Backbar refrigerators

What is a backbar?

A backbar is a bottle cooler placed under a countertop, integrated into the bar counter in restaurants, bars, and cafes. The special feature of a backbar is that it expels heat from the bottom of the front, eliminating the need to leave space for the refrigerator to dissipate heat from the back, which is necessary with a standard display refrigerator.

Professional backbar refrigerators are also known as bar refrigerators or backbar coolers. In some cases, a backbar is a good alternative to standard freestanding bottle coolers.

The selection

Choose between backbars with sliding doors and hinged doors. A backbar is typically used for craft beers, sodas, ciders, and other non-draft beverages. We stock two models. Both models feature double glazing, which is important for safety. One is a premium version (PV) with excellent LED lighting, internal aluminum, quiet operation, strong and dense wire shelves for bottles with "elephant feet," and sliding doors that stay open when pushed aside. It ensures relatively fast cooling in under 1 hour. Due to its internal height, it's ideal for long-neck bottles, and the top plate can be used as a workbench. The other is a budget version (CV) which offers good value for money in terms of energy consumption. It is plastic-lined internally, but the sliding doors do not stay open when pushed aside. However, energy consumption plays a role in how quickly you can cool bottles, and for large events and festivals, we recommend a heavy-duty model (HV) with fast cooling, a heated front to prevent condensation, and self-closing doors. Call us at 42613995 for pricing on these.

Sliding doors require more maintenance over time due to the spring mechanism. Therefore, hinged doors are preferable, unless space in front of the backbar is limited. All models use environmentally friendly refrigerants and are among the quietest in their class. For kegs, we have keg coolers that can cool both opened and unopened kegs.

Check the power consumption of cheap alternatives

A backbar often runs all year round, so you should pay attention to its power consumption. This can vary greatly from model to model. We have examined some of the cheapest models on the market and found that they often use 20 to 40 percent more electricity. It is a requirement to disclose energy classification and energy consumption, and if it's not disclosed, you should steer clear. If we compare the power consumption of the cheap models with the models we offer, you can achieve savings of between 335 kroner and 1,000 kroner excluding VAT per year (2018 prices). What you save by buying some of the cheapest options on the market, you can quickly end up paying in electricity, and often more.

Check the noise level

Some backbars are noisier than others, and since a backbar is located close to customers and your staff, you should also investigate the noise level before purchasing. Even a small difference of 3 decibels makes a noticeable difference.

A high noise level is often also a sign that lower quality components have been used.

Do the sliding doors stay open by themselves?

On some models, the sliding door stays open by itself when you push it fully to the side. This is an advantage when you are stocking it with goods. Other models always close by themselves, which makes it more cumbersome to load goods.

Hinges

A backbar is opened many times throughout the day, and after a few years, this can lead to hinge problems. Therefore, it is important to choose a model with solid hinges. It would be a shame to scrap an otherwise perfectly functional refrigerator because it's not worth replacing the hinges. If you need to, you can visit our subcontractor and feel the difference between the models. Just call in advance and arrange an appointment at 42 61 39 95.

Is there a warranty on the product?

When you are tempted to buy from a foreign webshop, remember that they only provide the mandatory spare parts warranty. Should something happen to the product, it is up to you to troubleshoot and procure the spare part. There can be long waiting times for spare parts, and if it doesn't work, you're back to square one. Therefore, we always recommend buying from a Danish supplier and ensuring that a proper warranty comes with the product. A refrigeration technician is expensive in hourly wages and travel, and a simple service visit often amounts to DKK 1,500 ex VAT.

Spotting a cheap model

Many use buzzwords like quality in conjunction with low prices. Price and quality are linked. If you see a cheap model, you can often spot the low quality by the seller highlighting a single component in the product that is made by a well-known supplier. Otherwise, you can often spot it by high energy consumption – other times by them using old types of refrigerants that are polluting. In addition, the ability to cool down quickly is very important, but it also affects energy consumption.

Are you in doubt?

Then you can call us at 42613995.