My CAFÈ Refrigerator Review: Stunning Looks & Smart Capabilities

The most obvious answer here is the aesthetics. When I started appliance shopping, I looked at a lot of brands. I couldn’t find any others that offered a matte white finish with brushed bronze hardware. (Though you can also opt for black or stainless steel with hardware options ranging from copper to brass to stainless.) I see that LG now has a white and brass line, but you can’t customize the hardware in the same way.

The CAFÈ line is also unique in that it is highly customizable depending on your needs and budget. Here are some of the add-ons you can opt for: Standard vs. counter depth sizing, convertible climate control drawer with multiple temperature settings, outside water and ice dispenser, Wi-Fi connectivity and dual dispense auto-fill pitcher (essentially a pitcher that fills itself from inside the refrigerator). I went with an extremely basic model—mostly because I’m a luddite who doesn’t want to deal with getting my fridge online—but it’s cool to know there are options.

• Aesthetics: 20/20
• Fridge space and layout: 20/20
• Freezer space and layout: 17/20
• Temperature control: 20/20
• Ice and water capabilities: 18/20

Total: 95/100

As I said, we got this fridge nearly three years ago in 2022 (along with a CAFÈ oven and dishwasher) and my family of four has used it every day since. At the time of renovation, I worked closely with my contractor to make sure the fridge would fit our space and work well within the overall flow of the kitchen; although I initially worried about capacity, I went with the 18.6 cubic feet counter-depth French door offering ($3,000; $2,700), because I needed it to fit into a tight space and I didn’t want it sticking out past the pantry beside it. (Note: if you are sliding it into a built-in nook, make sure you have about half an inch on all sides to account for the door hinges and leveling of the feet.) I’m really happy with this size (more on that below), but there are much bigger options for folks who need more room. 

I’m also thrilled with the overall functionality. It’s easy for my kids (ages 8 and 10) to reach just about everything in it), and I love that the French doors quietly suction themselves closed, even when somebody does a subpar job of shutting them. (I wish the freezer was the same story; my son is constantly leaving it open!)

I’ve spilled just about everything you can spill inside a fridge (Chili sauce! Extremely sticky jam!), and it all wipes up easily, particularly since the drawers and trays are so easy to remove. I’ve also packed it nearly to overflowing, and have never noticed inconsistencies in temperature.

This probably depends on your definition of high-end. While it is not on par with a Sub-Zero or Viking fridge in terms of temperature precision or price, I think the look and functionality is quite high-end compared to other similarly priced models. Basically, I think of the CAFÈ line as the “upper-middle class” of appliances. People constantly ask me if it’s “custom” and the interior organization and superb LED lighting makes it feel fancy. In other words, we’re not talking 1 percent here, but it does feel like you’ve made it.

Ultimately, I’m happy with my counter-depth fridge size for two reasons. 1. The layout of the top French door portion is so smart and efficient: I love that you can adjust the shelves and side baskets to your desired height (I’ve even removed them entirely when I’ve got a big turkey to store in there), and I love that the pull-out tray and produce drawers are on the bottom, not in the middle where they get in the way of other large things. 2. We have a second a fridge in the basement. In other words, if this were my only fridge for a family of four who likes to entertain, I’m not sure if it would be big enough. That said, I definitely picked the smallest of the CAFÈ offerings, and you can always go bigger, up to 28.7 cubic feet.

Now, while we’re talking about space efficiency, let’s touch quickly on the freezer. As you’ll note from my score above, I’m not as in love with the freezer as I am with the fridge. Mostly this is because, like all bottom-drawer freezers, you have to go digging around for stuff and sometimes your ice cream gets smushed and the cubes from the ice tray slide out of their basket and get all over the floor. I appreciate that this guy has multiple sliding trays for separating your frozen nuggets from your popsicles, but unless you’re crazy organized, you may find yourself with a jumbled and stacked situation.

Yep, though again, how much and what kind depends on the model you get. Because I hate nothing more than front-of-fridge water dispensers (read my cutting take-down here), I did not opt for one, and instead have an interior side-door dispenser, which I vastly prefer. It does not fill a glass of water particularly quickly (which drives my husband crazy, because he hates leaving the door open unnecessarily), but it’s good in a pinch. I also appreciate the freezer ice maker, which works quickly and efficiently to fill a very large basket (though you can turn if off if you don’t want so much ice.) Other models also have a hot water dispenser, if that’s something you need.

One word about the water filters. You’re supposed to change them every six months, which we definitely don’t do, but it’s easy enough to order and replace them as needed.

Yes, if you opt for one of the “Smart” models (I did not). What this means is that you can check and adjust the temperature from the corresponding app (to, say, chill up your beverage drawer from afar), check the ice tray level and filter status and schedule maintenance right from the app. None of this feels particularly useful to me, but you do you.

Bottom Line

You really can’t do better than CAFÈ line of refrigerators for high-end style and function at an affordable price. The finish and hardware options integrate beautifully into just about any modern kitchen design, and the space efficiency, temperature control and durability make it a solid choice for families and serious home-cooks. 10/10. Would buy again.