling/warming temperature, and efficient performance. In addition, it looks pretty amazing, so if you've been looking for a stylish mini-fridge to store your cosmetics and skincare products, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better deal.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | £42.99 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B08PC71W32 |
Stylish Personal Fridge
For those in search of a nice and practical personal cooler to use at home and on the go, the Koolatron KRT04-B Retro Personal Cooler might pique your interest. This fridge sports a very stylish design with some unique fancy features like retro metallic hinges, a self-locking handle, a compact window, and a retractable handle and takes very little space on a desk, shelf or car. More importantly, it gets pretty cold, well, remarkably cold for a unit with these small dimensions, making it one of the best mini coolers in its price range.
To cover the key features of the Koolatron KRT04-B, the unit offers an impressive cooling performance, keeping items cool up to 18°C below the ambient temperature, which is much more than what you'd get with most other personal beer fridges. What's more, it also has a warm mode that can be set up to 57°C, letting it substitute for a generous-sized insulated food box.
A nifty feature adding to the convenience of use is a self-locking door handle. Thanks to it, you can safely use this fridge on the go, resting assured nothing will leak on your car seats. What is also handy is that the package includes a 12V DC, so you will be able to take it with you on your trip right out of the box without purchasing any additional components.
Interior
As for the interior, the fridge is able to hold up to 4L of drinks and food. This is not much but not little for the mini beer bridges. Also included is an adjustable shelf that will let you neatly organise the stuff inside the cooling chamber. This way, you'll be able to store not only beer but also bigger drinks.
When it comes to small add-ons, the fridge has neither LED lights nor displays, but it does have a small window to let you view the contents at a glance. Also, it features a convenient retractable handle for hassle-free transportation. Besides, it has a very beautiful design. You can purchase it in black, pink or green colour to make sure it goes well with your home/office/spa/salon interior.
All told, the Koolatron KRT04-B Retro Personal Cooler is a great thing. If you need a personal mini-fridge that can hold some small essentials like cans of beer, snacks or beauty products (creams, moisturises, cosmetics, etc.), it will fit the bill.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | £39.48 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B07VGP5787 |
No Louder Than Your Computer
Nothing feels quite as great as a celebration over a hard-fought victory in an online shooter with a cold can of beer or soda but running off to the kitchen after a match isn’t very practical. Which is why we recommend getting the IceQ ICEQ15RW Litre Deluxe Portable to perfect your man-cave and make it your perfect little haven. With this tiny fridge, you can always crack a cold one without having to get up and walk around the house.
The IceQ Mini Fridge isn’t just a flashy name either as the appliance is just 30.5 x 27 x 41 cm in size. You could put it on your table next to a sizeable gaming rig and still have some space left over to put speakers for the surround sound effect. In fact, you could even place it in your office, if the workplace allows it, enjoying a fresh snack or chilled Coke during your lunch break without having to go to the store or a subpar office cafeteria.
And don’t worry about the fridge humming too loudly and annoying you during the game or disrupting your work, the cooling fan on this model is designed to be as quiet as possible. Sadly, no technical specifications are available on this but most customers claim that the sound is comparable to a desktop computer. Plus, iceQ appliances use the Peltier technology, which makes them more environmentally friendly on top of the lowered noise, so you can enjoy chilled beverages while keeping our planet clean!
Compact Cooler for Trips
The advantages of iceQ don’t stop there, though, as the tiny fridge is also great for picnics or camping trips, as long as you have something to power it, be it a portable generator or your own car. The appliance comes with both a mains plug and a 12 V car lighter socket so you can keep it running using the engine in your vehicle. But that’s not all that makes the IceQ ICEQ15RW such a good choice for outdoor trips. This model weighs just 3.9 kg when empty, quite lightweight compared to its counterparts. And the carry-on handle lets you hold it comfortably without having to support it with both hands or risk dropping it.
Despite being so compact, the fridge can hold up to fifteen 0.33 l cans, more than enough for a working week or a little get-together with friends. Alternatively, you can take out the removable shelf and put in some bigger containers, up to 1.5 litres. Of course, you ought to fill it with whatever you enjoy. Plus, you can check up on your stock through the frosted perspex glass door, which is damage-resistant and insulated to keep the cold in.
Speaking of temperature and insulation, we’re glad that a heating mode was included but it’s not that powerful and eats up a lot of energy, straining the appliance and emitting much more noise than usual. With that in mind, it’s best to stick to refrigeration with this one.
To sum up all of the above, we’d definitely advise buying the IceQ ICEQ15RW if you want chilled beverages but don’t have the space for a bigger model or enjoy camping trips with a touch of luxury. It’s eco-friendly, efficient, and can be taken anywhere. The iceQ fridge is affordable and the feeling of a cold beer on a hot summer day is absolutely priceless.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | $0.00 |
| Stock | May be out of stock |
| ASIN | B01BBZRYM4 |
What Is a Beer Fridge?
While it may seem that the refrigerators are getting bigger and bigger these days, so are our grocery lists, to be completely fair. Surely you wouldn’t want to replace salad or any other useful and essential produce, piece of meat, or some kind of ingredient for something as arguably unimportant as a couple of cans of beer, but wouldn’t it be nice to always have enough space for your favorite brewski to enjoy at the end of a long day? Or, better yet, have an access to a cold can of beer inside your own car? Well, all of that is possible with a simple beer fridge. As the name suggests, we are talking about a household and sometimes portable appliance that will allow you to store from a single can up to dozens of your favourite beers for you to enjoy after a long day at work in the comforts of your own home or on a picnic at a nice little family getaway. Heck, you can even place one of these in your office to make sure that those tiresome Fridays get a proper evening celebration.
And if beer isn’t necessarily what gets you out of bed in the morning and you consider yourself more of a wine guy, you might want to consider purchasing a wine aerator.
What Features to Compare
Capacity
As you would imagine, a beer fridge is not necessarily one of the more complex appliances out there, so there aren’t a whole lot of things you have to keep in mind if and when you decide to purchase one. Nevertheless, there are still a couple of aspects that we would definitely recommend taking into consideration before settling for a product that suits your needs and preferences, with the first one of them being the capacity of the fridge. Some of these models will be able to provide enough space for literally a hundred cans while others are designed to fit no more than a single brewski, which is why it is important to take into account what it is exactly you’re looking for out of your beer fridge. If you want one to put in your own home and you have enough space in your house or your apartment, you could easily opt for the most capacious offer out there. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a model that will prove to be useful in a variety of scenarios, be it a family getaway somewhere nice and sunny or a little corner in your office to store a few drinks, you might want to choose a more versatile product that features somewhere around 0.35 cubic feet in volume and is able to fit from 6 to 12 cans of beer. Finally, if all you want is to always have one cold brewski to enjoy whenever and wherever you want, you may always go with those incredibly compact fridges that are designed for no more than a single can.
Dimensions
Now, it should probably go without saying, but the capacity of the fridge is largely determined by the size of it, so you should definitely take its dimensions into account and consider just how much free space you have in the place where you’d like to put the fridge.
Source of Power
Aside from that, once you have figured out where exactly you’d like to put your beer fridge, do not forget to look into the source of power the model utilizes before you actually purchase one. If you aren’t just looking for an appliance to put inside your house and never actually move it, you might want to make sure that the model can extract power from a car cigarette lighter port or a USB port.
Additional Features
Did you know?
It probably wouldn’t be a huge exaggeration to say that regardless whether you truly appreciate all of the conveniences that a fridge offers you or tend to take those for granted, the majority of people do not necessarily find the most common household appliance out there to be particularly interesting or fascinating. And while we certainly can’t blame anyone for that, we decided it would be a good idea to take advantage of this opportunity and share some interesting facts about fridges in general and beer fridges in particular that we have been able to find browsing through the Internet. So, without further ado, here are a few tidbits that you may or may not find entertaining:
The Chicken or the Egg?
If we (or anybody else, for that matter) were to take a wild guess without actually looking into the roots of this question, it would have to be a regular refrigerator that came first and a beer fridge that followed him. Nevertheless, that isn’t actually the case. It was the middle of the 19th century when a Scottish-born journalist living in Australia that went by the name James Harrison came up with the idea and invented what is now known to be the very first properly functioning refrigerator using no other compound but ether. According to this enterprising individual, he used this groundbreaking invention strictly to cool his beer. The man did not even care to file a patent for his invention, which is why a decade later a French monk would receive all of the credit for the very first domestic refrigerator. By the way, the monk’s name was Abbé Marcel Audiffren and the guy used this appliance with the sole purpose of cooling wine, not entirely dissimilar to the Scottish-Australian’s application, as you would imagine. A few years after the fact, the man decided to sell the rights to his creation to General Electric, which later started to sell them charging people about a thousand bucks for a single model, twice the price of an average car at the time.
Huge is One Word to Describe It
Now, if you feel like fridges have been exponentially growing in size for the past couple of decades, we would just like to mention that, slightly dissimilar to our current models, a fridge could weigh up to 5 tons in the latter part of the 19th century. Suffice it to say, these things were a bit too big to install at home.
The History Repeats Itself Once Again
Barely useful appliance accessories that come with all kinds of smart home devices are all the rage these days. And while that is true that you can hardly surprise anyone with a fridge that comes with a built-in television or a Wi-Fi connection, this kind of approach is actually nothing new to the fridge tech industry. In 1937, for instance, one company, trying to stand out from the ever-increasing crowd of competitors, came up with the idea of a refrigerator with a radio built into it. And, oddly or not so oddly enough, they have even been able to sell a few of these models before the line was permanently discontinued. So next time you walk by a fridge that features such “useful” novelties as the ability to show off a family photo or a calendar on a digital display, these are the people you ought to thank for that.
FAQ:
Q: Can I store perishables in my mini fridge? Which temperature would you recommend for keeping milk fresh for a week or so?
A: We strongly advise against keeping your milk in mini models. These are intended to keep things mildly cold, chilling beverages and snacks. Perishables, including milk, could survive a day or two but more than that is a big gamble. It’s best to keep those products in a regular fridge, unless you have absolutely no free space left.
Q: How can I tell if the shelf in my model is removable? Can I just try pulling it out?
A: Most appliances will have that information specified on the product page or in the manual. And, of course, we try to provide that info if it’s available. Moreover, most models have removable shelves as it’s more convenient for the customer. If you’re not sure, try gently tugging on the shelf to check whether it slides out. Just don’t pull too hard in case it’s non-removable.
Q: My 15-litre fridge only has space for 14 cans, why is this? Am I placing them wrong or is it a faulty model?
A: This is pretty standard as far as fridges go as the internal space is taken up not just by products but by shelves and racks as well. If you take out the removable shelf, you’ll get just a bit more space but that can make a difference and let you store another can of beer, provided that you place it correctly. Also, remember that the dimensions of a can or a bottle aren’t uniform and different brands have different container sizes. So your fridge might actually be able to store 15 cans of some other drink.
Q: How can I get rid of the noise the fridge makes? Is it possible to cover it to make the hum quieter? Or maybe I can make the temperature higher to minimise the strain on the cooling fan?
A: First off, do not cover the fridge with anything, especially the back panel. This would be a massive fire hazard and could cause serious damage to the appliance. Changing the temperature doesn’t affect the noise much unless the appliance is a low-quality one. Most high-end models emit a stable low hum that doesn’t get louder even if the fridge is running to keep the lowest temperature possible. Some of the mini fridges do have an eco mode that not only cuts down on noise but also optimises the cooling process to be more environmentally friendly. However, customers report that this mode is less effective in chilling beverages and won’t be an option on hotter days. A universal solution, though not the best one, is to simply place the fridge further away so the noise doesn’t reach you. That’s one of the primary reasons why most users don’t place these models in their bedrooms if they’re light sleepers.
Q: Can I put my mini fridge right next to my PC tower or some other tech?
A: Depending on the model, some mini coolers might have external parts on the back or the sides. If the insulation of the fridge isn’t up to par, the heat from constant operation may accumulate in these parts and, if they touch your rig, damage the computer. We recommend running the fridge for a bit and then checking to see if it gets hot just to be sure.
Q: What is the best temperature for a beer fridge to run at?
A: While there is no "golden standard", it's recommended to keep it at least below 4°C to ensure that the contents are chilled properly.
Sources:
1. Shaunacy Ferro 15 Icy Cool Facts About Refrigeration, MentalFloss. February 25, 2016.
2. Frank Gruber Does Your Work Need An Office Beer Fridge? TechCO. August 6, 2017.
3. Paul Kita 3 Reasons Why Every Home Cook Should Own a Beer Fridge, MensHealth. November 29, 2017.
4. Chris Mooney Why it’s not okay to have a second refrigerator, The WashingtonPost. November 26, 2014.
5. Scott Desimon Two Fridges Are Better Than One: A Personal Journey, Bon Appetit. June 21, 2017.
6. Wine cooler or beer fridge – which mini fridge is right for you? TechTalk. June 22, 2017.
7. Justin Kennedy The Best Place to Store Dark Beers? Not The Fridge., FOOD52. April 28, 2017.
8. Lee Breslouer THE 5 RULES FOR KEEPING YOUR BEER FRESH & DRINKABLE, THRILLIST. October 7, 2015.