Minibar coolers play an increasingly important role in the experience hotels deliver.

While our TEFCOLD minibars are primarily used in hotels and resorts across the world, they can also be used as a point-of-sale display unit to help tempt customers and drive impulse sales.

And because of their relatively small footprint, they can be installed in places where space is at a premium. Golf clubs, leisure centers, and gyms can all make use of minibars instead of investing in larger chilled display cabinets.

We offer minibar refrigerators with two types of significantly different cooling systems, and we would like to help you choose the right one for your requirements.

Absorption operated minibars

You should choose absorption cooling if you need light cooling, complete silence, and no maintenance. An absorption minibar fridge uses a single heating element and three operation fluids to power the cooling system, which makes it highly reliable and energy efficient. The absorption system is 100% silent with no moving parts, emitting 0 dB(A) in noise level.

The absorption system has a limited cooling capacity and is only capable of creating a difference to the ambient temperature outside the cooler in the range of 15-20°C – depending on humidity. If the ambient temperature in the room is 30°C, the inside of the cooler would be approx. 10-15°C.

Compressor operated minibars

You should choose a compressor operated minibar if you need a higher cooling capacity in warmer surroundings. They secure a lower temperature level as well as a shorter pull-down time (the time it takes to cool down new products in the cooler). It is also worth noting that the energy consumption is nearly 1/3 of the absorption system, making the compressor version a more sustainable and low running cost option.

The compressor cooling system has a noise level of 38 dB(A) when it runs, which is lower than most guest will notice. In addition, our compressor operated minibar is programmed to only run when the hotel room is highly likely to be empty, e.g. from 9-12 am and 6-10 pm. That means it is completely silent when guests are in the room, where a so-called water-pack maintains the cold temperature in the cooler. The minibar fridge also has a “FAST-cool” and a “SLEEP-mode” function. “FAST-cool” is very useful if a guest arrives at an odd hour. It means that the unit runs continuously for five hours to secure a short pull-down time. “SLEEP-mode”, on the other hand, forces the system to be completely silent for one hour.

In addition to the cooling system, there are several other key features to consider when you are choosing a minibar fridge for your business. 

How much storage capacity is needed?
At TEFCOLD, we offer several sizes of minibars, which, of course, affects the storage capacity within. The smallest models have room for one row of beverages, whereas some of the larger models have room for two rows. They all have adjustable shelves to make it easier for you to organize the minibar according to your needs.

Solid door, glass door, or drawer model?
The design of the minibar fridge is important, as it should be in line with the rest of the décor in the hotel room. Go for a glass door model if you like a contemporary look that showcases the products inside and tempts guests with ice-cold beverages and snacks. If you prefer clean lines, choose a solid door model. This is also ideal for built-in solutions, where you attach a cabinet front to the door and thereby make the minibar cooler blend in seamlessly. The same goes for the drawer minibar models. These can be integrated into e.g. a nightstand, so your guests always have easy access to cold beverages.