Choosing the Right Back Bar Cooler

Well-stocked back bar refrigerators lighten employee workloads and streamline customer service by helping bartenders and servers keep supplies close at hand, which makes commercial bar refrigerators a critical component of a functional restaurant or bar. Choosing a bar refrigerator that meets the needs of your foodservice operation will optimize your space usage. They are available in a versatile range of configurations and can house a variety of chilled cans and bottles to increase employee access to product.

You should keep a few considerations in mind when selecting your commercial bar refrigerator. First, know where your compressor is mounted. This knowledge is crucial if you already have a location in mind for your back bar refrigerator. Side-mounted compressors will need more side clearance because they intake and exhaust on the side, and rear-mounted compressors may not be suitable for wall installation for similar reasons. Because they take in dust and debris from the floor, bottom-mounted compressors need less clearance and more maintenance over time than other configurations. Installation for remote compressors can be costly, but they resolve many of these problems since they are located away from the unit. LED lights brighten the interior, merchandise product, and save on energy, and door locks secure product when staff are away from the equipment.

Do You Need Glass or Solid Doors?

Back bar coolers are constructed with either a solid or a glass door. Commercial bar refrigerators with solid doors have greater energy efficiency than glass-door models, as well as heightened insulation. They are the more economical alternative and are recommended for chilling product such as lemons, simple selections of drinks, and small equipment that is safe in cold temperatures. On the other hand, back bar refrigerators with glass doors can help merchandise product. This design is the most popular, offering the additional option of sliding or swinging doors.

Our Top Shopping Tip: Solid doors are a more economical alternative to glass-door models, but glass doors will enable you to merchandise product.

Are Sliding or Swinging Doors Best for Your Layout?

Choosing a bar refrigerator with the most appropriate door configuration for your business can do wonders for space-saving initiatives. It is important to keep space availability in mind when investing in a back bar cooler, especially when it comes to choosing whether you purchase sliding or swinging glass doors.

Because sliding doors move along a track, they are ideal for areas that have limited space. However, they only come on commercial bar refrigerators that have two or more sections, and some do not close on their own. Sliding doors are less common than swinging doors and only come in glass, so keep in mind you'll have fewer options to choose from if you go with this door configuration. Swinging doors often self-close and are mounted on hinges, though they take up more space when opened, which can inhibit the flow of traffic for employees when they are restocking product.

Nevertheless, a third alternative is available if your establishment has the space to accommodate it. The size of your back bar refrigerator will directly affect its restocking needs, but the stocking process can be sped up by investing in a pass-through configuration. With doors on both sides, you'll be able to restock from the other side of the bar wall.

Our Top Shopping Tip: Sliding doors are best for saving on space, while swinging doors have the capability to self-close.

What Are Your Exterior Finish Options?

Choosing a bar refrigerator's exterior finish impacts durability and appearance, as both black laminate and stainless steel have unique benefits. The former has a modern aesthetic and is the more economical option. It can, however, get chipped or scratched, leading to rust in the metal beneath. Stainless steel is simpler to clean and more durable, though it will have to be cleaned more regularly and has a higher up-front cost. Some black laminate units are available with stainless steel tops. The black exterior will resist chipping and peeling, while the stainless steel top will not dent, rust, or scratch.

Our Top Shopping Tip: A black laminate finish is more modern and economical, but stainless steel has higher durability and can be cleaned more quickly.

How Will Store Volume Affect Your Back Bar Cooler Buying Decision?

When choosing a bar refrigerator, take store volume into consideration. Establishments that provide limited amounts of product should need no more than a single one-section back bar cooler. This equipment is excellent for quick foodservice locations, such as convenience stores that merchandise a particular alcohol or caffeinated beverage. Medium- to high-volume locations, such as cafés, should opt for a commercial bar refrigerator that has two or three sections. High-demand locations like sports bars need to invest in units with three or more sections.

Our Top Shopping Tip: Select a unit that will keep plenty of cold beverages ready to serve without demanding more space than your bar has available.

Which Back Bar Cooler is Right for You?

Still not sure where to start shopping? Try browsing back bar coolers based on our good and better ratings, which are determined by construction, materials, features, and price point. Good commercial bar refrigerators are the economical option. They often have multiple shelves that can be adjusted to accommodate products of varying heights and are designed for rust resistance. Conversely, better back bar refrigerators can hold more product. Their interiors resist bends and dents and are easier to clean, and their shelves are corrosion resistant. Better back bar coolers have all the features of the good alternatives and more.

Our Top Shopping Tip: For a more economical price point, select a commercial bar refrigerator with a good rating. If you have the means to invest in more amenities, go for a back bar refrigerator with a better rating.

KaTom's Quick Guide to Selecting the Best Back Bar Cooler

Need a quick way to pick out your commercial bar refrigerator? Browse our breakdown below!

1. Merchandising. Determine if you'd like to showcase product while it's being chilled.
2. Space. Know how much room you have to accommodate equipment.
3. Volume. Determine the capacity you'll need to meet store demand.