Ca'Lefort 24 Inch Wine and Beverage Refrigerator Review: a solid dual-zone fridge that looks built-in without the crazy price

I’ve been using this Ca’Lefort 24" wine and beverage refrigerator for a little over a month, basically as our main drink station in the kitchen. We swapped out an old noisy beverage fridge and wanted something that could handle both wine and cans in one unit without blowing the whole renovation budget. This one kept coming up because of the dual zones, the built‑in look and the price compared to the big brands.

First impression when it arrived: it’s heavy and the packaging is overkill in a good way. You’re not unboxing this alone unless you like back pain. The box inside the box, foam everywhere, straps, the whole thing. It’s a bit annoying to dig through, but nothing arrived dented or scratched, so I’ll take the hassle over dealing with returns. You do need space to unpack it; doing it in a cramped kitchen is not fun.

I let it sit for a full 24 hours before turning it on, like the manual and other buyers suggest. That part matters: the compressor on these needs time for the oil and refrigerant to settle after shipping. If you’re the type who wants to plug things in immediately, plan ahead. Once I powered it on, it cooled down to the set temps in under an hour and stayed there, which already put it ahead of my old unit that was always drifting.

Overall first feeling: it’s not perfect, but for the price bracket it sits in, it feels like a pretty solid middle ground between cheap, flimsy fridges and the overpriced built‑in brands. If you’re expecting a professional cellar that you show off to sommeliers, this is not that. If you just want cold wine and beer, quiet operation, and a decent built‑in look under a counter, it does the job without drama.

From a value point of view, this Ca’Lefort sits in a pretty sweet middle zone. It’s not bargain‑basement cheap, but it’s noticeably less expensive than some of the big name dual‑zone built‑in fridges that basically offer the same core features: two zones, glass doors, stainless finish, and a front vent. For what you pay, you get a fridge that looks good enough to sit in a main kitchen, not just a garage or basement bar, and that’s a big part of the appeal.

Compared to cheaper single‑zone beverage fridges, you’re paying extra for the dual zones, better materials, and the more "built‑in" design. If you only drink beer and soda and don’t care about wine storage at the right temps, then yeah, you could save money and get a basic beverage cooler. But if you actually use both sides (wine on one, cans on the other), the price starts to feel fair. The 3‑color LED lights and nicer doors also make it feel less like a dorm fridge and more like part of the kitchen.

On the flip side, if you’re a hardcore wine collector with expensive bottles, this might feel a bit basic. It doesn’t have humidity control, no fancy shelving systems for weird bottle shapes, and the wooden racks aren’t top‑tier. In that case, it might be worth paying more for a dedicated wine cellar. For regular people who just want their wines and beers at the right temperature and a unit that looks decent built‑in, this hits a good balance between price and features.

Bottom line: I’d call it good value for money if your expectations are realistic. You’re not paying for a high‑end luxury brand, and you’re not getting that level of finish. You are getting solid performance, a nice look, and useful features for a price that doesn’t feel like you’re being ripped off. For a mixed‑use home bar or kitchen, that’s enough for me.

Design‑wise, this thing looks more expensive than it is, which is probably why a lot of people pick it. The brushed stainless steel finish is decent. It’s not luxury‑level, but it doesn’t look plasticky or thin. The double French doors give it a nice symmetry if you’re putting it in a kitchen island or between cabinets. In my case it sits at the end of a run of cabinets, and it blends in pretty well with our other stainless appliances.

The double‑glazed glass doors are clear and feel thick when you close them. They’re supposed to block UV; there’s no dark tint like some other brands, so visually you see your bottles and cans clearly. I can’t scientifically measure the UV protection, but there’s at least no obvious heat leak or condensation issue so far. The door seals are firm; you feel a bit of resistance when you open them, which is what you want on a fridge that will get opened a lot during parties.

The 3‑color LED lighting is one of those things that sounds gimmicky but is actually nice in daily use. You can choose between amber, blue, and white. I ended up leaving it mostly on amber in the evenings because it looks warmer and doesn’t light up the room like a display case. Blue looks a bit "nightclub" to me, but some people might like that. Brightness is enough to see everything without it being harsh. The lights are soft, not blinding.

The control panel is at the top inside and is straightforward: up/down buttons for each zone, light controls, and power. No app, no Wi‑Fi, nothing fancy. Honestly, I prefer that. You set it once and forget about it. The only part of the design I’m not crazy about is the handle installation: you have to peel back the door seal to screw the handle in, then push the seal back in place. It works, but it feels a bit DIY and you need to be careful not to twist the gasket. Not a dealbreaker, just slightly annoying during setup.

In terms of materials, this fridge is on the heavier, sturdier side for its category. It’s around 100 lbs empty, and you feel that weight when moving it. The upside is that it doesn’t feel flimsy or hollow. The cabinet doesn’t flex when you push it, and the doors have a decent heft. The outer shell is stainless steel, not plastic with a fake steel wrap, which helps with both look and durability.

Inside, the wine side has wooden shelves and the beverage side has wire racks. The wood shelves are where you notice some cost cutting. They’re light and do the job, but they feel a bit raw and unfinished compared to more expensive brands. They slide fine, but if you’re picky, you might want to lightly sand and seal them yourself. I haven’t bothered yet because they work, but I get why some people mention this. On the plus side, they don’t bow or feel like they’re going to snap under a full load of bottles.

The wire shelves on the can side are more basic but practical. They’re easier to clean if something spills and they don’t trap dust like some solid shelves. You can remove both wood and wire shelves if you want to reconfigure, but you can’t really adjust the height much. The spacing is fixed, and the design assumes mostly standard bottle sizes. That’s fine for most people, but if you drink a lot of odd‑shaped bottles, you’ll be rearranging or sacrificing some capacity.

The gaskets around the doors are thick and seem to seal well. No obvious cold air leaking, and no frost buildup so far. The double‑layer tempered glass feels solid. I’ve accidentally bumped a bottle into it a few times while loading and didn’t see any marks. Overall, the materials are what I’d call "pretty solid for the price". Not luxury, not junk. Just decent, with a couple of areas (like the unfinished feel of the wooden racks) where you can tell they controlled costs.

The packaging on this thing is no joke. It comes double‑boxed with thick foam panels on all sides and extra reinforcement at the corners. It took two of us to get it out of the box safely. If you live in an apartment or have tight hallways, plan the path ahead of time, because dragging a 100‑lb fridge plus all that cardboard around is not fun. The upside: everything arrived in perfect condition. No dents, no scratched glass, nothing loose inside.

Unwrapping is a bit of a process: plastic wrap, tape, foam blocks, cardboard spacers between shelves, protective film on the stainless, etc. It took a good 20–30 minutes to fully free the unit and clean up all the packaging. It’s slightly annoying, but I’d rather spend time unwrapping than dealing with a damaged compressor or bent frame. The internal shelves are all strapped or taped down well, so they don’t rattle or break during shipping.

Installation itself is straightforward but physical. Getting it into the cabinet opening took some careful sliding because of the weight. The front‑vent design means you can push it in like a built‑in without worrying about rear ventilation too much, as long as you follow the basic clearances in the manual. Leveling the feet is standard: a bit of fiddling to get the doors aligned and the unit stable, but nothing complicated. Just have a second person to help tilt it while you adjust.

The only part of setup I didn’t really like was the handle install. You have to peel back the door gasket to access the screw holes, attach the handle, then press the gasket back into place. It works, but it feels like something you could easily mess up if you rush or if you’re not careful with the rubber. Once done, though, the handles feel solid and don’t wobble. Overall, packaging and installation are a bit of work, but you end up with a well‑protected unit, so I can’t complain too much.

Durability is tricky to judge long‑term, but after several weeks of regular use, a few things stand out. First, the doors still close firmly and line up correctly. No sagging or misalignment yet, even with both sides fully loaded. The hinges feel strong enough for frequent opening, and the magnetic seal hasn’t loosened. I have kids who don’t exactly treat doors gently, and we haven’t had any issues with them slamming or bouncing back open.

The shelves slide smoothly even when fully loaded, but you do have to pull them with two hands to keep them level, especially the wood ones with heavy wine bottles. If you yank them out with one hand from one side, they can tilt a bit, which is normal but something to be aware of. So far, no warping, no bent rails, and the tracks haven’t started squeaking. I do see how the lighter wood might dent over time if you’re rough with the bottles, but nothing visible yet.

On the outside, the stainless surface holds up fairly well to fingerprints and minor bumps. It’s not the super smudge‑resistant type, but it’s not the worst either. A quick wipe with a microfiber cloth cleans it up. The glass doors haven’t fogged or developed any weird streaks from condensation. Inside, I’ve had one minor spill from a can and it wiped off easily without staining the shelves or walls.

In terms of reliability, there have been no error codes, no weird noises, and no temperature swings. Obviously, we’re still early in the life of the unit, but combined with the 12‑month product support, I feel reasonably comfortable. I’ve had cheaper fridges where you start hearing odd clicking or rattling after a month; this one hasn’t done that. I wouldn’t call it indestructible, but for home use, it feels like it should handle normal wear and tear just fine.

Performance is where these fridges either earn their keep or drive you nuts. After a few weeks of daily use, I’d say this Ca’Lefort does its main job: it keeps drinks at a stable temperature and doesn’t drone like a jet engine. I set the left side to 38°F for beer/soda and the right side to 54°F for wine. Using an internal thermometer on each shelf, I consistently saw temps within 1–3°F of the set point, with the bottom being slightly cooler than the top, which is normal.

The compressor is not silent, but it’s reasonably quiet. In a quiet house at night you hear it kick on, but it’s more of a low hum than an annoying buzz. We have it near the dining area, and during meals or with the TV on, you just don’t notice it. Compared to my old beverage fridge, which rattled and cycled constantly, this one is a big improvement. If you’re extremely sensitive to any noise at all, you might still notice it, but for most people it’s fine.

Cooling speed is decent. From room temperature to target temps took under an hour when I first set it up, and when you load a big batch of room‑temp bottles, it recovers in a reasonable time. Obviously, if you stuff it completely full of warm drinks, it’ll take a while, but that’s true for any fridge this size. The automatic defrost seems to work; there’s no ice buildup on the back wall, and I haven’t had to think about it.

The power failure memory is a small but useful feature. I tested it by unplugging it for a bit and plugging it back in. It returned to the previous settings without me touching anything. If you live in an area with occasional outages or you trip breakers while doing work, that’s one less thing to worry about. Overall, performance is not mind‑blowing or anything, but it’s stable and predictable, which is exactly what you want from a drink fridge.

On paper, the Ca’Lefort is a 24-inch, 4.1 cu.ft dual‑zone wine and beverage fridge that can hold about 20 bottles and 60 cans. It’s advertised as both built‑in and freestanding, with a front vent and a brushed stainless look. Temperature range is 36–72°F with a digital panel that adjusts in 1°F increments. There are two French doors, 3‑color LED lighting (amber, blue, white), and a mix of wooden and wire shelves.

In practice, the capacity claim is mostly accurate if you load it smartly and you’re using standard bottles and typical 12 oz cans. I tested it with a mix of: regular Bordeaux bottles, a few Burgundy‑style bottles, several Prosecco / Champagne bottles, and standard beer/soda cans. The tall, fat bottles are where things get tight. You can make the 20‑bottle number work, but you’ll juggle which shelf they go on. Champagne is basically top or bottom only, same as some other users reported.

The dual‑zone layout is simple: one side for wine, one for beverages. Both sides are independently controlled, but the lower ranges make more sense if you use one side cooler (beer/soda) and the other slightly warmer (wine). I ran one side at 38°F for beer and sparkling, the other at 54°F for reds and whites. The internal display lines up pretty closely with my own thermometer, with a 1–2°F difference at most, which is fine for home use.

It’s worth saying this: it’s not some high‑end "cellar" with humidity control and fancy features. It’s a straightforward compressor fridge that keeps drinks at the temperature you set, looks decent, and has a few extras like power failure memory and adjustable lighting. If that’s what you need, it’s aligned with the spec sheet. If you’re looking for long‑term serious wine aging with very strict conditions, I’d personally look at more specialized units.