Can you hang the uppers an inch lower? There is some room for variation and countertop thicknesses vary.

especially if this is, say, a bar rather than a kitchen, you can afford to lessen the spacing between uppers and lowers (stoves need a larger safety margin). if you really only need an inch or two (and the typical nonlevel ceiling can steal more from you if you're not careful), you should be ok. standard gap is around 18", and you could find 16" worked just fine for your needs.

I have 16" between my counter and upper cabinets. This is my preferred height because I can comfortably reach all of the shelves. (The micro wave above the oven sits higher - If you are using a range hood mount it where safety dictates )