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My Impression of the Kamado Joe and the Costco Roadshow
Wylecyot
Posts: 203
A month or two ago, there was a discussion on the board about Costco's Roadshow featuring the Kamado Joe. Finally, the Roadshow is making its way through my area in Southern California. For anyone interested, here is the link of future Roadshows. I think Costco updates it monthly.
I was hoping the Roadshow would showcase some of the accessories offered by Kamado Joe, especially the Joetisserie. Unfortunately, accessories were not available as part of the Roadshow. However, I did walk away as a new owner of a Joe Jr. This was really my first exposure to Kamado Joe, and wanted to share my thoughts.
The Good:
- Price of the units at the Roadshow are hard to beat! The Joe Classic (same size as a Large BGE) was $799, the Joe Jr (same size as Mini Max) was $399. I believe the Big Joe (XL size) was $1,199. All three sizes included the nest (Classic and Big Joe Nests include shelves), ash tool and grate gripper. Also included was a multi-level grill and heat deflector (more on this below). I know the price of the BGE varies in different regions, so I want to put this into a little perspective. At the last Eggfest in Southern California, a demo Large sold for $875 and the XL demo was $1,130. The BGE demo units only included the nest.
- Kamado Joe's grates are nice! Each unit comes with some sort of a grill that allows for direct, raised direct or indirect cooking. The Classic and Big Joe come with a rack system very similar to the Adjustable Rig sold by Ceramic Grill Store (my favorite accessory for my BGE). The Kamado Joe version have split heat deflectors and half-grids which allow for variety of cooking options. The rack that comes with the Joe Jr is best described as a Woo (also sold by Ceramic Grill Store) and heat deflector. This too allows for direct, raised direct or indirect cooking. All of the grates are quality made with 304 stainless steel. It's nice that Kamado Joe includes this in their base price.
- The thermometer is large and can be viewed from a distance. Nice for those of us getting older...
- Similar warranty to that of BGE.
The OK:
- The internal ceramics are less refined than the BGE. Not sure how else to put it. It appears to be the same thickness, but there are differences. The Kamado Joe is more porous on the inside. The holes in the fire box are rough, not smooth or uniform like BGE. Ash is more likely to accumulate as a result, which will cause temperature problems on longer cooks. I ran the Jr for five hours at 350 degrees then started noticing problems with the air flow.
- The Classic and Big Joe include a slide-out ash drawer. I guess that's a nice talking feature, but I don't see the point. It's rectangular and is the width of the draft door. I wonder how effective it truly is, given that ash is dropping all around the firebox?
- The holes on the fire grate appear to be smaller than the BGE. This is easily overcome with an after-market replacement. But still...
The Not So Good:
- Kamado Joe does not include a ceramic cap. They rely on a cast-iron daisy wheel to control temp and snuff out the fire. Maybe others don't have a problem with that, but I did notice it took longer to quell the fire in my Joe Jr. I think this will lead to unnecessary lump consumption? My bigger concern is how the cast-iron will hold up to the weather? Kamado Joe offers covers for the Classic and Big Joe, but not for the Joe Jr.
- The handles are made of plastic (pet peeve of mine)
- The dome bands are secured with a 10 mm nut attached to a small bolt with an allen head. I find it difficult to get 12 foot pounds torque on the nut without damaging the ceramics. One thing I need to point out...the Kamado Joe instruction manual simply says to tighten and periodically check the tightness of the nut. They do not specify how tight is tight...
- As mentioned above, I ran the Jr at 350 degrees for 4 plus hours. The top of the nest visibly warped and is significantly misshaped. (This will be a good test of Kamado Joe's customer service)
My Overall Impression: The price was just too good for me pass-up the Joe Jr. That said, my intent is to supplement my LBGE and MBGE. The overall design, ceramics and quality of the Big Green Egg are superior to Kamado Joe. I wish BGE would consider including a rack system as a standard addition to their eggs.
I hope this helps someone out there!
I was hoping the Roadshow would showcase some of the accessories offered by Kamado Joe, especially the Joetisserie. Unfortunately, accessories were not available as part of the Roadshow. However, I did walk away as a new owner of a Joe Jr. This was really my first exposure to Kamado Joe, and wanted to share my thoughts.
The Good:
- Price of the units at the Roadshow are hard to beat! The Joe Classic (same size as a Large BGE) was $799, the Joe Jr (same size as Mini Max) was $399. I believe the Big Joe (XL size) was $1,199. All three sizes included the nest (Classic and Big Joe Nests include shelves), ash tool and grate gripper. Also included was a multi-level grill and heat deflector (more on this below). I know the price of the BGE varies in different regions, so I want to put this into a little perspective. At the last Eggfest in Southern California, a demo Large sold for $875 and the XL demo was $1,130. The BGE demo units only included the nest.
- Kamado Joe's grates are nice! Each unit comes with some sort of a grill that allows for direct, raised direct or indirect cooking. The Classic and Big Joe come with a rack system very similar to the Adjustable Rig sold by Ceramic Grill Store (my favorite accessory for my BGE). The Kamado Joe version have split heat deflectors and half-grids which allow for variety of cooking options. The rack that comes with the Joe Jr is best described as a Woo (also sold by Ceramic Grill Store) and heat deflector. This too allows for direct, raised direct or indirect cooking. All of the grates are quality made with 304 stainless steel. It's nice that Kamado Joe includes this in their base price.
- The thermometer is large and can be viewed from a distance. Nice for those of us getting older...
- Similar warranty to that of BGE.
The OK:
- The internal ceramics are less refined than the BGE. Not sure how else to put it. It appears to be the same thickness, but there are differences. The Kamado Joe is more porous on the inside. The holes in the fire box are rough, not smooth or uniform like BGE. Ash is more likely to accumulate as a result, which will cause temperature problems on longer cooks. I ran the Jr for five hours at 350 degrees then started noticing problems with the air flow.
- The Classic and Big Joe include a slide-out ash drawer. I guess that's a nice talking feature, but I don't see the point. It's rectangular and is the width of the draft door. I wonder how effective it truly is, given that ash is dropping all around the firebox?
- The holes on the fire grate appear to be smaller than the BGE. This is easily overcome with an after-market replacement. But still...
The Not So Good:
- Kamado Joe does not include a ceramic cap. They rely on a cast-iron daisy wheel to control temp and snuff out the fire. Maybe others don't have a problem with that, but I did notice it took longer to quell the fire in my Joe Jr. I think this will lead to unnecessary lump consumption? My bigger concern is how the cast-iron will hold up to the weather? Kamado Joe offers covers for the Classic and Big Joe, but not for the Joe Jr.
- The handles are made of plastic (pet peeve of mine)
- The dome bands are secured with a 10 mm nut attached to a small bolt with an allen head. I find it difficult to get 12 foot pounds torque on the nut without damaging the ceramics. One thing I need to point out...the Kamado Joe instruction manual simply says to tighten and periodically check the tightness of the nut. They do not specify how tight is tight...
- As mentioned above, I ran the Jr at 350 degrees for 4 plus hours. The top of the nest visibly warped and is significantly misshaped. (This will be a good test of Kamado Joe's customer service)
My Overall Impression: The price was just too good for me pass-up the Joe Jr. That said, my intent is to supplement my LBGE and MBGE. The overall design, ceramics and quality of the Big Green Egg are superior to Kamado Joe. I wish BGE would consider including a rack system as a standard addition to their eggs.
I hope this helps someone out there!
Large BGE, Medium BGE, Kamado Joe Jr, 36" Blackstone Griddle Blackstone Tailgater and Roccbox owner/operator from Los Angeles
Comments
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Many thanks for your straight-up comparison. As has been recently noted here, in the past few years, the competition has come at BGE with a vengeance. If you sit on your laurels, guess what, relative to your competitors you are losing ground. But I am basing the prior only on what I read here as I do not have a competitor's ceramic cooker. FWIW-
BTW- don't be surprised if the buffalo will be along soon.Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win. Life is too short for light/lite beer! Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. -
Nice write up. I just purchased a Joe Jr at Costco as well. The price was too good to pass up, but in the end it is a cheaper egg. The only drawback so far is that it takes a long time to get up to temp, my L is ready to roll in a fraction of the time.
I bought it it for sides and portable cooking, for that it should work fine.Highland, MI
L BGE, Primo, and a KJ Jr -
If this thread escapes the buffalo, your write up will be helpful to many. It was good of you to take the time.
I would only add that the color would keep me from being a customer - just not a fan.Phoenix -
I really enjoy my joe jr. It is a work horse around here. The one thing I seem to like about Kamado joe is that they seem to really listen to their customers. I loosely follow their community and it seems like the ownership is very connected and has actually produced products based on customer recommendations. That is a good way to make customers for life IMO.VA Beach
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The Buffalo is quick on these threads. Appreciate your post.Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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I have a JR too. I love it! I did upgrade to a hicue grate.
On the top vent, it is powder coated steel not bare CI. Big difference! Once you get that vent good and junked up, it will seal airtight. -
I've had my KJ Jr. for over a year and a half and notice none of the problems you cite.
It is a grittier feeling surface but I have no idea if the ceramic in the BGE is superior to that in the KJ as I am not a materials scientist.
Never noticed a need for a separate ceramic cap. Mine shuts down fast enough and I have never had an instance where I thought I shut it down only to find all my lump gone the next time I went to use it.
I like the plastic handle as it is more weather resistant. My kamados are almost never covered so I like that handle.
My top vent shows no signs of rust nor does the stand (nor has my stand warped). Both are powder coated and as long as you don't deeply nick that finish it should be quite weather resistant.
Never had to tighten my bands yet so I have no idea how stressful (no pun intended) that might be.
I've never used the stock fire grate. At the same time that I bought mine I got a HighQue grate and used that until the KickAsh basket was released. Thus I have no idea how well the stock great performs or how easily it clogs up.
I've cooked a 9 pound butt on my Jr and it took 6-ish hours and never noticed any problems with airflow but that may be due to my KickAsh basket. However, I have never noticed any problems with ash buildup and I generally don't even bother scraping out ash until it's at least an inch thick.
I haven't even bothered to pull out the ring and firebox to clean any ash around their perimeter for almost a year. I did do that after I had used mine the first six months after I got it and there was so little ash there - maybe just a couple tablespoons - that I haven't bothered to do that again. I probably should check that out though as it has gotten a lot of use in recent months.
I've never had a problem heating up my Jr. It can get to 600 or 700 degrees in 15 minutes but again, that may be due to the KAB and not using the stock grate.
KJ's warranty is slightly better than BGE's. KJ will send parts direct to your door for free while BGE charges shipping. Also, KJ is not so hung up on the "are you the original owner" thing. While I have not personally had to deal with a warranty replacement due to my time hanging out in the KJ community I know their response is generally very quick.
I may have a chance to check out their warranty response as my firebox has a crack but it has been cracked (but still in one piece) for over a year and hasn't really had any impact on the operation of the Jr. I keep saying I should go ahead and get it replaced but procrastination kicks in. One day tho.
I was going to buy a MiniMax when I got my KJ Jr. but after looking at both given the price/value difference I opted for the Jr. I also thought the MiniMax was a little too squat but I never really bothered measuring various internal clearances.
Overall I'm very satisfied with the KJ Jr. I know it won't have much appeal to the die-hard "Team Green" folks but for folks like me that are more cooker agnostic it's a great little cooker. Two thumbs up.“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. Diçk -
@HeavyG, feel the same. My large egg is a great tool, my joe jr is just as good in every way with the exception of size. I have experienced zero issues and highly recommend to everyone when I am talking about my Kamados.VA Beach
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Have you tried to get a Mini Max up to temp? I have one and sometimes throw on the Voodoo headgear and have to sprinkle some chicken blood for it to happen. Joe Jr CANT be any worse. Ask @Lit.Meeeshigan22 said:Nice write up. I just purchased a Joe Jr at Costco as well. The price was too good to pass up, but in the end it is a cheaper egg. The only drawback so far is that it takes a long time to get up to temp, my L is ready to roll in a fraction of the time.
I bought it it for sides and portable cooking, for that it should work fine. -
No I don't have any experience with the Mini Max. I've only cooked on the Joe maybe a dozen times, maybe I'll figure it out. My early experience's the Egg were learning experiences, now it's 2nd nature.yljkt said:Have you tried to get a Mini Max up to temp? I have one and sometimes throw on the Voodoo headgear and have to sprinkle some chicken blood for it to happen. Joe Jr CANT be any worse. Ask @Lit.
Either way both do the job, the L BGE is still my first love however. haha
Highland, MI
L BGE, Primo, and a KJ Jr -
My medium gets up to temp real quick. I get it. I have cooked on a KJ jr and it heats up WAY quicker than my Mini Max. Even with the Max having a KAB the Joe Jr beats it like a rented mule. Don't claim to know why, but it is what it is. And the ***** is sometimes the max heats up pretty quick. Other times? It just goes out. Very frustrating.Meeeshigan22 said:No I don't have any experience with the Mini Max. I've only cooked on the Joe maybe a dozen times, maybe I'll figure it out. My early experience's the Egg were learning experiences, now it's 2nd nature.
Either way both do the job, the L BGE is still my first love however. haha -
The Buffalo is away on a surfing vacation, and his fill-in bison is relaxed about these kinds of posts anyway ... he is wise and knows the real score. You can sleep soundly knowing that your thread shall be unmolested ... just keep it civil!
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Have not posted anything for along time I bleed green 2 xls and a MM. I am sure they all work good but I do not see your point coming on to a green egg forum talking about other ceramic grills. we all know if you want the best buy a green egg.XL & waiting for my Mini Max Bloomington MN.
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Great thread. Appreciate the comparison of folks who own both products.
Sadly, the roadshow is not coming around me this year. I was hoping it would, just to pick up some of their lump! Which I found to be very good (all big pieces, lit easily, burned long).
LBGE/Maryland -
What's the big deal?Justacookin said:Have not posted anything for along time I bleed green 2 xls and a MM. I am sure they all work good but I do not see your point coming on to a green egg forum talking about other ceramic grills. we all know if you want the best buy a green egg.
Highland, MI
L BGE, Primo, and a KJ Jr -
Lots of folks here use lots of cookers and accessories that aren't BGE products. It's all about sharing info/experiences.Justacookin said:Have not posted anything for along time I bleed green 2 xls and a MM. I am sure they all work good but I do not see your point coming on to a green egg forum talking about other ceramic grills. we all know if you want the best buy a green egg.
I'll bet most folks here own multiple cookers and that many of those aren't green.
Actually, I bet BGE welcomes these discussions. It's good for a business to hear what their customers like/don't like and what their customers opinions are on competitor products. Also, this way they don't have to spend money on customer surveys to see what their customer base is looking at/for. “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. Diçk -
Full props to the buffalo's sense of humor- especially mid-week. That alone otta be worth a few "hug 'em love 'em" posts. Game-on.
Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win. Life is too short for light/lite beer! Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. -
Justacookin said:Have not posted anything for along time I bleed green 2 xls and a MM. I am sure they all work good but I do not see your point coming on to a green egg forum talking about other ceramic grills. we all know if you want the best buy a green egg.
SMH. This is the EXACT mentality that is causing the BGE market share to continue to shrink. It's the same reason I hate the dictator in North Korea. I guess Meeshigan should be executed and afterwards this thread should be deleted?
Beautiful and lovely Villa Rica, Georgia -
They were in Maryland back in June or July as I recall.KiterTodd said:Great threat. Appreciate the comparison of folks who own both products.
Sadly, the roadshow is not coming around me this year. I was hoping it would, just to pick up some of their lump! Which I found to be very good (all big pieces, lit easily, burned long).
Hope you can catch them next year - that is good charcoal at a great price.“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. Diçk -
Decent of you sir, very decent. Green Egger out!The_Buffalo said:The Buffalo is away on a surfing vacation, and his fill-in bison is relaxed about these kinds of posts anyway ... he is wise and knows the real score. You can sleep soundly knowing that your thread shall be unmolested ... just keep it civil!Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga -
So, I have an egg and a Vision. Are you suggesting along the same lines that I should not post the cooks prepared on the Vision here because it is not green? Not sure I understand that thinking.Justacookin said:Have not posted anything for along time I bleed green 2 xls and a MM. I am sure they all work good but I do not see your point coming on to a green egg forum talking about other ceramic grills. we all know if you want the best buy a green egg. -
Post about the headgear and chicken blood was epic. I felt like that at first but theres a few tricks. My MM may take long depending on where and how i light it, if a plate setter is in, drip pan, w/water or without/water, etc. Today i threw on some ribs and due to the large/deep water pan and basting the temps fluctuated, but as you see it didnt take long to rise temps and i only lit 1 spot. If i had my $2 stoker fan on it the temps would jump to nuclear pretty quickly. I almost got a KJ but im a sucker for BGE GreenAustin, Tx
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@Wylecyot: Thanks for the comprehensive review. I've always wondered about potential dicrepancies between the the two and your review is helpful in this regard.
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You mean someone that has cookers that aren't BGEs would frequent here? Really? I have no idea what you mean....HeavyG said:Lots of folks here use lots of cookers and accessories that aren't BGE products. It's all about sharing info/experiences.
I'll bet most folks here own multiple cookers and that many of those aren't green.
Actually, I bet BGE welcomes these discussions. It's good for a business to hear what their customers like/don't like and what their customers opinions are on competitor products. Also, this way they don't have to spend money on customer surveys to see what their customer base is looking at/for.
PS - Don't read my signature line...They/Them
Morgantown, PA
XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer - PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker -
Show off! I hate people like you, until I meet them and eat their food. You gonna make but blast again my friend?DMW said:You mean someone that has cookers that aren't BGEs would frequent here? Really? I have no idea what you mean....
PS - Don't read my signature line...Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga -
Haha... I certainly hope to be there for the next one.bgebrent said:Show off! I hate people like you, until I meet them and eat their food. You gonna make but blast again my friend?They/Them
Morgantown, PA
XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer - PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker -
The_Buffalo said:The Buffalo is away on a surfing vacation, and his fill-in bison is relaxed about these kinds of posts anyway ... he is wise and knows the real score. You can sleep soundly knowing that your thread shall be unmolested ... just keep it civil!
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Hope you make it too brother.DMW said:Haha... I certainly hope to be there for the next one.Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga -
To the op: please repost your opinion in 3 months; I'm pretty sure it will be something like "I fricken love my Jr."
I've had my Large at my home for 9 years, and picked up a Jr. for my summer cottage about 3 months ago. Since getting it I have cooked on it almost every day; about 70% indirect, and a good mix of hot (for pizzas) and low (for beans, stews, etc.). I have done a huge amount of cooking on it and used about 55lbs of lump. It uses significantly less lump than my Large. It gets up to temp quickly and down again. I've noticed one interesting difference, and that is that there is a brief temp spike when I close it down. I'm sure this must be just an airflow issue interacting with the thermometer, but maybe that's why you perceive that it doesn't snuff out right away.
To be honest, I don't share any of your negatives. I fail to see how the visible differences between the ceramic of the BGE and the KJ relate to performance. If anything, the Jr. has a few thoughtful features not present in the Egg. For example, I received a replacement firebox for my Large recently, and I notice that it wobbles, which of course makes my cooking grid wobbly. The Jr. has 3 pieces of felt on the bottom of the firebox so that it does't wobble. Simple, effective, and thoughtful. I also prefer the plastic handle to the wood. It will withstand the weather better than wood, and no spiders can get in the gap between the wood pieces (it's at my cottage on the lake).
The small kamados are so great. Accessories are cheap, hot spots are minimized, and they are true lump misers. They can fit a 3 quart DO fairly easily, a 10-inch skillet, and a 12-inch pizza stone, which means that they can cook almost anything you can cook on a larger Kamado except brisket, multiple butts, or whole turkeys. And moving them is a piece of cake.
If you don't want to get the daisy wheel wet, cover your Jr. with this Char Broil Big Easy Turkey fryer cover. It fits great and costs $10.
https://www.amazon.com/Char-Broil-Easy-Turkey-Fryer-Cover/dp/B0038MVPA6/ref=pd_sim_86_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=T6B1FT305P70ECY2WVX6
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Good writeup, thanks for sharing. I've been wanting to catch the road show and pick up a KJ jr. Looks like I missed them at the beginning of the month. Guess I'll have to wait till next year.Aledo, Texas
Large BGE
KJ Jr.
Exodus 12:9 KJV
Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
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