You all convinced me in my last post to not get the Konnected Joe.
Now I’m trying to decide between the Classic 3 and the Big Joe 3. We’re a small family of three. I plan on using it 1-2 times a week. Hoping to do larger cooks for meal prepping and occasionally entertaining.
There is a nice Big Joe 3 bundle right now that comes with the cover, couple bags of charcoal, and a joetisserie for 2700. There is the same deal with a classic 3 for 1900. Is the big Joe 3 worth the extra 800? Is it too much grill for a small family?
Would appreciate any thoughts and feedback. Or if you have any better deals
Edit: Thank you all for your insight. Seems like you can’t go wrong with any of the Kamado Joe options. I ended up splurging and pulling the trigger on a Big Joe 3.
https://www.bbqguys.com/i/3101351/kamado-joe/big-joe-iii-bundle-w-kj15041021-grill-cart-cover-joetisserie-2-bags-lump-charcoal-1-box-firestarter-bj3pkg
by Mathius92
19 Comments
I have a bj3. There have been times where I’ve wished for more space but I’ve never wished for less. I have a family of four with two young boys and if it’s a light cook I can always divide the basket (happening right now actually). My only concern is price. I got mine as a floor model for 2k. If that deal hasn’t been there, I would’ve just bought the bj2 and got the accessories I wanted.
Have a wife and a kid. Just for the Classic2 I think it’s a better value than classic 3.
If you can fit the bj3 get the bj3 then go on Craigslist and do what you’ll eventually do, get the Junior.
It’s like a tv. You never regret getting the larger size.
Big Joe 3.
“I wish I bought the smaller grill” said no one ever.
If you’re not stressing about price, I would say go bigger. I don’t think there really is much of a material difference in fuel consumption between the BJ and the classic.
If I had to do it again, go with the Big Joe
Family of 3 or more? Big joe.
Definitely Big Joe. Can divide the basket if you want or get a Joe Jr for small cooks. I thought it was huge when we got it but we’ve had it full numerous times and could’ve used more space when cooking for family/parties.
We had a family of 6 and our Vision as similar to the size of the KJ and I had no issues with making plenty. Knowing it’s your first Kamado and learning, stay with the KJ. It will give you all you will need in learning the Kamado grill techniques. Big Joe was a great thought, but ultimately I felt it would be overkill considering the fuel consumption as I learn to cook with the KJ3. You have the ability to create quite a bit of cooking surface in the KJ3 with the rack system anyways. Now…..watch my regret my decision 6 months later and wish I had gotten the BJ3. Lol
It depends on what you want to cook. I have never needed nor wanted a big joe. I have a family of 3 though son is older now and mostly at college.
There is no substitute for space if space/capacity is needed. However, drawbacks of the big joe are that it consumes more fuel and takes longer to heat up. It seems a lot for big joe owners here also have a jr for smaller cooks. It that is an option, that sounds like to covers a lot of cooking territory.
I recently used this subreddit to do a ton of research on which series and size KJ to purchase. Initially I was leaning towards the Classic 3, but given that I have a family of 4 and occasionally host friends and family, I was leaning towards the larger BJ3. There is a significant price jump from the BJ2 to BJ3 and I received a lot of feedback that the additional features didn’t justify the price jump. The price is justified between BJ 1 &2. I pulled the trigger on a BJ2 and haven’t looked back. Cooked 4 racks of ribs this last weekend and thanked the Reddit gods that I bought the bigger model.
Bj2. Sloroller is unnecessary
Honestly if you’re already gonna spend 2+ grand you might as well go all the way and get the big Joe
If you have the money for the bigger, get the bigger one.
You can use the coal divider is you do small cooks, but you can´t go bigger when you have the classic.
I have the bj2 with a family of 5. Had it for a few weeks. The nice thing is that i can cook my sides in cast iron pans, making the extra grill space and the divide and conquer system exceptionally appreciated. 3 racks of ribs laid flat on the grill and am quite certin I couldn’t do that with a classic. May be more than i need in many instances but can guarntee i will never regret going big.
Either way you go, get the joetissery.
Another vote for the Big Joe here. Got one a few months ago and even with all that space if you do 2 zone cooking you’d be surprised at how quick the space gets filled up. Remember if you’re going to move food around and have it setup for 2 zone then you really only have half the size. Hopefully that makes sense.
Big Joe for sure. I’ve had a large Egg and Vision Kamado in the past, same size as the Classic. Got a BJ3 this spring. Game changer. As stated above you can divide the basket for smaller cooks. It really doesn’t use much more coal which surprised me. The Joetisserie is so very much fun, absolutely fantastic wings.
If price is not a huge issue, you’ll never regret having a larger cooker, you will frequently regret having a smaller one.