What is a backbar refrigerator?
A backbar refrigerator is a compact bottle refrigerator, typically placed under the counter or integrated into the bar counter in restaurants, cafés, hotels, and bars.
It is primarily used for chilling beer, sodas, ciders, water, and other beverages that need to be quickly accessible to staff.
One of the most important differences between a backbar and a regular bottle refrigerator is the ventilation.
Backbars expel heat through the front, making them suitable for built-in installation under a bar counter, where there is often limited space behind the refrigerator.
Which backbar should I choose?
The choice primarily depends on how many bottles or cans you need to chill, how much space you have behind the bar, and how often the doors are opened during the day.
1 door
- Best for: Smaller café or supplement
- Advantage: Compact and low space requirements
2 doors
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Best for: Restaurant and café
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Advantage: Good balance between capacity and width
3 doors
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Best for: Bars and busier serving locations
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Advantage: Large capacity and easy division of beverages
BA or DB – which backbar series should I choose?
Tefcold's backbar refrigerators are available in different series, with the BA and DB series catering to different needs and budgets.
BA Series (Premium Series)
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Internal lining: Aluminium
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Shelves: Stronger and denser chrome wire shelves, ideal for bottles with "feet"
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Sliding doors: Doors stay in place when pushed open
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Cooling: Relatively fast cooling – typically under 1 hour
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Best for: Busy bars, restaurants, and places with high demands on finish and function
DB Series (Budget-friendly Series)
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Internal lining: Plastic
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Shelves: Standard shelves, plastic-coated
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Sliding doors: Doors do not stay in place on their own
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Cooling: Suitable for general cooling operation
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Best for: Price-conscious customers who want good operation and reasonable energy consumption
The BA series is the obvious choice if the backbar is used intensively and both function, finish, and quick access to bottles are important. The better shelves and more practical sliding doors make the series more suitable for busy serving environments. The greater internal height also makes it suitable for long-neck bottles, and the top plate can be used as a work surface.
The DB series, on the other hand, is a good choice if price is a higher priority, but you still want a professional backbar refrigerator with reasonable energy consumption. The construction is simpler, including plastic lining inside and sliding doors that do not stay in place on their own, but the series offers a lot of functionality for the money.
The choice between BA and DB therefore primarily depends on intensity of use, comfort, and budget. For a busy bar, BA will typically be the most comfortable solution in daily use, while DB is often sufficient for less intensive operation.
Sliding doors or hinged doors?
Backbars are available with both sliding doors and hinged doors. Hinged doors are often the simplest and most reliable solution and usually require less maintenance over time.
Sliding doors, on the other hand, can be a great advantage if space in front of the refrigerator is limited. This is especially true in narrow bar areas, where an open hinged door can get in the way of staff or other equipment.
If there is plenty of space in front of the backbar, we would typically recommend hinged doors. If space is tight, sliding doors may be the most practical solution.
Why is front ventilation important?
A refrigerator emits heat when the compressor is working. On many common refrigerators, this heat must be able to escape from behind or around the unit.
A backbar with front ventilation instead expels heat from the front of the refrigerator. This makes the model better suited for built-in installation under a countertop or in a bar counter, where there may not be much air behind the refrigerator.
However, it is still important to follow the manufacturer's requirements for ventilation and installation distances, as these can vary from model to model.
How quickly should a backbar be able to chill beverages?
If the backbar is primarily used for beverages that are already cold, temperature stability and energy consumption are often more important than very high cooling capacity.
If, on the other hand, you continuously fill the refrigerator with warm bottles or cans during busy periods, the cooling speed becomes far more important. This can be relevant, for example, at events, festivals, or bars with very high turnover.
In such situations, a more powerful model may be a better choice than the most energy-efficient standard model.
Backbar or regular bottle refrigerator?
A backbar is usually the best choice if the refrigerator needs to be integrated directly into the bar's work area. Its low height, front ventilation, and glass doors make it suitable for quick access and an overview of beverages.
A regular bottle refrigerator may be better if you need greater capacity and have space for a freestanding, tall refrigerator.
Backbar or wine cooler?
A backbar can be used for short-term chilling of wine that needs to be served quickly. For longer-term wine storage, however, we recommend a professional wine cooler, where temperature, shelves, and storage environment are better adapted to wine.
Energy consumption and noise level
A backbar is often switched on 24/7 and can also be located close to both guests and staff. Therefore, both energy consumption and noise level are relevant when choosing a model.
Therefore, do not only compare the purchase price. Also look at the stated kWh consumption per day, the noise level in dB, and the necessary capacity. An energy-efficient model can be cheaper to operate over time, while a low noise level is a particular advantage in smaller cafés and bars.
Get help choosing the right backbar
At Cosina, we consider the space behind the bar, the number of bottles and cans, the need for sliding or hinged doors, and how quickly new beverages need to be chilled.
If you are unsure about the size or model, we are happy to help you find a backbar that suits your capacity, interior design, and operation.
