Kamado Joe is almost a superpower
If you’ve read the previous blog posts (Weber, Napoleon, who we are, the Estepona shop…), you already know that for us, barbecuing is a lifestyle, not just a piece of equipment.
Well, within that lifestyle, Kamado Joe is like the geeky friend in the kitchen who wants to do everything on the barbecue:
grilling, smoking, baking bread, making pizza, pulled pork, slow-cooked ribs, grilled breakfasts… and all in the same ‘red ceramic UFO’.
This post is about just that:
- What exactly is a kamado and what makes Kamado Joe special?
- What you should know before buying one.
- Some key models we work with at Barbecue World.
- And, very importantly, how to use its accessories to really have fun cooking.
What is a kamado?
A kamado is a thick ceramic barbecue, shaped like an ‘egg’, which works with charcoal and is designed to:
- Store and make good use of heat.
- Maintain very stable temperatures for many hours.
- Work from low temperatures (for smoking) to extreme temperatures of 400 °C for pizza.
Translated: with a good kamado, you can make everything from low and slow brisket to Neapolitan pizza, as well as roast chicken, bread, cakes, vegetables, smash burgers, delicate fish… It’s almost like a wood-fired oven, a smoker and a barbecue all rolled into one.
Kamado Joe focuses on just that: kamado-style ceramic barbecues and charcoal smokers, with a strong obsession with innovation and improving on what already existed.
What you should know before buying a Kamado Joe
If you’re thinking of taking the plunge and buying a Kamado Joe (and at Barbecue World we have a few in our catalogue 👀), there are several important things we usually tell customers in store:
1. It’s a barbecue for enjoying the process
A kamado is not your typical “make-do” barbecue.
It’s ideal if:
- You want to cook at your own pace, try new recipes, and play around with times and temperatures.
- You enjoy the preparation as much as the actual meal.
2. It’s heavy and very sturdy (not for moving around every other day)
The ceramic is thick, retains heat very well… and weighs a lot.
That’s why many models come with a sturdy trolley or are designed to be integrated into an outdoor kitchen.
At Barbecue World, we usually recommend being clear about:
- Where you are going to put it.
- Whether you want it with a trolley (mobile) or stand-alone to fit into a module or outdoor kitchen.
3. Air control is your best friend
In a kamado, you control two things:
the air intake (at the bottom) and the air outlet (at the top, the famous Kontrol Tower).
The good thing is that Kamado Joe makes it easy:
- The upper Kontrol Tower vent maintains the setting even when you open and close the dome.
- The ceramic retains the temperature very well, so once you have it ‘where you want it’, it stays there for a long time.
Kamado Joe models you will find at Barbecue World
In our shop (online and physical), we stock several Kamado Joe models for different types of users:
Classic Joe II
The 18″ all-purpose kamado, perfect for many families. With Divide & Conquer, Air Lift™ hinge, Kontrol Tower® pull, and a design meant to take your charcoal cooking to the next level.
Big Joe III
The ‘big beast’ of the family: 61 cm of ceramic, plenty of cooking space and extras such as 3-level Divide & Conquer and the hyperbolic SlōRoller, which turns the kamado into a brutal smoker for long cooking times.
Joe Jr.
The little traveller: compact, portable, perfect for small terraces, getaways, camping or as a ‘second kamado’ for making side dishes while the big one works on the main course.
Kettle Joe
A very interesting hybrid: it looks like a 57 cm kettle but has many of the advantages of a ceramic kamado, designed for those who come from the world of ‘round barbecues’ and want to take a step forward.
Konnected Joe
The kamado for those who love charcoal but also technology: auto-ignition, automatic temperature control with fan, WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity and app. It’s like having a kamado with ‘autopilot mode’ when you need it.
All these models (and more) are available in the Kamado Joe section of our website, and if you visit our shop in Estepona, we can help you find the one that best suits your space and cooking style.
The heart of Kamado Joe: Divide & Conquer, SlōRoller and company
To understand why Kamado Joe is so addictive, we need to talk about its ‘internal toys’:
- Divide & Conquer System
Half-moon shaped grills at different levels. You can cook at different heights, with different surfaces (grill, griddle, stone…) and different temperatures at the same time.
- SlōRoller
A ‘hyperbolic’ shaped insert that circulates smoke and heat more evenly, designed for smoking and long cooking. It turns the kamado into a serious smoker.
The precision top vent and hinge make lifting the ceramic lid surprisingly easy.
All this is not just marketing: combined with good accessories, it allows you to take charcoal cooking to a whole new level of fun.
Kamado Joe accessories: this is where the party starts
If you’re one of those people who got excited about the accessories in the Weber and Napoleon posts…
with Kamado Joe, this is multiplied 😅
At Barbecue World, we have a good arsenal of accessories from the brand, and here are some that we use and highly recommend, along with specific ideas for getting the most out of them.
1. Joetisserie: your kamado turned into a rotisserie
The Rotisserie Joetisserie – Kamado Joe is a classic: a piece that fits around the perimeter of the kamado and transforms it into a rotisserie
What can you do with it?
- Whole roast chicken with crispy skin and juicy meat.
- Pork leg or turkey leg slowly turning over the coals.
- A ‘roll’ of stuffed bacon that rotates and caramelises slowly.
- Homemade kebab or shawarma skewers, with a spice mix to your liking.
The constant rotation and enveloping heat of the kamado work their magic: the meat browns on the outside and remains very tender on the inside.
Tip: use the bottom part to place a tray with potatoes and vegetables… they will be bathed in the juices that drip down 😏
2. Griddles and half-moons: Karbon Steel, cast iron, and steatite
This is where Divide & Conquer shines. Some of the most versatile surfaces:
- Karbon Steel Griddle – Kamado Joe
- Lighter than cast iron, it heats up quickly and distributes heat very well. Ideal for:
- Full breakfasts: eggs, bacon, pancakes.
- Smash burgers with a spectacular crust.
- Sautéed vegetables or wok-style stir-fries.
- Reversible cast iron half-moon griddle
- One side smooth, the other ribbed. Perfect for:
- Searing entrecôte and sirloin steaks with a strong sear.
- Searing vegetables and skewers without them falling through the grates.
- Soapstone half-moons
- A thick, non-stick stone, ideal for:
- Delicate fish and seafood that you don’t want to break.
- Grilled cheeses and vegetables that release juice.
The fun part is combining them: for example, a high-temperature griddle half-moon to sear meat and, next to it, a slightly lower-temperature griddle half-moon for side dishes.
3. Coal basket: complete control and easy cleaning
The Charcoal Basket – Kamado Joe attaches to the bottom of the Divide & Conquer system and makes managing charcoal much more convenient.
How it helps you on a daily basis:
- Separate embers to create clearly defined direct and indirect zones.
- Shake or remove used charcoal without dismantling half the kamado.
- Quickly rearrange the charcoal if you are switching from a ‘quick’ recipe to a long smoke.
It’s one of those accessories that may not be as eye-catching as a griddle or a Joetisserie, but makes a big difference in actual use.
Ideas for cooking with your Kamado Joe (and not just chops)
To give you an idea of its potential, here are some very real ‘Kamado Joe scenarios’:
- Low & slow Sunday:
Big Joe III + SlōRoller + well-loaded charcoal basket + piece of pork for pulled pork. Above, on another level, a half-moon griddle with vegetables smoking away.
- Pizza night:
Classic Joe II with stone (or soapstone), 300–350 °C, individual pizzas coming out every few minutes. If you’ve read our Weber post, here the experience is more like a ‘Japanese wood-fired oven’.
- ‘Pico-pica’ terrace plan:
Joe Jr. + steatite griddle + some seafood, mini burgers and vegetables. Meanwhile, you chat, not tied to the grill.
- Barbecue day:
Konnected Joe or Classic Joe with Joetisserie, a whole chicken turning, potatoes underneath and a good chat around the kamado
Is a Kamado Joe right for you?
If with Weber and Napoleon you thought ‘I want a good barbecue’, with Kamado Joe the phrase is usually more like:
‘I want a serious toy to cook very different things and really learn how to play with charcoal’.
If that resonates with you:
- You can take a look at the Kamado Joe barbecues we have on our website by searching for the brand directly.
- Save the models that catch your eye (Classic, Big Joe, Jr., Konnected, etc.).
- And if you want to discuss it face to face, stop by our shop in Estepona and see it in person: weight, size, finishes, accessories, etc.
As always at Barbecue World, our idea is the same as in the rest of our blog posts:
not to sell you ‘the biggest barbecue’, but to help you find the one that best suits you, your space and how you like to enjoy the outdoors.
And if that barbecue happens to be a red Kamado Joe… we warn you, it’s addictive 🔥
