I've just recently purchased a Komado Joe Big Joe 2 . I've never had a more efficient grilling/smoking/baking, experience. As you said, they're heavy, and they're fragile. Otherwise I absolutely love it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and video.
when your the leading grill for the last few decades and someone comes up copying you, you better be better then that or your just not gonna make it, you couldn't buy a Kamado 10 years ago, they had all the time to critique the BGE and made it better. that's like with everything else in the world,
@@simonkue I agree..and I was a BGE dealer for 10 years and we constantly offered the reps feedback and suggested improvements...such as the one-piece firebox being replaced by separate scallops such as KJ uses now..those suggestions were ignored and we were constantly having to provide warranty fireboxes to customers when theirs would invariably crack into pieces...
I had a BGE for over 10 years, and KJ absolutely fixed all the things that were wrong with the BGE. My next one will be a KJ, or perhaps a Primo. You are correct about the firebox cracking on the BGE. Mine did that. Great video !
Thanks, a great review. I recently purchased a big Joe series 1 on sale $1690 AUD (big joe s3 is $4200 in Aus ) . Its brilliant, very happy with everything I've done so far. Thanks for your advice.
I have an old one from way back, love it. Also, I have seen videos of a guy to puts broken ones back together with some type of mortar. So all is not lost if it breaks..
Couple of things. 1) Kamado Joe has lifetime warranty on the ceramics. I had my firebox crack and they replaced it at no charge. 2) re: cost. Compare Kamado Joe pricing to other top line grills such as the upper end Webers, the Weber 24" Summit, Napolean, etc. Pretty close pricing. Most important thing is the flavour of the food cooked on a Kamado vs other grills. Also need to Add the versatility of the Kamados. I have baked cookies, bread, pizza, grilled burgers, steak, roasted chickens, vegetables, etc. Anything a gas grill can do the Kamado can do (possibly better), Anything an oven can do a Kamado can do. Overall Great video!
@@krehbein I am in Canada and use Nature's own lump charcoal made from Sugar maples. I have also used Royal Oak which supplies the Big Green Egg brand of charcoal. I prefer Nature;s Own due to the price and overall performance. It is definitely not the best but for the price it ranks up there. I get if for about $13 CDN at Costco.
For starting we use an electric BBQ starter. Plug it in and set in coals and is effortless. we had tried various starting blocks, a propane torch and other methods but this is definitely the easiest and best we have tried. Cost was $19 CAD
You didn’t name a single thing bad about Kamado Joes. Ceramic grills? Yeah. Everything you said was true. But those negatives are common to every ceramic grill. KJ user for three years. Best grill purchase I’ve ever made.
Geoff Turner Wish I would’ve went with the Komado Joe My green egg cracked after one year first the firebox went then the whole bottom dumb cracked in half and the warranty is terrible with green egg
That was a nice, informative review, I've had an XL BGE for over 10 years now, use it at least twice a week. The only problem I had was the fire ring (ceramic) broke when I moved, my fault, did not secure it well. And just replaced the cast iron grate at the bottom, was well warped and breaking apart...
Thank You. I think a major PLUS for BGE is the annual Eggfests held around the country. Great comroderie .. nice to meet up with other eggers and just hang out. KJ doesn't offer anything like that.
they're still growing that's for sure. Their FB group seems pretty active with around 18,000 members. They've still got a long way to go but i think they're doing great and have made very good updates to their grill throughout the years. BGE seems to finally be catching on, although BGE charges extra for all their new stuff and KJ includes it.
You left out one key point. All ceramic portions of the Kamado Joe are lifetime warranty. If the prior iteration of the firebox breaks at any point, they will replace it free of charge.
I was torn between the Kamado Joe, Big Green Egg and Summit Charcoal. I went with the Summit Charcoal. I haven't had any issues yet, the metal seems to be holding up well. I mainly use it for cooking pizzas so it takes a beating. I was impressed at how hot it can get given its not ceramic, 900° has been the hottest it's gotten. If you can try one sometime, it seems to be the Kamado that is most underrated and overlooked in my opinion.
I've seen some awesome stuff about them online and they don't weigh a million pounds haha at the time when I purchased my big joe the Joe was slightly cheaper which was a large reason I picked the KJ. Glad you're liking it!
@@BreakItYourself You got yourself a KILLER deal! If I could've gotten that deal I would've gone with KJ. I'm really digging that Joe Jr but I'm curious to see if KJ will update that cooker anytime soon. It seems the Classic and Big Joe are getting upgrades this year. How are you liking the Joe Jr? I'd appreciate more videos of it.
250 pounds is not so bad. I have a Blackstone Pro Series that weighs 225 pounds plus 37 with the propane tank full. The griddle is little hard to move due to being wide as heck but the Kamado looks so much easier to move especially since I have to move stuff alone. I would love a Kamado Joe to reverse sear my steaks and finish them off with a high heat sear on the Blackstone. Great video man! Thank you! Subbed!
I bought my Kamado Big Joe from a local auction for $1160 brand new never used returned because of damage guessing because it had a broken latch and they sent me a brand new latch made out of stainless steel which is way better than the one it came with. They gave me full warranty and replaced it, along with sent me a gasket for the to smoke vent and touch up paint because there was a scratch on the side. I had no problems customer service was fantastic.
It is a public auction in Columbus, OH they offer store returns etc. it’s called Capital City Auctions you can get so much good stuff for cheap and resell or use it’s great
This is a great upgrade from the Kamado Joe I have been using. These days, the 'Joe' beats the Green Egg cooker for ease of use, flexibility and, even in the model I use, in ease of controlling heat. I follow guys like Guga Foods on UA-cam: he demonstrates the value of units with larger surface areas that can be 'halved' to allow for direct searing and indirect cooking. Were I to upgrade, I would stick with the brand and go for the new features.
Did anyone see the Primo testing video where the Kamado Joe starts to melt and the Vision Grill from Sams Club turns into a pile of mush? Primo and Green Egg stand unscathed. Crazy stuff.
Well, they didn't have any at our local Costco. Decided to get the Louisiana grill for $600 yesterday as they only had two left. Will be putting it together here in a minute then doing couple slow burns on it to season it. Thanks for the video just unfortunate they didn't have any in stock as I'm sure the build quality is awesome. But then again not sure if it's $1000 better than the one I got. We'll see. Off to putting it together!! Woohoo! Again, great vid & thanks for the inspiration. Cheers.
@@BreakItYourself It's been superb. Whole Chicken has come out crispy but juicy and tender on the inside. Just did a rack of four ribs slow cooked for 6 hours. Freaking amazing. Yes I guess "luck" come with the grill because it makes novices look GOOD. Once you set the temperature right it's set it and almost forget it. Good luck to you also.
i've got the first gen Kamado Joe (Classic). love it. My fire box cracked in about 3 places so far, and i have a crack almost all the way through the bottom of the outer ceramic. Just placed a warranty claim through the shop i purchased it through, they think it should be no problem to get it replaced. From what i have seen on line Kamado Joe seem to offer very good customer service and warranty. i hope so, because i love my Kamado!
If you ever get tired of having to deal with cracking issues, try a metal kamado. There's a few in the market that are great. Char griller makes one that's a great value. I own the Weber Charcoal Summit and it's amazing. It behaves exactly like ceramic does but cools quicker and isn't fragile.
I paid about $800 for my classic/ showroom model. Ive had to replace the heat diffuser once(under warranty). I love mine and , No a weber isn't as good. A ceramic will hold heat in the winter or if it rains where as a Weber will cool down in the rain and winter.
Those Weber cubes are great for starting fires, too. Light em and walk away. They cost about $.013 each and are incredibly convenient (no wires, no standing there, nutin)
Solid ceramic fire basket will always crack as it ages, as there is no thermal relief in it. The multipart will probably run decades without cracking, though the edges of the plates will be chipped as they move against each other, and the top holding ring will rust away. Nice looking unit.
No, just have used and built a few brick BBQ units over the years. Currently just use a nice stainless steel open one, though I did get a nice big piece of heavy 1/4in stainless steel mesh at the scrap yard to use as a new base so the charcoal airs well. Was $8 for this scrap, weighs as much as the rest of the unit. now around 8 years in use, and lasting well.
there is little to no shifting between the plates, so no chipping ive noticed after 3 years. Also that ring will not rust. Im assuming it's stainless. Either way, i live near the beach so if anyone is going to see rust it would be me. Besides, the thing gets caked with grease over time.
yes ceramic grills are not cheap but if you actually buy a big green egg not a kamado joe you get a life time warranty on all ceramics so if a fire box happens to crack big green egg replaces it for free just got my 19 year old fire box replaced by big green egg no questions asked
I loved the look of the Kamado Joe and bought the small one at Costco. Grill worked great but within 2 weeks the felt gasket got overheated and it came apart. Lady at Kamado Joe didnt really care and the best she would do is send a new gasket kit if I sent pictures. I told her no way I am doing the work of removing the felt and installing a new gasket, I said that is your job not mine. She said well just return it to Costco and I said wow thanks for your wonderful service, she sarcastically said "your welcome". So, no I wont be buying any more Joe's.
I agree with most everything you said but would like to share. Price, well same same for the big names and same same for the midrange cookers. KJ showed up at my Costco, the show special included a grill cover, box of fire starters, and in my case a bag of lump, the lump bag was torn and could not be sold at retail so the sales guy threw it into the deal. so an apples to apples online order vs the show I saved a bit over $300.00. I can't stand the plastic side tables. Yes they will " last longer " than the wood counterparts, BUT! (Yes that's a two finger quote in the air) They melt, not from the heat of the grill but from things placed on them. If you have to set something down and it is hot!! Well then you get a groove or a warp, so DO they last longer? I would say depends!. If all you have next to your grill is the KJ side tables then no matter how careful or good one is it is inevitable.... The side tables though plastic, have a rougher surface than one would think, this is both a curse and a blessing, less slip but harder to keep clean overall. Because of these issues I bought a stainless steel table and will be removing the side tables. I think the food cooked on most any ceramic cooker will come out the same. So its just the features and so far the KJ is feature rich compared to other brands.
Totally agree about the side tables. I hope to build a nest at some point to eliminate them altogether. Thanks for taking the time to comment and congrats on the savings!
You can use trivets too, just like in the kitchen. Or you could cut a piece of plywood to put on top of the tables to protect them. Seems like a small complaint.
If you don’t have a BGE or a Joe your need to re-evaluate your life. These things are machines at making literally anything an everything you could possibly want and make it better, better than your high end restaurants!
I would love to have a Big Joe....but I cook for 1 or 2 people..I live in a Condo....my out door space is small....now for the mods I did..my cart is as high as your big Joe.....I have 3 surfaces to cook on....I had to remove the temp out of the Dome...I have a temp meter that does grill & meat...I can cook small Boston butts....3 rack of ribs....small points...or points....leg of lamb.....I SUB you and rang the bell....I will look out for you....paladin...............PS...I work for a co that does stainless steel
When you unpack this unit be very careful when you pull out the first large piece of styrofoam out of the unit. There are 2 half moon ceramic pieces inserted underneath that piece of styrofoam, and if they fall out onto the ground they will break. I know this from experience.
ok hold up. first off i reccomend a grill dome , i got the xl for only around 1100. better warranty than most ceramic smokers on seals and important stuff. yes there bulky to handle and mine did fall once while attempting to transport myself but it did not crack. Smoking on that thing the last 3 years never once did a heavy lid even come to mind. if it is too heavy let somebody else cook. And there can't be any cheaper way to light a grill then using a chimney . ok continue👌
i agree. It wasn't the easiest. Although, i did recently clean the grill and disassembly the fire box then reassemble and it was much easier than the very first time haha perfect practice makes perfect :)
we haven't had any issues so far but I have seen that some people get the kick ash baskets and KJ just released their own version of a basket. I always thought it was for easier clean up but you may be on to something with the airflow
Theres absolutely no problem with airflow. I own the old Big Joe and the new Big Joe. Ive also cooked on my friends BGE several times. I've noticed no difference in airflow.
Yes if you set them up properly you should not have air flow issues. However I saw a video where John Setzler did set up his Komado Joe properly with new lump and large chunks and had to do intervention on a long cook due to air flow issue. Then there is reusing lump and the small pieces that can cause air flow issues on any Komado. When one switches to a High Que grate or kick ash grate they are amazed at how much faster their grill lights up and how it holds up to long cooks. And you can close the lid as soon as you light the starter stick and make it light faster using the chimney effect. I noticed John Setzler leaves the lid open when he starts his KJ which is slower. My small BGE has more air flow problems on long cooks due to its small size and the new High Que grate fixed it and dramatically increased lighting speed. My Primo Oval has had no airflow issues as long as I stir and remove ash every few cooks..
What can you tell us about the Joe Junior ? Does it behave the same way that the classic does ? What are the pros and cons compared to the classic, besides size of course.
the Jr is great but doesn't have the updates of the new Big Joe or Classic. It uses the old style vent, gasket, and hinge. The Jr does have the flexible cooking system, which is great. You could get away with smoking some stuff on the Jr it would just have to be small. I've used the Jr for steaks, porkchops, and burgers when it's just me and my wife and it's been excellent. Doesn't seem to be able to get quite as hot as the bigger models. I think mine seemed to top out around 650. The Big Joe can easily do 850 plus. not that that's needed but thought i'd share.
1:26 I see plastic tie wraps in hinge mechanism. Is that there by design. Should those be removed before using the oven. I thought it's there for shipping purposes.
The grill is easy to return. As for husbands, be sure to keep the receipt. We can turn sour sometimes. Unless you stole either, in which case the grill will cool off much quicker than the ex
Unless you just want to impress your friends, buy the Akorn Kamado grill. It's cheap and light and can do 15 hr smokes on a single load of coal. $300 and works just as well.
They don't work as well. The ceramic makes a huge difference in retaining heat. The cheaper grill works. But saying a KJ is a waste of money is going too far.
I disagree. The benefits do not outweigh the negatives. The Akorn can smoke a chunk of meat indiscernibly from the ceramic grills while costing 1/2 to 1/3 as much and is easily movable and far more durable. I don't see the down side other than using a little more coal. I do wish they made a larger, oval version similar to Primo. That said, it's your money, buy whatever you want.
When I was interested in Kamado grills, I bought an Akorn first as a test and used it for about 3 years. You are right, it works in a similar fashion and is a great value for the price. However, upgrading to the ceramic is a ‘you get what you paid for’ situation. I found in the Akorn over the years, it was incredibly sensitive and difficult to retain temperature, and eventually, it started breaking down. Granted, I used it several times a week during this time. The Kamado Joe is a night and day difference for temperature control, configurations and overall quality smokes. However, again...that is the price you pay. Having said that, I still recommend Akorns to anyone who wants to get started with Kamado as they are a good bargain for an entry level grill.
Well I been saving for a few months and 8 have enough to buy the Joe. Not the Joe II, but I can deal with a heavier lid and a cast iron top vent to save a few hundred dollars. I was going to buy it on Friday, but I just got word that my father bought a 36 inch outdoor griddle. A stupid fucking griddle. So now, joe gets to not be bought, because of lack of space, and how dare I buy a new grill, when we have this fantastic piece of trash.
is it even your fence? lol typically the side of the fence that shows the frame is towards the property it surrounds. in other words, you as the neighbor get to see the "nice, flat" side.
Had my Big Joe for 6 months and cooked on it about 2-3 times per month. Loved it. But...the chimney that the top vent is mounted on broke off. It just broke as i was trying to open the vent. I filed a warranty claim on their website and followed up numerous times. They don’t answer their phones and they don’t reply to emails. Really bad customer service. Beware when buying this very heavy and very expensive grill.
that's really disappointing to hear! I've always had good luck with their customer service. Have you posted in their FB group? Obviously you shouldn't have to as they should be answering the phone and emails.
I've purchased my big joe at Costcos in 2016. Last year (2021) The springs in my lid hinge just gave out. compounded by COVID, I could not get any response from the customer service department. I left messages, did the web site etc with no result. Finally I got a contact at Kamado Joe through my local retailer. Kamado Joe sent me an upgraded new hydraulic style hinge system. It works great.
so it is heavy, so it will not blow over, check, it holds heat well so i do not have to run it like furnace, check,......it is fragiile? it is 200lbs it is not fragile. why and when would you run it that high. I do pizza's at 700 just fine and have had my classic for ten years. when i first got it i pegged 900 and said WOW it can go that high, there is no reason to go that high
weight is not a good indicator of strength. it will 100% break if it ever fell. It's clay.... Ive had small chunks break off from hitting it with the sharp edge of a spatula. I love my Big Joe and my Vision classic before that, but they must be treated with care.
I think you should read the warranty that comes with Kamado Joe. If you buy it at what they call a BIG BOX store such as Costco or Sam's Club your warranty is void. Baby Back Maniac states this in one of his videos. I read my warranty and sure enough he's right! I bought my Kamado Joe Classic II at Costco. Google Kamado Joe.com and read the warranty. I love my Kamado Joe Classic II but I'm just hoping I have no carking issues.
i bought the display model and was being very picky about the warranty claims. Thankfully, in buying a $1500 grill, the customer service is outstanding and i got my replacement parts with no issues.
We Just had our Kamado Joe Road Show at Costco in Tallahassee, FL last week. I printed a copy of the Kamado Joe Warranty from their website and brought it with me to Costco and showed it to the Kamado Joe rep. He assured me the Kamado Joe Classic II I bought from him is covered under warranty. He said since I bought it from him, being a Kamado Joe employee, that I was fully covered and asked if I registered my grill using the serial number in my booklet that came with the grill and I told him I did. He replied that I was fully covered. I told him Kamado Joe needs to eliminate that part of the warranty on their website or revise it to state " IF YOU BOUGHT YOUR KAMADO JOE FROM AN AUTHORIZED KAMADO JOE REP, YOU ARE COVERED." I hope this clears up this issue.
While I do like these. I think I'm heading to Eggtober fest in October in Georgia. I hope I can get a hold of one of the demo models of the Big green egg.
both are great but i do like that the KJ comes with the divide and conquer system so I can start doing low and slow cooks right away without having to buy more accessories.
Break It Yourself I guess the weight and fear of breaking it! I do move my BBQ around the garden depending on how we have it setup. Plus this looks quite advanced to use, lots of parts and finally the price! Would love to try some food off it, but for me it’s a bit more than I think I can handle.
I have a Weber Kettle and disagree that it's just as good. My Weber doesn't hold temp nearly as well and the kettle also doesn't have a good way of blocking direct heat in low and slow cooks like the Kamado Joe divide and conquer system does. Don't get me wrong, I love my Weber for steaks and some types of low and slow. But overall the KJ us superior to the WK.
youve clearly never used a kamado. edit: i just saw that you said a genesis GAS grill is better than any charcoal one.......i dont need to say any more. You also said "For the price i CAN get...", meaning you DONT have a genesis grill and you DONT have a kamado but youre somehow speaking on which ones are superior? based on what? feelings?
Jeez... $1900 for a knock off?? I paid $1400 for a complete set up like that for an XL big green egg that includes a lifetime warranty. Am i missing something?
That's a good deal. The Big Joe goes for $1500-$1600 in my experience and comes with the heat deflectors and the divide and conquer flexible cooking system which is extra for the BGE. Also the hinge, top vent, and gasket are better on the Joe vs the BGE
@lee I think you're missing the point completely. People have different cookers for various reasons - brand, price, value, color etc. Not everyone will love one grill equally. There's many different cookers and I'm grateful for that. It gives us, the consumers, choices and creates competition which is usually a win for you like the rest of us. I don't own a BGE or KJ but I'd love to own both someday. You might not see the value in the KJ compared to your BGE and that's ok but not everyone feels the same.
Those dogs are hilarious. Thanks for not editing out their shenanigans!
haha glad someone enjoyed it!
Yesss they were back there thumping 🤣
I've just recently purchased a Komado Joe Big Joe 2 . I've never had a more efficient grilling/smoking/baking, experience. As you said, they're heavy, and they're fragile. Otherwise I absolutely love it.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and video.
thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. Also, welcome to the club! how have things been going so far? any lessons learned?
Thanks for the tip. I snagged this deal at a roadshow in Dallas. Happy Father’s Day to me.
Kamado Joe is a superior grill to the Green Egg due to it's design features..and this is coming from a 10-year user of BGE. My hat's off to them! :-)
when your the leading grill for the last few decades and someone comes up copying you, you better be better then that or your just not gonna make it, you couldn't buy a Kamado 10 years ago, they had all the time to critique the BGE and made it better. that's like with everything else in the world,
@@simonkue I agree..and I was a BGE dealer for 10 years and we constantly offered the reps feedback and suggested improvements...such as the one-piece firebox being replaced by separate scallops such as KJ uses now..those suggestions were ignored and we were constantly having to provide warranty fireboxes to customers when theirs would invariably crack into pieces...
I had a BGE for over 10 years, and KJ absolutely fixed all the things that were wrong with the BGE. My next one will be a KJ, or perhaps a Primo. You are correct about the firebox cracking on the BGE. Mine did that. Great video !
thanks for the kind words! Glad to know someone with experience in the BGE world agrees
Thanks, a great review. I recently purchased a big Joe series 1 on sale $1690 AUD (big joe s3 is $4200 in Aus ) . Its brilliant, very happy with everything I've done so far.
Thanks for your advice.
I have an old one from way back, love it. Also, I have seen videos of a guy to puts broken ones back together with some type of mortar. So all is not lost if it breaks..
I’d be grateful for a link to that video.
Couple of things. 1) Kamado Joe has lifetime warranty on the ceramics. I had my firebox crack and they replaced it at no charge. 2) re: cost. Compare Kamado Joe pricing to other top line grills such as the upper end Webers, the Weber 24" Summit, Napolean, etc. Pretty close pricing. Most important thing is the flavour of the food cooked on a Kamado vs other grills. Also need to Add the versatility of the Kamados. I have baked cookies, bread, pizza, grilled burgers, steak, roasted chickens, vegetables, etc. Anything a gas grill can do the Kamado can do (possibly better), Anything an oven can do a Kamado can do. Overall Great video!
Thanks for the feedback! You’re absolutely right and the versatility is incredible. Thanks for the kind words. Cheers!
What charcoal do you use?
@@krehbein I am in Canada and use Nature's own lump charcoal made from Sugar maples. I have also used Royal Oak which supplies the Big Green Egg brand of charcoal. I prefer Nature;s Own due to the price and overall performance. It is definitely not the best but for the price it ranks up there. I get if for about $13 CDN at Costco.
I actually just won the classic 2 at work. Looking forward to trying it out. Never had a ceramic before.
Justin Dorcik give an update. How's it going after a year???
Presenting the GOOD and BAD makes your review credible. Good job.
Thanks for the kind words, Steve!
For starting we use an electric BBQ starter. Plug it in and set in coals and is effortless. we had tried various starting blocks, a propane torch and other methods but this is definitely the easiest and best we have tried. Cost was $19 CAD
You didn’t name a single thing bad about Kamado Joes. Ceramic grills? Yeah. Everything you said was true. But those negatives are common to every ceramic grill.
KJ user for three years. Best grill purchase I’ve ever made.
The Komado Joe is a great grill. Now on our second season with it and just loving the results.
Geoff Turner Wish I would’ve went with the Komado Joe My green egg cracked after one year first the firebox went then the whole bottom dumb cracked in half and the warranty is terrible with green egg
@@joekatz7819 how is a lifetime warranty "terrible"? Just wondering!
The Explorer Took six months to get my replacement parts
Thanks for the video. Just picked up the classic Joe floor model for 630.00 couldn't be happier.
that's an awesome price! welcome to the club
Hahah, he looks at the plane flying above, but not the dogs zooming around his feet. They are so cute!!
That was a nice, informative review, I've had an XL BGE for over 10 years now, use it at least twice a week. The only problem I had was the fire ring (ceramic) broke when I moved, my fault, did not secure it well. And just replaced the cast iron grate at the bottom, was well warped and breaking apart...
Thank You. I think a major PLUS for BGE is the annual Eggfests held around the country. Great comroderie .. nice to meet up with other eggers and just hang out. KJ doesn't offer anything like that.
they're still growing that's for sure. Their FB group seems pretty active with around 18,000 members. They've still got a long way to go but i think they're doing great and have made very good updates to their grill throughout the years. BGE seems to finally be catching on, although BGE charges extra for all their new stuff and KJ includes it.
"PIVAAAAAHT!!" 😂 Thanks for illustrating all aspects of the grill👍
So glad someone also enjoyed that clip 😂 I love that scene! Thanks so much for watching
Paper towel dipped in veggie oil works great as fire starter.
and cheap as well! I'll have to try it out
You left out one key point. All ceramic portions of the Kamado Joe are lifetime warranty. If the prior iteration of the firebox breaks at any point, they will replace it free of charge.
ahh i didn't know that, thanks for the info!
Had my original Joe for 8 years, never had a problem. It is used frequently.
BGE has lifetime warranty also
I was torn between the Kamado Joe, Big Green Egg and Summit Charcoal. I went with the Summit Charcoal. I haven't had any issues yet, the metal seems to be holding up well. I mainly use it for cooking pizzas so it takes a beating. I was impressed at how hot it can get given its not ceramic, 900° has been the hottest it's gotten. If you can try one sometime, it seems to be the Kamado that is most underrated and overlooked in my opinion.
I've seen some awesome stuff about them online and they don't weigh a million pounds haha at the time when I purchased my big joe the Joe was slightly cheaper which was a large reason I picked the KJ. Glad you're liking it!
@@BreakItYourself You got yourself a KILLER deal! If I could've gotten that deal I would've gone with KJ. I'm really digging that Joe Jr but I'm curious to see if KJ will update that cooker anytime soon. It seems the Classic and Big Joe are getting upgrades this year. How are you liking the Joe Jr? I'd appreciate more videos of it.
250 pounds is not so bad. I have a Blackstone Pro Series that weighs 225 pounds plus 37 with the propane tank full. The griddle is little hard to move due to being wide as heck but the Kamado looks so much easier to move especially since I have to move stuff alone. I would love a Kamado Joe to reverse sear my steaks and finish them off with a high heat sear on the Blackstone. Great video man! Thank you! Subbed!
I bought my Kamado Big Joe from a local auction for $1160 brand new never used returned because of damage guessing because it had a broken latch and they sent me a brand new latch made out of stainless steel which is way better than the one it came with. They gave me full warranty and replaced it, along with sent me a gasket for the to smoke vent and touch up paint because there was a scratch on the side. I had no problems customer service was fantastic.
i second you on the customer service. That is a heck of a deal on the big joe! where was the auction and how did that work?
It is a public auction in Columbus, OH they offer store returns etc. it’s called Capital City Auctions you can get so much good stuff for cheap and resell or use it’s great
Good job. Thanks for validating my want.
haha glad we could assist! Hopefully you'll be joining the club soon :)
Ok, the friends clip was a great surprise!
This is a great upgrade from the Kamado Joe I have been using. These days, the 'Joe' beats the Green Egg cooker for ease of use, flexibility and, even in the model I use, in ease of controlling heat. I follow guys like Guga Foods on UA-cam: he demonstrates the value of units with larger surface areas that can be 'halved' to allow for direct searing and indirect cooking. Were I to upgrade, I would stick with the brand and go for the new features.
Great review! Your information and delivery was spot on.
thanks for the kind words!
Did anyone see the Primo testing video where the Kamado Joe starts to melt and the Vision Grill from Sams Club turns into a pile of mush? Primo and Green Egg stand unscathed. Crazy stuff.
interesting. brb going to look it up haha
Well, they didn't have any at our local Costco. Decided to get the Louisiana grill for $600 yesterday as they only had two left. Will be putting it together here in a minute then doing couple slow burns on it to season it.
Thanks for the video just unfortunate they didn't have any in stock as I'm sure the build quality is awesome. But then again not sure if it's $1000 better than the one I got. We'll see. Off to putting it together!! Woohoo!
Again, great vid & thanks for the inspiration.
Cheers.
thanks for taking the time to watch and good luck with your grill!
@@BreakItYourself
It's been superb. Whole Chicken has come out crispy but juicy and tender on the inside.
Just did a rack of four ribs slow cooked for 6 hours. Freaking amazing.
Yes I guess "luck" come with the grill because it makes novices look GOOD. Once you set the temperature right it's set it and almost forget it.
Good luck to you also.
Lowes is selling the older style Kamdo Joe at the ol Costco Road show prices. I do like the blue Ceramic grill that Costco sells.
I went with a Vision brand ceramic cooker. I like it.
I have a vision as well. I love it
i've got the first gen Kamado Joe (Classic). love it. My fire box cracked in about 3 places so far, and i have a crack almost all the way through the bottom of the outer ceramic. Just placed a warranty claim through the shop i purchased it through, they think it should be no problem to get it replaced. From what i have seen on line Kamado Joe seem to offer very good customer service and warranty. i hope so, because i love my Kamado!
They replaced my heat deflectors and control tower with no issues. They have great customer service imo
Does it actually matter of the firebox is cracked?
@@vincentlok8894 no, but it does if the whole body is cracked.
*UPDATE* i've got a whole new replacement grill now thanks to BBQ Galore and Kamado Joe, great service
If you ever get tired of having to deal with cracking issues, try a metal kamado. There's a few in the market that are great. Char griller makes one that's a great value. I own the Weber Charcoal Summit and it's amazing. It behaves exactly like ceramic does but cools quicker and isn't fragile.
I paid about $800 for my classic/ showroom model. Ive had to replace the heat diffuser once(under warranty). I love mine and , No a weber isn't as good. A ceramic will hold heat in the winter or if it rains where as a Weber will cool down in the rain and winter.
Not the Summit
That friends clip! Im subbing purely on that!
haha glad someone else enjoyed it as much as me making it
You killed me with the "pivoooot" lol
glad some people like it haha
For lighting I like fat wood, a cheap propane torch, and I use a small shop vac to blow air into it.
i bet that shop vac gets the fire incredibly hot in a very short amount of time!
Break It Yourself , the end of the hose is a bit melty, but a $1 garage sale shop vac works great
Those Weber cubes are great for starting fires, too. Light em and walk away. They cost about $.013 each and are incredibly convenient (no wires, no standing there, nutin)
Solid ceramic fire basket will always crack as it ages, as there is no thermal relief in it. The multipart will probably run decades without cracking, though the edges of the plates will be chipped as they move against each other, and the top holding ring will rust away. Nice looking unit.
that makes total sense. Are you a kamado griller?
No, just have used and built a few brick BBQ units over the years. Currently just use a nice stainless steel open one, though I did get a nice big piece of heavy 1/4in stainless steel mesh at the scrap yard to use as a new base so the charcoal airs well. Was $8 for this scrap, weighs as much as the rest of the unit. now around 8 years in use, and lasting well.
there is little to no shifting between the plates, so no chipping ive noticed after 3 years. Also that ring will not rust. Im assuming it's stainless. Either way, i live near the beach so if anyone is going to see rust it would be me. Besides, the thing gets caked with grease over time.
yes ceramic grills are not cheap but if you actually buy a big green egg not a kamado joe you get a life time warranty on all ceramics so if a fire box happens to crack big green egg replaces it for free just got my 19 year old fire box replaced by big green egg no questions asked
How is it to have it in freezing tempratures ?
Thanks. Very informative.
thanks for the kind words!
I loved the look of the Kamado Joe and bought the small one at Costco. Grill worked great but within 2 weeks the felt gasket got overheated and it came apart. Lady at Kamado Joe didnt really care and the best she would do is send a new gasket kit if I sent pictures. I told her no way I am doing the work of removing the felt and installing a new gasket, I said that is your job not mine. She said well just return it to Costco and I said wow thanks for your wonderful service, she sarcastically said "your welcome". So, no I wont be buying any more Joe's.
I google a bit .. And i could have one for 1380€ here ... A bit expensive for bbq i think .. I saw a junior version for 500€ .. Huge difference
I managed to get my Kamado Jr at TSC, in box, clearanced at $54.
I love that Andrew Santino does bbq reviews :)
thought the exact same thing ! ha!
Great review!
Thanks for the kind words, Michael!
Enjoyed watching. Thanks!
glad you liked it!
I agree with most everything you said but would like to share.
Price, well same same for the big names and same same for the midrange cookers.
KJ showed up at my Costco, the show special included a grill cover, box of fire starters, and in my case a bag of lump, the lump bag was torn and could not be sold at retail so the sales guy threw it into the deal. so an apples to apples online order vs the show I saved a bit over $300.00.
I can't stand the plastic side tables. Yes they will " last longer " than the wood counterparts, BUT! (Yes that's a two finger quote in the air)
They melt, not from the heat of the grill but from things placed on them. If you have to set something down and it is hot!! Well then you get a groove or a warp, so DO they last longer?
I would say depends!. If all you have next to your grill is the KJ side tables then no matter how careful or good one is it is inevitable....
The side tables though plastic, have a rougher surface than one would think, this is both a curse and a blessing, less slip but harder to keep clean overall.
Because of these issues I bought a stainless steel table and will be removing the side tables.
I think the food cooked on most any ceramic cooker will come out the same. So its just the features and so far the KJ is feature rich compared to other brands.
Totally agree about the side tables. I hope to build a nest at some point to eliminate them altogether. Thanks for taking the time to comment and congrats on the savings!
You can use trivets too, just like in the kitchen. Or you could cut a piece of plywood to put on top of the tables to protect them. Seems like a small complaint.
Got a Vision grill with all essential accessories and it only ran me $550.. same size too.....and built a bit better than the Joe or the Egg....
Just picked up a Classic Joe for $650 at Lowe's
I enjoy the info on video content. Regards!
If you don’t have a BGE or a Joe your need to re-evaluate your life. These things are machines at making literally anything an everything you could possibly want and make it better, better than your high end restaurants!
preach!
I have the Kamado Joe JR......love it
great to hear! ours gets use too but definitely plays second fiddle to its bigger brother haha
I would love to have a Big Joe....but I cook for 1 or 2 people..I live in a Condo....my out door space is small....now for the mods I did..my cart is as high as your big Joe.....I have 3 surfaces to cook on....I had to remove the temp out of the Dome...I have a temp meter that does grill & meat...I can cook small Boston butts....3 rack of ribs....small points...or points....leg of lamb.....I SUB you and rang the bell....I will look out for you....paladin...............PS...I work for a co that does stainless steel
small points or flats
Your dogs are so cute!
they think you're pretty cute, too
When you unpack this unit be very careful when you pull out the first large piece of styrofoam out of the unit. There are 2 half moon ceramic pieces inserted underneath that piece of styrofoam, and if they fall out onto the ground they will break. I know this from experience.
ok hold up. first off i reccomend a grill dome , i got the xl for only around 1100. better warranty than most ceramic smokers on seals and important stuff. yes there bulky to handle and mine did fall once while attempting to transport myself but it did not crack. Smoking on that thing the last 3 years never once did a heavy lid even come to mind. if it is too heavy let somebody else cook. And there can't be any cheaper way to light a grill then using a chimney . ok continue👌
Gary Chupp you’re an ass
Those firebox puzzle pieces are a total pain in the rear to assemble!
i agree. It wasn't the easiest. Although, i did recently clean the grill and disassembly the fire box then reassemble and it was much easier than the very first time haha perfect practice makes perfect :)
I installed mine and assembled the whoe grill by myself. Wouldn't suggest it though.
There's a trick to that: ua-cam.com/video/gphUQFW6uIo/v-deo.html
I want one since my family we grill a lot but damn it’s expensive.
I just bought an open box Joe Jr, brand new, never unpacked for 250 from a guy on Craigslist. Took time to find but they are out there. Works GREAT.
Good video
These features aren't on the KJ Classic that I just ordered I guess. Bummer, but $699 is a great price for a kamado.
Don’t sweat it. The 2016 Kamado Joe is just as much of a beast.
You got me on the friends clip! lol
haha glad someone appreciates it!
Can you do Review on the bono or cooking demo please
PK Grill for the win
Sweet ad bro!
I have heard complaints about air flow with this grill. A High-Que charcoal grate would solve it if that were the case.
we haven't had any issues so far but I have seen that some people get the kick ash baskets and KJ just released their own version of a basket. I always thought it was for easier clean up but you may be on to something with the airflow
Yes the kick ash basket would improve air flow and is probably an even better recommendation.
Theres absolutely no problem with airflow. I own the old Big Joe and the new Big Joe. Ive also cooked on my friends BGE several times. I've noticed no difference in airflow.
Yes if you set them up properly you should not have air flow issues. However I saw a video where John Setzler did set up his Komado Joe properly with new lump and large chunks and had to do intervention on a long cook due to air flow issue. Then there is reusing lump and the small pieces that can cause air flow issues on any Komado. When one switches to a High Que grate or kick ash grate they are amazed at how much faster their grill lights up and how it holds up to long cooks. And you can close the lid as soon as you light the starter stick and make it light faster using the chimney effect. I noticed John Setzler leaves the lid open when he starts his KJ which is slower. My small BGE has more air flow problems on long cooks due to its small size and the new High Que grate fixed it and dramatically increased lighting speed. My Primo Oval has had no airflow issues as long as I stir and remove ash every few cooks..
What can you tell us about the Joe Junior ? Does it behave the same way that the classic does ? What are the pros and cons compared to the classic, besides size of course.
the Jr is great but doesn't have the updates of the new Big Joe or Classic. It uses the old style vent, gasket, and hinge. The Jr does have the flexible cooking system, which is great. You could get away with smoking some stuff on the Jr it would just have to be small. I've used the Jr for steaks, porkchops, and burgers when it's just me and my wife and it's been excellent. Doesn't seem to be able to get quite as hot as the bigger models. I think mine seemed to top out around 650. The Big Joe can easily do 850 plus. not that that's needed but thought i'd share.
Thanks, this is very helpfull. I always thought it might have just been just the size in actual fact there might be other variants.
@@BreakItYourself I'm waiting for mine to arrive, but I think the Joe Jr. gets hotter with the kick ash basket.
Need to update this one. They didn't/don't do the mini joe package anymore.
what a bummer! I've heard that before but didn't know it was official. That's a real shame.
Not sure about that information, I believe it is incorrect . The joe junior is still available from what the official KJ website says.
1:26 I see plastic tie wraps in hinge mechanism. Is that there by design. Should those be removed before using the oven. I thought it's there for shipping purposes.
Love it, but does it come with a husband and a warranty?
haha maybe the version 3 does!
The grill is easy to return.
As for husbands, be sure to keep the receipt. We can turn sour sometimes.
Unless you stole either, in which case the grill will cool off much quicker than the ex
@@farrierss1724 Thanks for you comments. Very clever. Made my day.
Hope tomorrow good too. Be Well :) @@sassysanders3997
You didn't show the ash cleanout?
err..that's the cleanest looking pit I have ever seen. Maybe you should just start cooking in it instead of advertising it. Get going!! Right now!
I have an extra large big green hog love it why do you compare a large Komodo Joe and a small Big green egg Doesn’t make sense to me
Traeger ad before this. Hahaha!
Haha more power to them
do want
More videos! Of the dogs.
haha agreed
Nice BBQ
Thanks!
Unless you just want to impress your friends, buy the Akorn Kamado grill. It's cheap and light and can do 15 hr smokes on a single load of coal. $300 and works just as well.
They don't work as well. The ceramic makes a huge difference in retaining heat. The cheaper grill works. But saying a KJ is a waste of money is going too far.
I disagree. The benefits do not outweigh the negatives. The Akorn can smoke a chunk of meat indiscernibly from the ceramic grills while costing 1/2 to 1/3 as much and is easily movable and far more durable. I don't see the down side other than using a little more coal. I do wish they made a larger, oval version similar to Primo.
That said, it's your money, buy whatever you want.
When I was interested in Kamado grills, I bought an Akorn first as a test and used it for about 3 years. You are right, it works in a similar fashion and is a great value for the price. However, upgrading to the ceramic is a ‘you get what you paid for’ situation. I found in the Akorn over the years, it was incredibly sensitive and difficult to retain temperature, and eventually, it started breaking down. Granted, I used it several times a week during this time. The Kamado Joe is a night and day difference for temperature control, configurations and overall quality smokes. However, again...that is the price you pay. Having said that, I still recommend Akorns to anyone who wants to get started with Kamado as they are a good bargain for an entry level grill.
Hi
Hi
Why can't you use a chimney to start these?
oh you can. I would use a chimney for higher temp cooks. The heat gun is what I use to light just a few coals for low and slow cooks
Sure it came with a Warranty, for that price?
Price is the only reason I don’t have one!
Want to cool it down quick? Close the bottom vent and leave the top vent open.
yes but that still takes a good bit of time
I can get you the big joe as a costco road show employee for 1499
Kinda shame, that you dont tell that kamado joe gives a life time warranty on the cermic. (If it breaks because of heat)
And the Caliber Pro Kamado is currently the best and high end Kamado on the market, and leaving KJ/BGE/Primo and other competitors behind.
Well I been saving for a few months and 8 have enough to buy the Joe. Not the Joe II, but I can deal with a heavier lid and a cast iron top vent to save a few hundred dollars. I was going to buy it on Friday, but I just got word that my father bought a 36 inch outdoor griddle. A stupid fucking griddle. So now, joe gets to not be bought, because of lack of space, and how dare I buy a new grill, when we have this fantastic piece of trash.
might want to put some $ towards your fence LOL
Haha it was like that when we moved into the house. We have plans to replace it next month 😂
is it even your fence? lol typically the side of the fence that shows the frame is towards the property it surrounds. in other words, you as the neighbor get to see the "nice, flat" side.
so funny that's the first thing I thought too lol, great video though, thanks for the info!
So,funny. I thought who cares...it’s a grill review.
You still have a couple more years left on it!
Had my Big Joe for 6 months and cooked on it about 2-3 times per month. Loved it. But...the chimney that the top vent is mounted on broke off. It just broke as i was trying to open the vent. I filed a warranty claim on their website and followed up numerous times. They don’t answer their phones and they don’t reply to emails. Really bad customer service. Beware when buying this very heavy and very expensive grill.
that's really disappointing to hear! I've always had good luck with their customer service. Have you posted in their FB group? Obviously you shouldn't have to as they should be answering the phone and emails.
I've purchased my big joe at Costcos in 2016. Last year (2021) The springs in my lid hinge just gave out. compounded by COVID, I could not get any response from the customer service department. I left messages, did the web site etc with no result. Finally I got a contact at Kamado Joe through my local retailer. Kamado Joe sent me an upgraded new hydraulic style hinge system. It works great.
Quand les vidéo en français...?
so it is heavy, so it will not blow over, check, it holds heat well so i do not have to run it like furnace, check,......it is fragiile? it is 200lbs it is not fragile. why and when would you run it that high. I do pizza's at 700 just fine and have had my classic for ten years. when i first got it i pegged 900 and said WOW it can go that high, there is no reason to go that high
weight is not a good indicator of strength. it will 100% break if it ever fell. It's clay.... Ive had small chunks break off from hitting it with the sharp edge of a spatula. I love my Big Joe and my Vision classic before that, but they must be treated with care.
I think you should read the warranty that comes with Kamado Joe. If you buy it at what they call a BIG BOX store such as Costco or Sam's Club your warranty is void. Baby Back Maniac states this in one of his videos. I read my warranty and sure enough he's right! I bought my Kamado Joe Classic II at Costco. Google Kamado Joe.com and read the warranty. I love my Kamado Joe Classic II but I'm just hoping I have no carking issues.
I’ve already put in two warranty claims and have received the parts no questions asked. They didn’t even ask about big box store so idk.
Break It Yourself wait you have TWO warranty claims already in a 2k grill ?
i bought the display model and was being very picky about the warranty claims. Thankfully, in buying a $1500 grill, the customer service is outstanding and i got my replacement parts with no issues.
We Just had our Kamado Joe Road Show at Costco in Tallahassee, FL last week. I printed a copy of the Kamado Joe Warranty from their website and brought it with me to Costco and showed it to the Kamado Joe rep. He assured me the Kamado Joe Classic II I bought from him is covered under warranty. He said since I bought it from him, being a Kamado Joe employee, that I was fully covered and asked if I registered my grill using the serial number in my booklet that came with the grill and I told him I did. He replied that I was fully covered. I told him Kamado Joe needs to eliminate that part of the warranty on their website or revise it to state " IF YOU BOUGHT YOUR KAMADO JOE FROM AN AUTHORIZED KAMADO JOE REP, YOU ARE COVERED." I hope this clears up this issue.
Yep. Bought my KJ from Costco and it’s completely covered under their awesome warranty. Very fast customer service
Home Depot has these on sale
do they really? Online or in store?
I saw them online, it looks like there going to stop selling them because they were "clearance" prices.
While I do like these. I think I'm heading to Eggtober fest in October in Georgia. I hope I can get a hold of one of the demo models of the Big green egg.
both are great but i do like that the KJ comes with the divide and conquer system so I can start doing low and slow cooks right away without having to buy more accessories.
Gosh you have well and truly put me off..... thank you for an excellent video review though....
What did you in?
Break It Yourself I guess the weight and fear of breaking it! I do move my BBQ around the garden depending on how we have it setup. Plus this looks quite advanced to use, lots of parts and finally the price! Would love to try some food off it, but for me it’s a bit more than I think I can handle.
Nice grill but to heavy. Weber kettle is just as good. More versatile as well
I have a Weber Kettle and disagree that it's just as good. My Weber doesn't hold temp nearly as well and the kettle also doesn't have a good way of blocking direct heat in low and slow cooks like the Kamado Joe divide and conquer system does. Don't get me wrong, I love my Weber for steaks and some types of low and slow. But overall the KJ us superior to the WK.
Break It Yourself I do agree with you but for the price I can get a top of the line Weber gas genesis. Much more superior then any charcoal grill.
christschool whatever if you are insecure well I guess that’s a personal problem then.
youve clearly never used a kamado. edit: i just saw that you said a genesis GAS grill is better than any charcoal one.......i dont need to say any more. You also said "For the price i CAN get...", meaning you DONT have a genesis grill and you DONT have a kamado but youre somehow speaking on which ones are superior? based on what? feelings?
pueden indicarme el contacto, deseo comprar desde Peru.
Holy Fuck man, wish ya started with the 1900.00 price. haha. Damn.
say again? lol
@@BreakItYourself meaning mentioning the price first.
These things have nothing on Weber. Overpriced, delicate BBQs.
the Weber summit, which is a comparable competitor to BGE and KJ, costs $1500
@@BreakItYourself Not if you win it or someone gifts you it.
Eh, different things appeal to different people. I own a Weber Summit Charcoal but I'll eventually add a KJ or BGE to my lineup.
@@fcukugimmeausername you talk bullshit...
what do you need for a good bbq: lets return to easy bbq - fire, coal, meat...stop with this girl issue
Family Fun
indeed!
Costco same one £500
Couldn't watch for more than one minute. Too much competition between foreground (I'm sure it's supposed to be background) music and the dialogue.
Jeez... $1900 for a knock off?? I paid $1400 for a complete set up like that for an XL big green egg that includes a lifetime warranty. Am i missing something?
That's a good deal. The Big Joe goes for $1500-$1600 in my experience and comes with the heat deflectors and the divide and conquer flexible cooking system which is extra for the BGE. Also the hinge, top vent, and gasket are better on the Joe vs the BGE
@lee I think you're missing the point completely. People have different cookers for various reasons - brand, price, value, color etc. Not everyone will love one grill equally. There's many different cookers and I'm grateful for that. It gives us, the consumers, choices and creates competition which is usually a win for you like the rest of us. I don't own a BGE or KJ but I'd love to own both someday. You might not see the value in the KJ compared to your BGE and that's ok but not everyone feels the same.