Hi everyone, I am trying to decide on a big Kamado to build into an outdoor kitchen. I will be building the kitchen in the next 6 months to a year and I have settled on building in a Kamado over other alternatives. Now the question is should I go with the new Konnected Big Joe or just the Big Joe III. I love all of the features of both and they are both currently the same price at BBQGuys.com $2.5k. There is also the option for the Big Joe II at Home Depot for $2k. I am coming from a decked out WSM which I love everything about it except cleanup. That being said how is the cleanup in the new Konnected Joe since you can't use a basket (I assume because of the AFS).
Konnected Big Joe:
Love – the Idea of the AFS and automatic control like a pellet grill but with better, more preferred fuel.
Don't Love – the plastic fan and potential issues down the road.
Big Joe III:
Love – the deeper pit, Ash basket to shake of and reuse.
Don't Love – the look of wires running every where when monitoring or controlling cooks with the current option like Chefs Temp or Firebird.
I am going to be investing into this setup because I will be adding lots of SS drawers, pantry, fridge, Griddle and Overhead exhaust vent since it will be under my patio. So I really want the best look and function. I am also open to other options for cookers but I have been to many BBQ showrooms and I can't find a better solution not to mention that $2.5k is significantly less than anything from Lynx, Twin Eagles or even Lone Star Grills.
Thank you in advance.
by BendSpirited4200
16 Comments
My opinion: Get the regular Big Joe. What happens if/when KJ decides to stop supporting the connected Joe? Or the electronics break down? A ceramic cooker will last you a long time. Likely longer than most of the electronics involved.
Big Joe 3. Kamado’s don’t need a controller. Learn the basics of lighting a fire and heat management. It will stay at its set point for hours upon end. Just did a 9 hour cook on mine and the temperature didn’t budge.
Regular big Joe. I had the Konnected Joe classic and it never worked. Constantly tripped my breaker. AFS button never worked. The big Joe is easy to light with a grill gun and holds temperature amazingly for 12+ hours. If you want computer control then you can buy a controller.
Stay away from Konnected.
Getting Kamados started is foolproof with a starter square. One of the issues with AFS is that the fire starts from the bottom, where you generally want the fire to “burn down” in a Kamado style grill.
According to the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe manual it says not to expose it to rain at anytime – and if it is, I believe it voids the warranty. Just something to know, but it sounds like your space is covered.
Like another poster said, the ceramics will outlive the electronics. If you’re worried about wires/ugliness of firebird, look at the Combustion Engine. It is a wireless temp monitor/controller.
I would vote for getting BJ3 (non-Konnected). I’ve heard of multiple users having issues with them. Also, if you’re looking to also purchase the Joetisserie, I can link you where I purchased my BJ3 last month. It’s the BJ3 w/ cart, 2 bags of charcoal, joetisserie, cover, and firestarters for $2699 free shipping. I ordered April 3rd, arrived April 8th. They’re in Arizona and I live in NJ.
[https://www.bbqislandinc.com/products/kamado-joe-big-joe-3-package](https://www.bbqislandinc.com/products/kamado-joe-big-joe-3-package)
I have the big joe konnected, had it for a month or so. It’s actually really good. The pro’s and con’s you have listed are the same as mine. I am a little concerned that the day after the warranty goes that it magically breaks like every other warranty product but that’s life isn’t it? It does make my life easier for cooking and it holds a great temperature with the fan.
Though I haven’t had a kamado before but have had bbqs, smokers and fire pits so I can’t say if it’s miles better than a normal kamado. And I doubt many people will have a true opinion on that because it seems people fall very firmly in to a camp on either side, especially those that saw what happened to the kamado joe fan product that came before that name escapes me.
I’d say just go with your gut on what you’d prefer.
I much prefer my Konnected Joe to my other grills – I did have an issue with it tripping the GFCI on first startup, but that was resolved after plugging into a non-GFCI outlet for a bit, letting it startup and then it has been 100% reliable since on the original GFCI.
No issues for me with fan melting or app. A lot of folks are purists and shy away from it, but I love the convenience of the AFS, setting a precise temp, and not dealing with a separate fan controller (allows me to add wood to the ash box without mucking with the external fan and wires). I figure if something breaks I’ll just replace it, no big deal. If everything breaks or is unsupported, then fine it will still work just fine like an analog grill.
Personally I would get the Big Joe 3… there are tons of aftermarket blowers that will work with standard Komodo’s … I personally have the pit master iq that I use when smoking… only reason I have it is when I upgraded from my Weber kettle that I purchased the smoke EZ expansion ring to convert it to a smoker I picked up the pit master to help with regulating temps overnight
So I already had a blower that would work with the kamado or the kettle
Get the regular Joe, KJ don’t have a good reputation of supporting their electronic gear.
The Joe is set and forget anyway really there’s no need for the electronics
I wouldn’t touch any electronics from Kamado Joe. The IKamand debacle should warn anybody off.
Big Joe 3 plus wireless Meater thermometer.
I had a regular sized green egg for a decade & used weekly. I’m finding the Big Joe 3 awesome because of space, versatility, and the wire basket rocks to re-use and I’ve cut my charcoal bill in half.
On top of that, the Big Joe 3 is incredible for 10 hour smokes, I’m finding. Extremely stable and with the meater, it couldn’t be easier to control.
I’ve never had an electric charcoal grill but I can only see issues from them. If any of the electronics go, it’s shot. And who knows what warranty and support will be as time goes on.
My vote would be for a Big Joe series 1 and some kind of aftermarket temp controller like Fireboard, Thermoworks, or ChefsTemp. Of course I’m biased because this is my setup. I don’t like the idea of having the temp controller built in or keeping those electronics outside in the elements.
I started with the Classic KonnectedJoe and still really like it. But had a need for more grill space so I bought a Big Joe III. Now that I am skilled at getting it to stabilize at my desired temperature, I hardly use the KonnectedJoe.
Thank you all! This is very helpful. I think I am going to stick with the Big Joe III and forget the Konnected all-together. I think I might sell the slo roller right off the bat because I am more interested in the double in-direct option and potentially hanging different meats inside. Unless someone convinces me that double in-direct is not necessary than I will start hunting for the Big Joe II because the hinge is the one feature I really don’t want to be without.