Kamado Joe are the fastest growing brand in the world of kamado grills.
And, just when we think it can’t get any better, they do it again!
Enter, the Kamado Joe Classic III. This is the top model in their Classic line-up. And, with the new SloRoller hyperbolic chamber, an updated cooking system and a super sturdy cart to boot, this kamado is optimized for smoking and grilling like no other!
In our Kamado Joe Classic III review, we dive into the features, stats, pros and cons as well as real-life feedback on how these premium kamados actually perform to help you decide if it’s right for you.
If you’re just after a quick overview of how the Classic III compares to the Classic II, check out our Kamado Joe II vs III comparison.
Burning Brisket is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read our affiliate policy to learn more.
Table of Contents
The Kamado Joe Classic III 18”
The Classic III is the third generation of Kamado Joe’s ever-so-popular, innovative version of the traditional kamado grill. Built from the same thick-walled, high-fired ceramic shell as it’s predecessor, the Classic II, the Kamado Joe locks in heat, smoke and moisture to give your meal a full 360° treatment that you simply can’t get from other types of barbecues.
Also unlike a lot of other barbecues, the Kamado Joe is as versatile as they come! On this one unit you’ll be able to grill, smoke, or bake almost anything you can think of. From ribs, Boston butt and brisket to roasted chicken, wood-fired pizza and desserts too, you could seriously use the Classic III in place of your kitchen if you wanted to.
As we mentioned above, Kamado Joe lead the industry in terms of innovation. So, if you’re considering buying one of their top of the line Classic III’s, let’s take a look at what makes this brand stand out from the crowd.
SlōRoller Hyperbolic Smoke Chamber Insert
Kamados have always been able to be used for smoking. But, the SlōRoller uses patented Harvard science to transform the Kamado Joe into one of the world’s most optimal combined barbecues.
It’s the first of it’s kind, a hyperbolic smoke chamber, that changes the air pressure to circulate the air back in a cyclonic smoke ring that’s focused on the cooking grates. What this means for your food is up to 20 times more smoke circulation with improved heat distribution for an awesome wood-fired flavor without the hot spots.
It’s worth noting that to use the SlōRoller safely, you need keep the temperatures below 500°F. Because it’s Teflon-coated cast aluminum, the coating will degrade if it’s run too hot. But, you shouldn’t be smoking that hot anyway so, keep it low and slow and the SlōRoller really does turn the kamado into an equally as good smoker as it is grill.
3-Tier Divide & Conquer Cooking System
Another upgrade the Kamado Joe Classic III offers is an update to their popular Divide & Conquer® Flexible Cooking System. If you’re not already familiar with the Classic II, this split system of half racks overcomes one of the biggest downfalls of kamado cooking by giving you more space and more flexibility.
And, the new Classic III 3-tiered Divide & Conquer® gives even more options. Thanks to the revamped, elongated shape, at it’s max, the Classic III gives you 6 half-moon cooking grates with 2 half-moon heat deflectors, or, 4 half-moon grates with the SlōRoller hyperbolic chamber.
With this, you can do a whole heap of things like creating different heat zones to sear steak over the open flame while using indirect heat for veggies on the adjacent plate. You can set it up for multi-level low and slow smoking. Or, use the optional pizza stone with heat deflectors to cook pizzas perfectly.
There’s a tonne of options!
Included as standard with the Kamado Joe Classic III, you’ll get a 3-tiered cooking rack, 1 accessory rack, 2 half-moon cooking grates, 2 half-moon heat deflectors and the SlōRoller. But, to use the full functionality of the updated Divide & Conquer®, you can fit another 4 half-moon plates and 2 accessory racks. These are all the extra options you can get for the Classic III:
- Cast iron cooking grate
- Reversible cast-iron griddle
- Soapstone non-stick surface
- Ceramic chicken stand
- Ceramic pizza stone
- Deep dish pizza stone
- Stainless steel fish and vegetable grate
- Cast iron wok
- Cast iron dutch oven
- Grill expander
Don’t feel like you need to rush out and get all the extras with your initial purchase!
One of the things that sets Kamado Joe apart from the Big Green Egg is that it comes with more than enough to get you grilling and smoking straight out of the box. If there’s something you see that’s a must-have for you, grab it. Otherwise, we recommend starting with what’s included and then seeing what add-ons, if any, you think you’d use.
Kontrol Tower
Another stand-out feature of the Kamado Joe Classic III is the Kontrol Tower. This easy to use, rust-proof aluminum vent allows for precise temperature control while keeping the rain out. It even stays exactly where you left it when you open and close the lid again.
Air Lift Hinge
Also unique to Kamado Joe is the Air Lift Hinge. And, if you’ve ever lifted a ceramic kamado lid before, you’ll appreciate the impressive 96% decrease in weight, no matter how strong you are!
The spring-loaded, counterbalance mechanism in this updated hinge makes lifting the dome smooth and ultra-light. But, it won’t just save your arms, it also reduces the chance that the lid will be broken or cracked by it being accidentally slammed down.
AMP Firebox
Most kamados on the market feature a single-piece firebox that’s naturally susceptible to cracking from high-heat. So, Kamado Joe have taken that common complaint and knocked it on the head too.
The patented AMP (Advanced Multi-Panel) firebox cleverly splits the firebox into 5 ceramic sections, giving them room to expand and contract with the heat without breaking. So, you can crank up the heat without worrying about having to fork our money for replacement parts.
Wire Mesh Fibreglass Gasket with Stainless Steel Latch
Designed to last at least 10 years longer than the average kamado seal, the wire mesh fiberglass gasket not only lasts, it works really well! Coupled with the stainless steel latch, the Kamado Joe Classic III gives an air tight seal, locking in moisture, heat and smoke for better results and improved fuel efficiency.
Stainless Steel Charcoal Basket
Made from high-quality 304 grade stainless steel, the Classic III also comes standard with a dividable charcoal basket. This handy feature lets you split your charcoal to place more or less on each side while using the Divide & Conquer® Flexible Cooking System. But, it also naturally sifts the ash between the basket bars for easy clean-up. Once you’re finished cooking, simply slide out the stainless steel ash drawer and dispose of the ash safely.
Specs for the Kamado Joe Classic III 18"
Barbecue material: Glazed ceramic
Grate material: 304 stainless steel
Cooking capacity: 256 sq. in. in basic setup, 510 sq. in. with Divide & Conquer
Fuel type: Charcoal
Heat Range: 225°F – 750°F (500°F max with SlōRoller)
Model: Classic III
Dimensions: 46.5″ W x 50.5″ H x 30″ D
Weight: 262.5lbs
Warranty: Lifetime on ceramics, 5 years on metal parts, 3 years on heat deflector and pizza stone, 1 year on thermometer and gasket
Optional Extras for the Kamado Joe Classic III
Joetisserie
The JoeTisserie is an alternative to the ceramic chicken stand which will completely next-level your barbecued chickens! This optional insert plugs into the power to transform your Classic III into a spit. Designed to fit perfectly, you can still close the lid sealing in the heat and moisture while the meat is constantly turned for that naturally basted, roasted to perfection chicken that looks like it’s straight out of a magazine.
Made from cast aluminum, the JoeTisserie is in keeping with the high-quality you’d expect from Kamado Joe. It’s also fairly easy to set up and is reasonably quiet to run. The adjustable forks mean you can balance any cut of meat up to 50 pounds. Or, add a basket for never-burnt-again wings!
iKamand
Yes, kamados are a traditional form of cooking. But, that doesn’t have to mean low-tech anymore! Enter the iKamand!
This nifty little gadget hooks up through the bottom vent in the Classic III so you can set up meat probes and have complete remote control over what’s cooking. By using smart fans, the iKamand will adjust the temperature and smoke level for great results without so much hard work.
There’s also pre-programmed cook cycles as well as a heap of video tutorials and recipes available through the app.
DōJoe
Now, by using the Kamado Joe Classic III with the accessory rack, heat deflectors and pizza stone, you can make some darn good pizza!
But, if it’s something you do all the time or you’re entertaining and want to be able to churn out pizza after pizzas, the DōJoe is pretty sweet. This wedge-shaped insert sits between the base and the lid, creating a slot for sliding pizzas in and out without opening the whole lid, letting out valuable heat.
It also has dedicated supports to hold the heat deflectors and pizza stone at exactly the right height for well-cooked crusts and crispy toppings. Easy and effective, the DōJoe is popular for a good reason!
Kamado Joe Big Joe III 24”
While the Classic III offers a decent amount of space, the Big Joe III really brings it home!
With exactly the same features and benefits as the Classic III, the Big Joe III simply up-sizes everything to offer 354 square inches more space on it’s larger 24″ grates.
Using the maximum number of add-ons with the 3-tiered Divide and Conquer Cooking System, you’ll have up to 864 square inches of room to grill and smoke to your hearts content.
Just keep in mind the Big Joe III is BIG so even though it’s got wheels, it’s not really portable. But, it’s easy enough to wheel around the yard or into the garage for storage.
For more details on how the Classic KJ compares to the Big Joe, click this link.
Specs for the Kamado Joe Big Joe III 24"
Barbecue material: Glazed ceramic
Grate material: 304 stainless steel
Cooking capacity: Up to 864 sq. in. with 3 Tier Divide & Conquer®
Fuel type: Charcoal
Heat Range: 225°F – 750°F (500°F max with SlōRoller)
Model: Big Joe III
Dimensions: 58.4″ W x 53.7″ H x 35.8″ D
Weight: 487lbs
Warranty: Lifetime on ceramics, 5 years on metal parts, 3 years on heat deflector and pizza stone, 1 year on thermometer and gasket
FAQs for the Kamado Joe Classic III
Q. What’s included with the Kamado Joe Classic III?
The Kamado Joe Classic III comes with everything you need to start cooking minus the charcoal and food of course! This includes:
- Premium 18” Ceramic Grill with Air Lift Hinge, Kontrol Tower, AMP FireBox, built-in thermometer
- Divide & Conquer® Flexible Cooking System
- SloRoller
- Heavy-duty cart with locking castors
- Folding aluminum side shelves
- Grill gripper
- Ash tool
Q. What accessories are available for the Kamado Joe Classic III?
While you absolutely don’t NEED any other accessories for the Kamado Joe Classic III, there’s a good choice of optional accessories that will up your grilling and smoking game even more.
For a list of our favorites, check out our best Kamado Joe accessories round-up.
Q. How long can the Kamado Joe Classic III smoke for with one load of charcoal?
Except to get about 18 hours of smoking time with one load of charcoal on the Classic III in normal weather conditions.
Q. How easy/hard is it to clean the ash out?
Easy. The ash will fall through the charcoal basket as it burns, collecting in the drawer at the bottom which slides out for easy emptying.
Q. How do you add more fuel while cooking?
The Kamado Joe Classic III doesn’t have hinged grates so you do need to remove the racks and heat deflectors to add more charcoal. But, with an estimated burn time of about 18 hours out of one basket of charcoal, you shouldn’t need to add more charcoal during a smoke.
Q. Do Amazon purchases of the Classic III qualify for the lifetime warranty as well?
As far as we know, yes. People have successfully registered their warranty online after purchase.
Q. Is the Kamado Joe Classic III better than the Big Green Egg?
Oh yeah!! Kamado Joe is the clear market leader in innovation when it comes to kamados. And, the Classic III, being their top of the line model, is streets ahead of the Big Green Egg.
For more details on why, check out our full Kamado Joe vs Big Green Egg comparison.
Our Verdict On Our Kamado Joe Classic III Review
When it comes to kamados, there’s absolutely no beating the quality, innovation and value for money you get with a Kamado Joe! And, as the premium unit in their range, the Kamado Joe Classic III does everything you’ll probably ever want to do on a barbecue plus more.
Grill ✓ Smoke ✓ Roast ✓ Wood-fired pizzas ✓ Desserts ✓
Time and time again we hear people who’ve bought one of these never end up touching their old grills and smokers again.
Price-wise, kamados are more expensive than most other types of barbecues. But, when you consider the versatility of the Classic III and the fact that this thing should last a lifetime (with a warranty to back that too), we say that they’re 110% worth the investment.
Oh, and the results you’ll get on this baby, hands-down IN-CRED-IB-LE too!
Jared Brown, an avid lover of all things meat has a fearless enthusiasm for experimenting with anything that's grilling, smoking or outdoor cooking. With a wealth of experience across a range different barbecue types, Jared's got a real knack for helping others make a decision they're happy with, ensuring they find the perfect fit regardless of conventional notions of the 'right' choice. This unique approach has made Jared a trusted guide in the world of barbecue.
