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Wine fridge vs drinks fridge: what is the difference?

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In short

A drinks fridge (beverage fridge) is built to chill cans and bottles cold, often down to 0 to 4 °C, with flat or wire shelves for mixed sizes. A wine fridge runs warmer, typically from about 5 °C up to 18 °C, with racks that hold bottles on their side and settings aimed at wine storage and serving. Choose a drinks fridge for lager and soft drinks, a wine fridge for keeping wine.

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

Our verdict

Buy a drinks fridge such as the Swan SR12030BN or HCK 48L if you mainly want cans and lager cold, since both reach 3 °C or below. Buy a wine cooler such as the Severin KS 9894 if wine storage is the priority.

Glass-door fridges for drinks and for wine look so alike that many listings use the terms interchangeably. Underneath, they are tuned for different jobs. One aims to get cans and lager properly cold; the other aims to hold wine at cellar or serving temperature. Buying the wrong one leads to warm beer or wine that is too cold to show well. This comparison sets out the real differences in temperature range, shelving, humidity and glass, using listing facts for three models from our guides, and explains who should buy which, including when a combined or dual-zone unit makes sense.

The key differences

FeatureDrinks fridgeWine fridge
Typical lowest temperatureAbout 0 to 4 °CAbout 5 °C on compressor models; 11 to 12 °C on many thermoelectric ones
Typical upper settingAbout 10 to 15 °CAbout 18 to 20 °C
ShelvesFlat glass or wire for cans and bottlesShaped racks for 75 cl bottles on their side
Capacity quoted inLitres or 330 ml cans75 cl Bordeaux bottles
GlassOften double or low-E to reduce mistingOften tinted or UV-filtering
Aimed atLager, soft drinks, mixersStoring and serving wine
Drinks fridge and wine fridge compared

Three models compared

Here is how two drinks fridges from our drinks fridge guide compare with a wine cooler from our buying guide, using only listing facts.

The two drinks fridges reach well below the wine cooler's lowest setting, which is what you want for lager. The Severin's racks and bottle-based capacity reflect its focus on wine.

Note that the Swan listing quotes 30 wine bottles as an alternative load, but its 3 to 10 °C range and manual dial make it better suited to chilled drinks than to storing reds.

ModelTypeTemperature rangeCapacityAnnual energy
Swan SR12030BNDrinks fridge, under-counter3 to 10 °C80 L, 100 cans or 30 wine bottles85 kWh
HCK 48L glass doorDrinks fridge, compressor0 to 15 °C48 L61 kWh
Severin KS 9894Wine cooler, compressor5 to 15 °C (title says 7 to 18 °C)33 bottles, 95 L140 kWh
Listing facts

Temperature: the deciding factor

Most people expect lager and soft drinks at around 3 to 7 °C. A drinks fridge that reaches 0 to 3 °C covers that comfortably. Many wine fridges stop at 5 °C, and thermoelectric wine coolers often at 11 or 12 °C, which is too warm for lager. Our beer fridge temperature guide gives ranges by drink.

In the other direction, wine storage guidance is around 12 °C and reds are served at 12 to 18 °C. Some drinks fridges only go up to 10 °C, which is too cold for reds.

Compressorcompressorcondenserevaporatorcools well below room temperature, some vibrationThermoelectricPeltierhot sidecold side, fanquiet, little vibration, limited cooling
Compressor and thermoelectric cooling compared.

Shelves, humidity and glass

Drinks fridge shelves are designed for upright cans and bottles of mixed sizes. Wine bottles can lie on them, but they may roll and you fit fewer. Wine fridge racks cradle bottles on their side, which suits cork-sealed wine and makes better use of space for 75 cl bottles.

Drinks fridges running at low temperatures tend to be drier inside, which does not matter for cans but is less suited to keeping corked wine for months. Wine fridge glass is often tinted or UV-filtering to protect wine from light; drinks fridge glass often focuses on reducing condensation, such as the HCK's stated three-layer low-E door.

Who should buy which

  • Mostly cans, lager and soft drinks: a drinks fridge. Look for a low minimum temperature, a UK plug and a climate class that suits the room.
  • Mostly wine, kept for weeks or months: a wine fridge set around 12 °C. See our freestanding guide.
  • A mix, with whites and some cans: a compressor wine fridge that reaches 5 °C can do both reasonably, or a dual-zone model.
  • A home bar with both: two units, or a dual-zone combined wine and beverage fridge with one zone cold enough for cans.

Compare glass-door drinks fridges →

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep wine in a beverage fridge? For short periods, yes, especially whites. For long storage, a wine fridge's warmer, steadier conditions suit wine better.

Can a wine fridge chill beer? Only if it reaches about 5 °C or below. Thermoelectric wine coolers usually cannot.

Mini fridge vs beverage cooler: what is the difference? A mini fridge often has a small freezer box and solid door; a beverage cooler usually has a glass door and no freezer.

Is a bar fridge the same as a drinks fridge? Usually, yes. Check the temperature range in the listing.

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