Char Griller Akorn Vs. Kamado Joe- A Comparative Review

There are several techniques that you can use to grill food and barbecues at home. However, the most efficient one and one of the best practices is to use a kamado grill. But then, when purchasing a Kamado grill for use, the question stands- char griller Akorn Vs. Kamado Joe. 

Cooking through the kamado method is an ancient cooking methodology from China and has been embraced and adopted by many cultures. It involves cooking food inside a clay pot. 

The heat slowly and steadily seeps into the clay pot, ensuring the food is not burned but simmered. Contemporarily, manufacturers have not stuck to the conventional clay method but have created an alternative, much more appealing kamados. 

Of the many, the two most popular choices are the char griller Akorn vs. Kamado Joe, and in this article, we bring you a comparative review of the two products. 

Char Griller Akorn Vs. Kamado Joe

Before we explore the intricate details that differentiate a char griller Akorn Vs Kamado Joe, let’s first look at what the two Kamado offer. 

Kamado Joe Classic II

The precise feature of the Kamado Joe Classic II makes the griller stand head and shoulder above its competitors is its flexible divide-and-conquer cooking system. The signature cooking system has a stainless steel grid that, when split, allows an individual to cook different foods at different temperature zones simultaneously. 

Using this flexibility, you can sear pork ribs on one side and roast corn cob on the other. The ceramic heat deflector plates and a rack are other valuable accessories in the divide-and-conquer cooking system. 

These are plates shaped like half-moons, used as a separation barrier to shield the food from direct heat and transform the griller into a smoker. Meanwhile, a rack can manifest low and slow cooking in the Kamado Joe. 

The entire construction of the classic Joe has been of stainless steel, such as the advanced multi-panel firebox that has been divided into five pieces, and all contain a steel ring to enhance the durability of the griller further. 

The stainless steel ash pan placed below the fire grate collects all the cinders, ensuring that cleaning is made easy for the user. Also, the secondary airflow adjustment system is rust-resistant, so it does not matter if it shines or rains because the airflow will be protected and can be altered anytime. 

Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill

Considering the value of the Akorn Kamado charcoal grill, otherwise known as the #E16620 model, it remains the best like the Weber. Unlike traditional kamados, this kamado features a steel body ideal for insulation and can retain large amounts of heat for expansive spans. 

Undoubtedly, Akorn Kamado is a product not accompanied by the massive weight of a hefty price tag and can still deliver a phenomenal cooking performance. Heat can be cranked up for grilling stakes, and even if you touch the exterior of the Kamado by accident, rest assured you will not be burning your hand.

Similarly, the construction is such that if the Kamado is dropped accidentally, it won’t shatter into tiny bits. Also, portability across the lawn is easy as the grill can be conveniently pushed around with its chunky wheels. 

Additionally, assembling the grill is straightforward. However, some users may face challenges assembling it for the first time and will find themselves on a steep learning curve, but you can always refer to the diagram included in the package. 

Remember to position the vents accurately during assembly; if not, maintain an ideal temperature. Despite having two vents, it will be very difficult to cool the grill down once it is not used because the heat will remain trapped and not escape. 

Comparative Review 

Now that you have an approximate idea of what the char griller Akorn vs. Kamado Joe is and what specific characteristics they are accompanied with, it is time for us to deviate from the features and focus on the comparative review.

This review will cover all aspects of the two grills, including the design, ease of assembling, charcoal and cleaning, cooking area space, temperature control, and portability.

Design

The Joe Classic II has a chamber shaped like an egg and is constructed out of heavy ceramic and domed lids with a thermometer embedded in them. The blazing and bold red color of the Kamado ensures it catches everyone’s eye.

Though the Kamado weighs 250 pounds, since it has heavy-duty casters underneath its rolling cart, you can conveniently push it around from one place to another. Also, if you ever feel like hooking your utensils nearby while grilling, just unfold the sturdy, foldable shelf.

The most distinct quality of Joe’s design is the distance between the ground and the grill, which looks out for the scorching heat not to impact the ground beneath.

There are a few differences to explore in the design of an Akorn char griller, as it also has an egg shape and comes with wheels for movability. However, the most prominent difference is that the Akorn Kamado is not ceramic but has a dual layer of 22 gauge steel, perfect for insulation. 

Lighter and thinner than ceramic, the steel is less expensive and more durable. This means that even if you accidentally tip the Kamado on its side, its exterior will not be damaged.

Assembly 

Comparing the assembly of the two Kamados, Joe Classic is easier and only takes about twenty minutes. In this span, you can fetch the trolley together with a few screws and then put other accessories in position, such as the fire ring, firebox, and fire grate, which is at last topped off the damper.

On the contrary, users often face a lot of difficulty in putting together char griller Akorn as it’s a bit to build the trolley and then screw the body. Massive confusion is encountered with the placements of vents, resulting in taking hours to have a perfectly assembled kamado. 

Ease Of Adding Charcoal 

Adding charcoal is direct in both the kamados, but again, classic Joe takes the lead with the ease of adding charcoal. This is because, in this Kamado, you can quickly take out the deflectors and grill simply by grabbing and lifting the sides.

In Akorn, you individually have to take the deflectors and grill them out, which requires a lot of caution, considering they are easy to break and are very hot at the same time. Therefore, the risk and danger here are alarming. 

Cleaning

Kamado Joe’s grill has stainless steel grates, which can be thoroughly cleaned through a wash in warm, soapy water. On the other hand, for the Akorn kamado, the grates are made of castor iron, which mandates that the grates be first washed and then seasoned before being situated back into the grill, which can take up to several hours of your time.

Cooking Space

A prominently existing difference between Char-Griller Akorn and Kamado Joe is the cooking space. Akorn grills have more comprehensive and expansive cooking space than the classic Joe, whose area is more compact than broad. 

Nevertheless, the cooking space can be expanded by purchasing and including additional accessories precisely in the Kamado Joe, whereby if you add a grate, you will see a significant difference in how the cooking space improves.

Temperature control 

The kamados hold and control temperatures well, but no air leaks must exist. Hence, make sure that the Joe classic’s dome is appropriately aligned and correctly sits on top of the lower base, and for the Akorn, the lower and upper dampers should be tightly sealed so no air escapes the grill.

Since Kamado Joe’s cooker is composed of ceramic, you cannot immediately set it to a high temperature as it would crack up the ring and the firebox. However, you would have to be patient with the temperatures.

In contrast, no problem like this materializes for Akorn, whose temperatures can be elevated instantly, and the porcelain interior lining coupled with the triple insulation will withstand it effortlessly. 

Portability 

Portability for both the kamados is accessible as both come with wheels to roll the cooker from one point to another. But Joe is a bit heavier than Akorn, so be careful with pushing the Kamado around, as you would not want to damage any of the Kamado’s components while transporting it.

Conclusion

After having conducted an in-depth comparative review of the Char-Griller Akorn & Kamado Joe, we can see no highlighted differences between the two kamados. Apart from the differences in the composition material, both function more or less similarly.

What can potentially help you finalize your decision is to look at the prices and then consider the cost in light of your willingness to pay.