varnish or paint the cabinets then it really does not matter which wood you use. unless you are going to highlight the grain, many people will not notice the difference between maple and birch.
however, the important element for many people is the cost. some cabinet prices will not show much of a difference but others will, depending on the amount of maple in the cabinet itself. you have to bear in mind that you have a budget to stick to and you have to make a decision in line with that as well as your own personal preference. 