This comprehensive review compares five popular charcoal brands – Big Green Egg, Fogo, Black Diamond, Komodo, and Royal Oak – used in kamado-style grills. We delve into a detailed visual inspection of each brand, comparing packaging, charcoal size consistency, dust levels, and weight discrepancies between advertised and actual amounts. Price points from various retailers are included to provide a cost-benefit analysis, highlighting the significant price variations across these brands. Particular attention is paid to the presence of fine dust and small charcoal pieces, factors that can affect cooking results and food quality.While a full cooking test is reserved for a future video, this review offers initial impressions based on careful examination of each charcoal's physical characteristics. We assess the trade-offs between premium pricing and consistent, high-quality charcoal, contrasting them with more budget-friendly options. Ultimately, this comparison provides valuable insights to help consumers choose the best charcoal for their needs and budget, considering factors like desired chunk size, dust content, and overall value.
Pros And Cons
- Consistent size and shape of charcoal pieces
- Always performs well
- None explicitly mentioned
- Large charcoal pieces
- Super-premium lump charcoal
- None explicitly mentioned
- Looks good for the price
- Good chunks
- None explicitly mentioned
- Good deal at $10 per box (clearance price)
- Large pieces
- Contains some fine particles
- May produce excess ash
Read more: Top 6 Charcoal Briquettes: A Buyer's Guide
Unboxing and Initial Impressions
The video begins by showcasing three different charcoal brands: Big Green Egg, Fogo, and Black Diamond. Each brand is presented in its packaging, allowing for an initial visual comparison of size and packaging design. The presenter mentions weight discrepancies between stated and actual weight for each bag.


The Big Green Egg charcoal is noted to come in a caddy-style bag for easy access, which is a practical feature. The Fogo charcoal is shown to have a similar type of bag, also enabling convenient use. In contrast, the Black Diamond charcoal came in a simple cardboard box.


Charcoal Size and Quality Analysis
A key aspect of the review focuses on the size and consistency of the charcoal pieces. The presenter expresses a preference for larger chunks, avoiding excessive dust and small pieces that can lead to black residue on food. A bag of previously-used charcoal is shown to illustrate the build up of fine particles and dust.


The Big Green Egg charcoal is praised for its consistent size and minimal dust, showcasing a desirable level of quality. The Fogo charcoal, while having larger pieces which some may prefer, also shows a similar consistency. The Black Diamond, being on clearance, is examined to reveal a mix of sizes and some potential for small bits.


Price and Value Comparison
The video provides price points for each charcoal brand purchased from Ace Hardware. The Big Green Egg and Fogo charcoals had prices typical for premium options, while the Black Diamond was a significantly cheaper clearance item, raising questions about its value relative to other premium choices.

A cost-benefit analysis is implicitly suggested, urging viewers to weigh the price against the quality and performance of each charcoal type. The presenter implies the significantly lower price of the Black Diamond might make it a worthwhile risk despite uncertainties about its long-term performance.

Additional Charcoal: Komodo and Royal Oak
The review is expanded to include Komodo and Royal Oak charcoal brands, introducing additional price and quality points for comparison. The Komodo charcoal, purchased from Home Depot, is shown in its packaging and weighed to further expand the comparison dataset.

The Royal Oak charcoal, also weighed and inspected, is compared to the other brands in terms of size and appearance. This expands the overall review, providing more options for consumer consideration and a wider range of price points.

Conclusion and Recommendations
While a definitive cooking test wasn't conducted in this video, the presenter offers initial impressions based on visual inspection and weight. The Big Green Egg charcoal remains a favorite due to its consistent size and minimal dust. The Fogo charcoal is a strong competitor with large chunks. The Black Diamond offers great value for its low price, but size consistency could be improved.

The Komodo and Royal Oak charcoals offer further options within a similar price range. The presenter highlights that the final judgment on each charcoal's performance will depend on actual cooking results, promising a future video to compare them in practical use. Ultimately, the best choice depends on individual preferences (size, dust, budget), and the specific cooking application.
