The first refrigerator was invented in the 1800s which paved the way for updates to refrigeration, including the undercounter refrigerator and the mini-fridge. In 1920 Edmund Copeland and Harry Edwards invented the mini-fridge, which became an option for households with limited kitchen space who could not fit a full-size refrigerator.
By the late-1900s to early-2000s, refrigerator manufacturers began designing refrigerators with crisper drawers. Later, they moved these drawers to be standalone refrigerators that were built directly into the space below the countertop. Today, undercounter refrigerators are commonly used in commercial kitchens and residential spaces with limited space for a refrigerator, like a hotel room or apartment.