Who wants to walk through a minefield of cubicles for a cold drink - and get called into your supervisor’s cube for a “special” project, or asked to help fix the copier, or find your cold drink has been pilfered from the public refrigerator. With a compact refrigerator cool refreshment is just an arm’s length away.

We rely on experience for our reviews, but also check Consumer Reports as they do not accept advertising and have a reputation for being objective. Consumer Reports’ top-rated mini-fridge is the Haier HSA02, which weighs only 44 pounds, has a 1.7 cubic foot capacity, and has a small footprint with dimensions that round off to 19 X 19 X 19 inches. It retails for around $120.

Other highlights of the Haier HSA02 include a small freezer for making ice or storing a couple of pints of ice cream, flexible shelving, and door compartments. There’s an adjustable thermostat and an easy manual defrost system to save on energy costs.

The downside of compact refrigerators is that they are not as efficient as their big brothers. They do cost less and use less energy, but not in proportion to the size difference. Though when space is at a premium, there is no substitute for the convenience.

Tags: compact refrigerators