There's a reason charcoal has never gone out of fashion. It burns hotter than gas, gives you a deeper sear, and adds a smoky character to food that's hard to replicate any other way. If you're after real barbecue flavour rather than just convenience, charcoal is where you'll find it.

This guide walks through the different styles of charcoal grill, what to look for before you buy, and a closer look at the specialist brands we stock — from classic kettle grills to ceramic kamados and dedicated smokers. As an authorised dealer, everything we sell comes with genuine manufacturer warranty and support from our Lagoa showroom.

Why Choose a Gas BBQ?

  • Higher heat ceiling

    charcoal burns hotter than gas, giving steaks and burgers a deeper, more even sear

  • Authentic smoky flavour

    nothing replicates the taste of real wood and charcoal smoke

  • Genuine versatility

    grill, sear, smoke, roast or even bake, depending on the setup

  • Full temperature control

    mastering airflow gives you precise control over heat, without electronics

Different Styles of Charcoal Grill

Portable Charcoal Grills

Compact and lightweight, built for taking the flavour with you — camping trips, the beach, or a picnic in the park. Bring briquettes, food and drinks, and you're set.

Weber® Compact Kettle 47cm Charcoal Grill - Importeco
Kettle Grills

The classic charcoal grill shape for good reason. A typical 57cm kettle comfortably cooks for a family gathering, with larger sizes available for bigger groups. The round shape reflects and retains heat evenly, making kettles genuinely versatile — equally at home grilling burgers or slow-smoking a joint of meat.

Barrel Grills

A larger cooking surface for feeding a crowd or grilling multiple dishes at once. Barrel grills excel at smoking and slow cooking, and most roll on sturdy wheels for easy repositioning around the garden.

Kamado (Ceramic) Grills

Egg-shaped ceramic cookers that combine a grill, smoker and oven in one. Thick ceramic walls hold heat exceptionally well, giving outstanding fuel efficiency and precise, stable temperatures — perfect for anything from a quick sear to an all-day low-and-slow cook.

Charcoal Smokers

Built for authentic, low-and-slow smoke flavour, with charcoal at the base, a water pan for moisture, and a dedicated smoking chamber above. Excellent heat control and consistently flavourful results make these a favourite for serious smoking enthusiasts.

What to Look For Before You Buy

Temperature Control
Good control comes down to a well-fitted lid, functioning dampers, and the ability to adjust the distance between coals and food. The tighter the lid seals, the more heat you retain — and the more control you have.

Dampers
Every charcoal grill needs at least two: an intake vent to control oxygen (and therefore heat), and an exhaust to release smoke. Keep the exhaust mostly open and use the intake to fine-tune your fire.

Charcoal Access
Look for easy access to the coals — via a side door or removable grates — so you can top up or reposition your fire mid-cook without a hassle.

Ash Management
Built-up ash can smother a fire and reduce airflow, so a grill with a proper ash-clearing system will perform better over time and save you cleanup effort.

Grates
Grates should allow good airflow as well as heat transfer. Cast iron sears beautifully but can restrict airflow more than open rod-style grates — worth considering depending on how you plan to cook.

Two-Zone Cooking
One of the most useful skills in charcoal grilling: bank your coals to one side to create a hot zone for direct searing and a cooler zone for gentler, indirect cooking — all on the same grill, at the same time.

Our Specialist Brands:

We stock a genuinely wide range of charcoal cooking styles — from classic kettles to premium ceramic kamados and dedicated smokers — so there's a serious option whatever kind of charcoal cooking you're into.

A premium ceramic kamado built around precision temperature control and serious build quality, popular with dedicated low-and-slow cooks who want total command over long smoking sessions.

Shop Kamado Joe

A premium ceramic kamado built around precision temperature control and serious build quality, popular with dedicated low-and-slow cooks who want total command over long smoking sessions.

Shop The Bastard
Weber® Performer® Premium 57cm Charcoal Grill - Importeco

The name most people picture when they think "kettle grill" — reliable, well-engineered, and available across a range of sizes, from a compact balcony grill to a full smoker setup for feeding a crowd.

Shop Weber

Purpose-built for smoking, with designs that make it easy to hold a steady low temperature over many hours — ideal for anyone chasing authentic pulled pork, brisket or ribs.

Shop Masterbuilt

Known for generous cooking surfaces and barrel and offset-style grills, giving you serious capacity for entertaining large groups or slow-smoking bigger cuts.

Shop Char Griller
BROIL 958050_0.jpg

Solid, dependable charcoal grills built with the same performance focus Broil King is known for on the gas side — a great option if you want charcoal flavour with premium-grade construction.

Shop Broil King

Rooted in Japanese charcoal grilling tradition, Yakiniku-style grills are designed around direct, high-heat cooking over binchotan or lump charcoal — perfect for quickly searing thinly sliced meat and vegetables tableside, Japanese barbecue style.

Shop Yakiniku

A South African-rooted braai brand built for open-fire, direct-heat grilling at its most authentic — sturdy, no-nonsense builds designed for real flame contact rather than enclosed cooking. A great pick if you want the ritual of braaiing over a genuine open fire, Algarve garden included.

Shop Braaimaster

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a kettle grill and a kamado?

A kettle grill is a thin-walled steel grill, ideal for everyday grilling and moderate-length smokes. A kamado is a thick-walled ceramic cooker that retains heat far more efficiently, giving you better fuel economy and more stable temperatures for long, low-and-slow cooks.

Is charcoal better than gas for flavour?

Most grillers agree charcoal produces a smokier, more intense flavour than gas, along with a hotter sear. Gas trades some of that flavour for convenience and instant, consistent heat.

Which charcoal grill is best for smoking?

Kamado-style grills (like Kamado Joe or The Bastard) and dedicated smokers (like Masterbuilt) are built specifically for long, controlled low-and-slow cooks, making them the strongest choice for smoking.

Do I need lump charcoal or briquettes?

Lump charcoal lights faster and burns hotter, giving a more natural wood flavour, while briquettes burn longer and more evenly — useful for extended cooks where consistent heat matters more than intensity.

What size charcoal grill do I need?

A standard kettle-sized grill (around 57cm) comfortably feeds a family gathering. For regular entertaining or larger cuts of meat, a barrel grill, larger kamado, or dedicated smoker gives you more capacity and flexibility.

Are Kamado Joe and other charcoal brands available with local warranty support in the Algarve?

Yes — as an authorised dealer, Importeco supplies genuine Kamado Joe, Weber, Broil King and our full charcoal range with manufacturer warranty and local support from our Lagoa showroom.

Final Considerations Before You Buy

  • Where will it live? Charcoal grills need decent ventilation and a stable, heat-safe surface — think about placement before you buy, especially for larger barrel or kamado models.
  • How do you like to cook? If you mostly want quick weeknight grilling, a kettle or portable grill will serve you well. If long, low-and-slow smoking is the goal, a kamado or dedicated smoker will reward you with far more control.
  • Fuel choice matters. Lump charcoal burns hotter and faster with more natural flavour, while briquettes burn more slowly and evenly — many people keep both on hand for different cooks.
  • Factor in accessories. A chimney starter, ash tool and a reliable thermometer make a real difference to consistency and ease of use, especially while you're learning your grill's characteristics.

Ready to Choose Your Charcoal Grill?

From a portable weekend grill to a premium ceramic kamado built for all-day smoking, the right charcoal grill comes down to how you like to cook and how much control you want over the fire. Whether you're drawn to Kamado Joe's all-in-one versatility, Weber's classic kettle reliability, or Yakiniku's tabletop grilling tradition, our team at the Lagoa showroom can talk you through the range in person — or drop us a message if you'd rather start online. As an authorised dealer for all of our charcoal brands, we're here to help you find the grill that'll earn its place on your terrace for years to come.

Shop Charcoal Grills