Head-to-head · Best Kamado Grills

Big Green Egg 13 Inch Egg MiniMax Ceramic Grill vs Kamado Joe Classic Joe I Premium 18-inch Ceramic Charcoal Grill and Smoker

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Kamado Joe Classic Joe I Premium 18-inch Ceramic Charcoal Grill and Smoker comes out ahead by a clear margin (3.7 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about Serious home cooks seeking traditional kamado performance — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #5 in Best Kamado Grills

Big Green Egg 13 Inch Egg MiniMax Ceramic Grill

3.7

3 sourcesall derived$850as of Aug 1

The Big Green Egg MiniMax is a compact kamado-style grill that cooks, smokes, roasts, and bakes. Reviewers noted the 13-inch diameter grid and 133 square inches of cooking space suit intimate gatherings or gourmet experimentation. It uses the same premium ceramic construction as the larger models, so heat and flavor stay consistent. It plugs into Big Green Egg's accessory ecosystem, though the cooking area is obviously smaller than bigger sizes. Small households and anyone short on outdoor space who still wants professional-grade cooking should look here.

Strengths

— Compact design at 19.5 inches tall with 13-inch diameter stainless steel grid
— Delivers consistent heat and flavor like larger models with premium ceramics
— Suitable for intimate gatherings or gourmet experimentation with 133 square inches cooking area

Watch-outs

— Limited to 133 square inches cooking area which may be restrictive for larger groups
— Requires assembly or White Glove service for delivery and setup

$850 · Buy at biggreenegg.com Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Kamado Grills

Kamado Joe Classic Joe I Premium 18-inch Ceramic Charcoal Grill and Smoker

4.4

2 sources1 derived$999as of Jul 31

The Kamado Joe Classic Joe I 18-inch grill is premium ceramic cooking with some clever engineering, including the 2-Tier Divide & Conquer system and a Slide-Out Ash Drawer. Reviewers praised the solid build quality, the temperature control, and how well it grills, smokes, sears, and roasts. Thick ceramic walls and stainless steel grates keep it going for years, though the weight and the fragility of ceramic are real drawbacks. Serious outdoor cooks who want a long-lasting, high-performance kamado should buy; anyone needing portability or a very large cooking capacity shouldn't.

Strengths

— 2-Tier Divide & Conquer Cooking System allows cooking different foods at various temperatures simultaneously
— Patented Slide-Out Ash Drawer simplifies cleanup
— Cast Iron Top Vent enables precise temperature control

Watch-outs

— Grill is heavy at 227.7 lbs with included cart
— Ceramic construction can be fragile and requires careful handling

$999 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Big Green Egg 13 Inch Egg MiniMax Ceramic Grill

The Big Green Egg MiniMax is more compact than the Kamado Joe Big Joe Series I and Konnected Joe, making it ideal for smaller spaces, but it lacks the 2-tier cooking system and digital controls of those models. While it integrates well with the Big Green Egg ecosystem, it provides less cooking area compared to the Brand-Man Rodeo and lacks the steel construction of the Weber Summit E6.

Kamado Joe Classic Joe I Premium 18-inch Ceramic Charcoal Grill and Smoker

The Kamado Joe Classic Joe I stands out with its 2-Tier Divide & Conquer system and Slide-Out Ash Drawer, features not found in the Big Green Egg MiniMax or London Sunshine models. While it shares ceramic construction with the London Sunshine and Outvita, its heavier weight and more robust build make it less portable than the latter. Unlike the Konnected Joe, it lacks digital controls but offers more traditional kamado functionality.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Big Green Egg 13 Inch Egg MiniMax Ceramic Grill	Kamado Joe Classic Joe I Premium 18-inch Ceramic Charcoal Grill and Smoker
Dimensions	19.5 in (50 cm)	46.2 in
Weight	76 lb	228 lb
Cooking Surface Area	133 sq in (855 cm²)	250 square inches
Temperature Range	200°F to 750°F (93°C to 399°C)	225 - 750°F
Material	premium ceramics	ceramic
Cooking Methods	grilling, smoking, roasting, baking, and searing	Smoked, Grilled, Seared, Roasted, Baked
Fuel Type	Lump charcoal	charcoal

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