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Café Refrigerator Reviews [Buying Guide]

by The Experts at Friedmans

The refrigerator is the largest appliance in the kitchen, and Café aims to use it as a blank canvas to showcase exciting and fresh concepts that shake up the luxury refrigeration market. From one-of-a-kind finishes and designer details, to its spirit of GE innovation, Café refrigerators are the low-key cool kids of premium kitchen appliances that every connoisseur of high-end design should add to their “must-watch” list. Find out more in this brand spotlight complete with three Cafe refrigerator reviews recommended by our appliance specialists.

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At a Glance:

Who Café Refrigerators are Fit For

How Reliable are Café Refrigerators?

Café Refrigerator Features

The Pros & Cons of Café Refrigerators

Our Top Café Refrigerator Picks

As a “Trusted Name in The Bay Area Since 1922™,” we’ve had the privilege of seeing some of the biggest appliance brands grow right in our showrooms over the years. As one of the newest luxury appliance lines, Café has naturally become the brand that caters to the up-and-coming generation of buyers who demand the same quality as performance they grew up, yet without the intimidation of professional-grade appliances. Here’s the rundown.

Who is this Product For?

Café is synonymous with changing the game of luxury appliances, crafting inspiring looks, designs, and features that feel fresh and progressive—an inviting change of pace from traditional aesthetics often seen on premium appliances. Exciting finishes like matte white or black and designer handles in a palette of brushed finishes let users customize a one-of-a-kind look full of modern character.

In short: If you have an eye for a curated look and champagne taste, Café appliances just might be up your alley. Café refrigerators are available in a number of installations, configurations, and smart fridge models, including:

  • Freestanding refrigerators
  • Built-in refrigerators
  • French door refrigerators
  • Side-by-side refrigerators
  • Quad door French door refrigerators
  • Beverage centers/wine coolers/undercounter refrigerators

The Café experience does require deeper pockets, but buyers can rest easy knowing Café refrigerators are not only about the looks, as we detail in the following.

Related: More High-end Refrigerator Brands

Café Refrigerator Performance Review

Impressively, Café appliances rank third most reliable out of all major home appliance brands as of 2021, outperforming competitors of the same class, including luxury names like Sub-Zero, Signature Kitchen Suite, and Thermador. Café extends that reliability with a 5-year warranty on refrigerated sealed systems, and a 1-year limited warranty on the entire refrigerator, both valuable incentives that instantly add bang to your buck.

Of course, this isn’t a surprise for faithful GE appliance shoppers; the brand is consistently considered a top-performer, and as of 2021, the GE Appliances also earned the “Smart Appliance Company of the Year” title for its breakthroughs in digital appliance innovation. As a sub-brand of GE, Café carries that same strain of pioneering smart features across its lineup of high-end refrigerators, meaning new-age users who appreciate quality but crave the connected experience can find viable options within the Café refrigerator catalog.

Café Refrigerator Features

Like its parent name, GE, Café strikes a respectable balance between function and form. Café refrigerators are known for often feeling funky and fresh (there’s something about the matte white finish with gold against a pop of color that screams Boho chic), yet they carry GE technology in their DNA, ensuring they’re also considerable performers.

Café refrigerators don’t come with a robust smorgasbord of features, but models with a combination of some or all of these features have nonetheless impressed buyers:

Platinum Glass Finish

Exclusive to GE, this finish’s polished shine steal the show in the kitchen and repels fingerprints for an always-standout presentation that requires low maintenance.

Multiflow Air System

Achieve total food equality with this multi-level air circulation system that combats the ripening and spoiling.

Humidity Control System

Produce lasts up to 2.5 times longer with this food preservation system that works independently in crisper drawers.

TwinChill Evaporators

Enjoy optimized climate zones in the freezer and refrigerator compartment without odors or temperature.

Pros and Cons

Let’s recap: Café refrigerators appeal to buyers focused on the future of the kitchen, who depend on quality performance, and that look to a trusted name with low service rates (this reputable appliance review page gives GE appliances, including Café, a service rate of 6.3%). Beyond checking those points off, here’s the Café takeaway.

Pros:

Reliable performance

Exclusive finishes

Healthy selection capacities

Cons:

Mid-to-high price point

Limited refrigerator features  

No panel-ready options  

The Year’s Best: Top 6 Refrigerators of 2021

Our Top GE Café Refrigerator Picks

A new experience in refrigeration awaits you! Here are three top-rated Café refrigerators our product specialists are giving rave reviews to.

Best Overall: Café™ 23.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator-CWE23SP2MS1

Front view of GE Cafe CWE23SP2MS1 refrigerator

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An ensemble of high-end food preservation inside this GE Café counter depth refrigerator ensures every one of your quality ingredients is honored the way it should be. Whether you’re looking to lock in the fresh-picked crispness of vegetables or for a chill zone to stock your bulk proteins, independent TwinChill evaporators actively keep the freezer and refrigerated chambers at optimum temperatures for peak flavor.

Enjoy the future of food management at your demand with built-in Wi-Fi compatibility, including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant connectivity for a truly connected experience at your fingertips or your voice’s command. For an upscale, immaculate look, this luxury refrigerator with an internal water dispenser is crafted with a clean front and signature Café handles, providing a presentation that looks and feels like quality.

Best Features: Café™ 27.8 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator-CFE28UP2MS1

Front view of GE Cafe CFE28UP2MS1 refrigerator

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Function is at the heart of this GE Café French door refrigerator, from its water and ice dispenser with an integrated Keurig K-cup brewing system, to automatic Precise Fill dispensing and Wi-Fi enabled operation. And with 27.8 cubic feet, this Café smart refrigerator brings new meaning to intelligent design, providing ample room on shelves and drawers for all your produce and frozen goods. Once stocked, TwinChill evaporators work hard to create ideal climate zones that prolong and preserve the life of the food you and your family enjoy.

Best Built-In: Café™ 28.6 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Smart Built In Side-by-Side Refrigerator-CSB48YP2NS1

Front view of GE Cafe CSB48YP2NS1 refrigerator

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With a built-in fit, a clean panel design, and a handy in-door water and ice dispenser, this GE Café series refrigerator is the epitome of simple sophistication. Open the pantry-style doors to unveil an interior stacked with side-by-side storage along 28.7 cubic feet of capacity, all immaculately illuminated by state-of-the-art LED lighting and perfectly chilled with the exclusive Multi-Shelf air management system. You’ll also enjoy the perks of Wi-Fi connected monitoring and controls, a Climate Controlled Drawer with an assortment of adjustable temperature settings, and large door bins ideal for bulky items.

Shop GE Café Refrigerators at Friedmans Appliance

Whether you’re updating your kitchen or replacing your outdated refrigerator, Café offers a select line of upscale refrigerators full of X-factor and performance suited for the modern homeowner. Take advantage of this series’ unique finishes to create a completely unique look that reflects your unparalleled taste.

The best place to find luxury appliances like Café is at Friedmans Appliance. We’re stocked with reliable appliances for every part of the home, with over 80 quality brands to choose from. Shop online, by phone at (925)-808-2950, or at our appliance showroom in Pleasant Hill today!