Full Review

Having cooked on dozens of full sized kamado grills I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get used to using the smaller Akorn Jr grill…It ended up being the grill I use the most these days.

Akorn Jr’s 14 Inches of Awesome…

OK, that sounded weird. It felt weird typing it…Maybe I should have just led with: “sometimes great things come in small packages”. That certainly is the case with the Char-Griller E6714 Akorn Jr Kamado Kooker Grill. At only 25 inches tall and weighing in at around 40lbs with a 14 inch diameter (153 square inch) cooking surface, this is grill packs a lot of features into a small package.

While the Char-Griller Akorn Jr is small, it isn’t nearly the smallest kamado grill on the market (the big green egg mini is only 10 inches!). However, with a 14″ cooking surface, the Akorn Jr Kamado Kooker is perfectly suited for couples and small families. The compact size, handles and built-in legs makes it a great grill to take tailgating or camping or a great fit for balconies and smaller porches. It can even be built into a table to make a beautiful outdoor kitchen.

Solid steel kamado grill design

While the vast majority of kamado style grills are made of ceramic, char-griller decided to use multiple walls of insulated, high grade steel. Don’t be put off by the metal. The result of the insulated triple-wall system on the Akorn Kooker is a more durable and lighter kamado grill. This is a huge deal if you have ever dropped a ceramic grill (hint: it’s bad). On the inside the steel is porcelain coated and on the outside it is beautifully powder coated with a high gloss finish that makes wiping the grill down a breeze. The hinge for the top is heavy duty and is more than capable of holding the Akorn Jr’s top, while the included legs are sturdy and fasten securely.

The Akorn Jr has the same high quality grates that Char-Griller is known for!

The removable cast iron grate offer 153 square inches of grill space with a convenient center grate hole that can be removed to add more coal without having to remove all your food. I really like how the grate fits into the keyed ledge of the grill, it keeps the grate from spinning or moving around while cleaning.

Once seasoned, the cast iron grates are curable and easy to clean; but more importantly they heat up evenly so that you get perfect grill marks every time.

Double damper system gives Jr complete temperature control

The E6714 Akorn Jr features a double damper system consisting of a slide vent at the bottom and a round damper on top. Paired with the nd insulated triple wall construction and this little kamado grill can easily hold temperatures between 200 and 700 degrees Fahrenheit which makes it possible to use your grill as a smoker as well. No matter if you are searing a steak or smoking a pork shoulder, you will be amazed at how consistent the temperature stays. Another added perk is that it uses hardly any coal!

The bottom damper also is removable to double as an ash pan. This makes removing the ash simple, even while the grill is in use.

Final thoughts about the Char-Griller E6714 Akorn Jr Kamado Kooker Grill

The Akorn Jr kamado grill has quickly become my go to grill for most nights. Sure, it is a bit small for when we have company over, but for typical, weekday grilling it is my first choice. I love how quick it heats up and how little coal it uses.

For the price (around $150 as of this writing), you will be hard pressed to find ANY kamado style grill, let alone one of this quality.

With a cover and kept relatively clean, I can easily see this grill lasting over 5 years without a problem. This puts the Char-Griller Akorn Jr as one of the most cost efficient grills period; let alone a kamado. I really think they knocked it out of the park with this grill and it is going to quickly become one of their more popular models!

Full Review

“Some people would argue that the Big Green Egg brand is the most popular due to the fact they have been around the longest, and I am starting to lean towards that line of thought after seeing the Classic Joe 18″ Ceramic Grill.”

The heavy duty ceramic of the Kamado Joe is actually thicker than that of the Egg grills and the attention to detail of the craftsmanship and functionality of the grill easily matches that of the Eggs. Coupled with the huge selection of accessories and it is easy to see why there is heated debate on which is the better cooker.

Let’s dig a bit deeper into the features and functions…

One of the first thing you will notice when you get your Kamado Joe Classic Joe is the sheer weight of the grill. Weighing in at a beefy 188lbs it boasts heavy duty ceramic ceramic construction that will hold temperature flawlessly and last a lifetime. Here is a breakdown of the high quality parts:

• Heavy duty, super-thick high temperature ceramic vessel
• Cast iron dual disc top vent to allow for accurate temperature control
• Main hinge made from powderdered coated galvanized iron
• Sturdy 304 grade strainless steel draft door allows additional temp control
• Exclusive slide out ash drawer and ash tool to easily empty ashes
• High density polyethylene folding side shelves with 4 pins on each shelf for hanging all your grilling tools
• Steel cart with locking caster wheels that allow for easy moving and positioning of the grill and stability when wheels are locked.

The next thing you will notice is that the Kamado Joe grill comes with everything you need to utilize your grill! Where as other brands only give you the basics, with the Classic Joe you get a full set of accessories to get you started. Beyond the included accessories there is also a plethora of other goodies you can get for your Kamado Joe grill.

Included in the standard package is:

• cart with locking wheels, built in thermometer
• folding poly shelves
• the impressively flexible “divide and conquer” cooking system with a multi position rack, halved grill grates
• and ceramic heat deflectors
• the patented sliding ash drawer
• grill gripper
• ash tool

If you look at what you get for your money with a Kamado Joe Classic Joe 18″ Ceramic Grill I think it is hard not to agree that the Big Green Egg may not be the “top-of-the-line” any more. After reviewing the Joe I would have to recommend anyone who is looking to buy a Kamado grill should seriously consider the Classic Joe.

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“While there will always be people with brand loyalty in every type of product market I don’t think I have ever seen a group of people so obsessed with a product as the self-proclaimed “Egg Heads”. The followers of the Big Green Egg grill would rather microwave a brisket than grill on something other than a green egg.” -Anonymous BBQ Competition Judge

Ok, maybe that’s taking it a bit far; but you get the point. People will always tell you that you need to pay the big bucks for the “top brand”, however I often find that it is more of a vanity issue than actual assessment of functionality and economic reasoning. As such is the case with the Char-Grill Akorn.

The first thing to be said about the Char-Griller Kamado is the cost! With a price tag that is 70% less than the same size Big Green Egg it is hard NOT to notice this grill. For some people this sets off alarms of a cheap quality knock off; but in this case that couldn’t be father from the truth.

The construction of the Akorn BBQ and Smoker is of very high quality and rivals that of other top of the line kamados. You can expect many years of use from this grill with just a little maintenance.

From a cooking perspective the Akorn performs just as well as a Big Green Egg and maintains all of the same features.

All in all, the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker Charcoal Barbecue Grill and Smoker is a fantastic grill and in my opinion is the most bang for your buck. If you can get over being looked down upon by people who own a ‘real’ Big Green Egg, then you can save enough money to buy a side of beef to put on your new Char-Griller!

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The Broil King Keg 5000 is the latest in Broil King’s line of Kamado style grills and they have put a lot of thought and care into the redesign. They have added many neat features and accessories that have not been addressed with their previous models; or ANY kamado grill. From the pull out ash tray and ability to add wood without moving the grate, to the tailgate bumper adapter (sold separately); you will be quite impressed with the features of the Keg 5000.

Double-walled steel with high-grade insulation

The construction of the Broil King 5000 is a high tech double-walled steel sandwiched around high quality insulation. This differs from the traditional ceramic material of other kamado style grills. One of the perks of steel instead of ceramic is that it is much lighter and impervious to cracks.

480 sq in. of Cooking Surface & Deluxe Accu-Temp Thermometer

There is 480 square inches of TOTAL COOKING AREA. This can be a bit misleading as this is actually a 280 sq in cast iron cooking grate along with another 200 square inch chrome grate that stacks as seen in the pictures above. You can cook with both at the same time but you will be limited on vertical space on one of the grates.

That being said the heavy duty cast iron grate is of very high quality and once ‘seasoned’ correctly it will provide years of non-stick cooking.

The accu-temp thermometer is a trademark design from Broil King. In a day where most grill manufacturers outsource parts like thermometers, Broil King really stands out with their high quality custom thermometer. It offers reliable temperature readings year after year.

Design & Other Features

Starting with the heavy duty cast iron upper damper on the top, all the way down the porcelain coated keg cooking chamber painted with a high quality metallic epoxy to the durable steel stand with large wheels; the Broil King Keg 5000 was crafted with care and thought.

Two handles on the front, with bottle openers ensure that your obligatory beer is at hand while you are tending your grill. The heavy duty resin handles allow you to maneuver the grill when needed. Couple that with the large wheels and optional tailgate adapter and you have yourself the ultimate tailgate grill!

The lid latches and locks closed with ease ensuring that you have a great seal that keeps the heat in while the hinge allows for easy opening with a single hand. The resin side shelves are removable and have integrated hooks to hold all of your grilling tools.

The removable steel ash tray has a chrome damper and is super convenient for removing ashes or even adding coal to your kamado without having to remove the grate.

To recap…

The Broil King Keg 5000 BBQ Grill quite possibly could be setting the bar for non-ceramic kamado style cookers. With it’s competitive price, incredible features and accessories and solid construction; it is certainly in the top ranks of charcoal grills.

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The Primo Round All-In-One Kamado style cooker is the middle child in the USA made Primo Grill family. This version is round and not oval like it’s siblings: the smaller Oval Jr. and the massive XL Oval. All of the grill are made from the same high quality ceramic.

The grill boasts an easy-clean, porcelain coated cooking grid with 280 square inches of area. Additional extenders can be purchased separately to double the available cooking area if necessary. Like most kamados; the Primo Round has a separate ceramic firebox and a felt lined top gasket to lock in moisture.

The Primo Round Kamado, like all the primo grills, has a stay-cool cyprus handle and precision easy-read thermometer. Add to that an adjustable cast iron chimney vent and a stainless steel adjustable vent door at the bottom of the grill and you can lock in any temperature and hold it there with ease.

One mentionable feature of the Primo Round 773 model is that it has 3 heat safe feet on the bottom that allow for more custom cart and placement options.

The weight of the Primo grill line is comparable with the big green eggs…HEAVY. There is really no way around that when you are making grills out of solid ceramic. In fact, some people gauge the quality of a kamado by its weight. While this is not necessarily a viable way of comparing grills you should always stay away from a ceramic grill that is too light.