Alright, let me tell you about this 15-inch beverage cooler I got. It’s been a bit of a game changer, not gonna lie.
Why I Even Bothered
So, the kitchen fridge, right? It’s always packed. My wife’s stuff, kid’s stuff, food for meals… trying to squeeze in a few cans of soda or some beers was like playing Tetris, and I always lost. I just wanted a spot, you know, for my drinks, where they’d be cold and out of the way. Kept thinking, “there’s gotta be a better way.” My garage fridge is too far, especially when I’m settled in watching a game.
The Hunt and The Choice
I started looking around online, not really sure what I needed. Just typed in “small drink fridge” or something. Saw a bunch of options, different sizes. Then these 15-inch wide ones kept popping up. Seemed like a good size, not too big to be an eyesore, but big enough to hold a decent stash. I wasn’t looking for anything fancy, no Wi-Fi connected smart stuff, just something that gets cold and stays cold.
I read a few reviews, looked at pictures. Some were crazy expensive! Others looked a bit flimsy. Finally landed on one that seemed like a good middle ground. Price was okay, had adjustable shelves, and the door was reversible, which I thought might be handy. Didn’t overthink it too much, just hit the “order” button.
Getting it Set Up
The box arrived a few days later. Wasn’t too heavy, managed to drag it into my little home office space by myself. Unboxing was pretty standard – lots of styrofoam and plastic wrap. The cooler itself looked pretty sleek, actually. Stainless steel trim, glass door. Nice.
First thing, I let it sit upright for a good few hours. Heard you’re supposed to do that with fridges so the coolant settles. Don’t know if it’s true, but better safe than sorry, right? Then I had to decide on the spot. Found a little nook next to my desk. Perfect.
The door opened the wrong way for the space, so I actually went through the process of reversing it. The manual was… well, it was a manual. A bit confusing, but I figured it out. Took maybe 30 minutes with a screwdriver. Plugged it in, set the temperature, and let it run empty for a while to get down to temp.
Loading It Up and Living With It
This was the fun part. I had a collection of drinks ready to go:
- Cans of soda
- A few bottles of water
- Some craft beers I’d been wanting to try
- Even a couple of those small juice boxes for when my kid wanders in
It held more than I thought, honestly. The adjustable shelves were key. I could move them around to fit different height bottles and cans. Everything looked neat and tidy through the glass door.
Been using it for a good few months now. It’s pretty quiet. I mean, you can hear it hum a little when the compressor kicks on, but it’s not distracting, even in my quiet office. Drinks are always perfectly chilled. It’s just super convenient having everything right there.
No real issues to report. It just does its job. Sometimes I wipe down the glass door because of fingerprints, but that’s about it. If you’re tight on space in your main fridge, or just want a dedicated drink spot, I’d say one of these 15-inch coolers is definitely worth looking into. Made my life a little bit easier, and my drinks a lot colder!
