If you’re looking for an all-in-one grilling experience… some of the juiciest meat you’ll ever eat… and a grill that can slow cook that brisket for 16 (or more) hours on a single load of lump charcoal…
You might be eyeing a kamado cooker.
These are ancient bbq grills that have been perfected over thousands of years… so you know you’re getting something good.
But there are multiple options… and this is an investment that should last you and your family a lifetime.
You don’t want it to break or stop working after a few years.
You want a high-quality cooker that is the correct size for your family and has all of the best features at the right price.
So today, we’ll be looking into the Big Green Egg and the Coyote Asado cooker.
While there are certainly other kamado-style options out there… It can be overwhelming to go through too much at once.
We’ll stick with these two great brands for now… And help you decide which would be better for your family!
Full disclaimer, we sell Coyote products at RTA… but the truth is that a Coyote Asado cooker might not be the best choice for you. It might be better to get a Green Egg!
We’ll talk about the pros and cons of both options so that you acan choose the best one for you.
Let’s start by learning more about kamado cookers in general.
Quick Links:
What's A Kamado Cooker?
This type of grill is not a nifty new invention… Nor is it a fad that will fade in a few years. It has actually been around since long before the Big Green Egg or Coyote Asado.
Kamado grills were invented over 3,000 years ago as clay pots used to cook food.
They were brought to America from Japan after World War II… but the Chinese actually introduced them to the Japanese somewhere between 300 and 500 A.D.!
They’re known for the juicy foods they make…
And also their versatility in outdoor cooking.
You can grill, sear, smoke, steam, roast, and bake just about anything… and expect a great bbq cooking experience every time.
Modern ceramic kamado cookers reach high temperature in just a few minutes, and due to high heat retention can maintain temperature for hours on end. On average, they have a temperature control range of about 200ºF to 800ºF… That’s hot! They typically also have a temperature gauge right on the lid to make monitoring the temperature easy.
Long story short… there’s nothing else quite like them. They’ve stuck around for a reason.
So how did Big Green Egg get involved?
Have your own Outdoor Kitchen Idea?
The Big Green Egg Company Overview
American entrepreneur Ed Fisher ran one of the original American Kamado manufacturing companies.
Ed’s Big Green Egg is a “modern-day evolution of the ancient cookers,” he says… Although they didn’t start off that way.
He loved how juicy and flavorful they were able to make the food… as compared to the other modern grills of his day.
Big Green Egg began in the 70’s when Ed started to import kamado cookers to America… but found that they were just too fragile.
Ed’s new company began to make their own kamado cookers in Mexico… and they created something that was much more durable!
And the Big Green Egg was born! Known by the fans as BGE.
But what about Coyote’s version?
Coyote Outdoor Living Company Overview
Full Disclosure: We at RTA have a strategic partnership with Coyote appliances. As a result, we have done our best to be as open and unbiased as possible.
Coyote Outdoor Living started in Dallas when the founder, Jim Ginocchi, realized there was a hole in the grilling industry.
At the time… Your options for a built in grill were quite limited.
You could purchase a gas grill from the local big box store. They are inexpensive and easy to find. However… The condition is generally mediocre. You can’t get more than a few years of cooking from these options.
You could also purchase a premium or luxury barbecue. You won’t have any issues with excellence or longevity. The problem here is… You’re paying a lot of money for it!
The market wasn’t matching the needs of most homeowners.
You wanted a model that’s not only high quality… But sold at a reasonable price.
Ginocchi calls it “affordable luxury“… which is exactly how Coyote works to meet your needs.
So we have two great companies, Big Green Egg and Coyote, focused on giving you a great experience.
But what is that experience?
Today, we’ll take a look at how Coyote and Big Green Egg compare.
What's the Difference Between Big Green Egg Grill and Coyote Asado?
They’re both kamado cookers… So how different could they really be?
Well, while they’ll both give amazing results… There are a few differences between the two!
We’ll go through each of these one by one to give you a better understanding of each brand’s product… so that you can decide which kamado-cooker is best for you.
While we do sell Coyote Asado cookers… we understand that the Green Egg might be the better choice for some people! We’ll discuss both brands as openly as possible.
Now let’s take a crack at those differences (pardon the pun!)
1.Assembly
You’re unboxing your brand new kamado grill.
It looks beautiful… and you know that the food you’ll be cooking (or baking) will be exceptional.
You’re starting to get hungry… so why not try out your new grill?
You already bought the charcoal in anticipation.
Except… if you bought the Green Egg, you still have to assemble it.
By the time you’re done assembling your Green Egg… a Coyote grill could have already been heated up to temperature and starting to cook your food.
We are being a bit dramatic here… According to the Big Green Egg, their assembly only takes around 20 minutes. This is not a deal-breaker by any means, especially since you only have to do it once.
Some distributors even offer options to assemble your new Big Green Egg for you… (at an additional cost).
But hey, your time is valuable (and your family is hungry).
Coyote Asado smokers are already assembled for you… right out of the box.
All you have left to do is place it where you want… and most importantly, get to grilling!
2. Color
This difference is one of the most subjective… yet important!
While it may not impact your outdoor cooking experience… it will impact how your outdoor cooking area looks!
Coyote offers the Asado in a neutral black color.
Green Eggs have a recognizable green color.
Anyone who comes by will know that you have a Big Green Egg by the color. They also look great against any backyard greenery.
Meanwhile, Coyote’s Asado cookers will always subtly complement your outdoor kitchen’s color scheme.
Whatever your aesthetic may be, either color will work in your outdoor kitchen… Whether you have a traditional or modern outdoor kitchen.
We can’t advise you on the best color… We like both of them!
It’s entirely up to you on this one.
3. Closing the lid
The last thing you want is to crack your new grill… just because you closed it too hard.
The “lid” of your grill will be very heavy. While spring assists will help you open it, there is nothing to stop a Green Egg’s lid from slamming shut if it is dropped.
Fortunately, Coyote has provided a way to stop this from happening with their Asado cooker.
How?
With a lid shock absorber.
This extra piece catches the lid and allows it to sink gently… rather than falling.
4. Accessories
If you want to get the most out of your new grill, consider purchasing add-ons!
Coyote's Accessories
Coyote offers a kit with all of the extras in one so they don’t have to be purchased separately.
Pizza Stone, Asado Heat Deflector, Chicken Throne, Grate Grippers, and Asado Cover… At $279, it’s not a bad deal.
These are some of the most popular accessories for a kamado smoker.
The pizza stone fits right on the cooking surface to allow you to bake perfect pizzas… even without needing an outdoor pizza oven (although we’ll never discourage getting a pizza oven as well).
The heat deflector transforms your grill into a convection oven by putting a barrier between the food and the fire for indirect heat. This allows for indirect cooking and easier smoking.
A chicken throne is perfect for cooking juicy poultry with your choice of liquid (such as beer, soda, juice, etc.)
Grate grippers are perfect for moving cooking grids on your grill safely.
Lastly, grill covers give your grill extra protection from the elements.
Big Green Egg Accessories
Big Green Egg sells all of the same additional accessories… but the prices may vary depending on which versions you get or the size of your Egg.
We calculated the average of how much each of these accessories costs (although it can vary depending on the size of your Egg) and arrived at about the same price.
The Big Green Egg has a larger selection of “EGGcessories,” as they call them.
Some of the Big Green Egg grill accessories offered are a table for your grill, thermometer, conveggtor, a grill cover… the list goes on and on.
You can even find seasonings and sauces to help you cook the perfect dinner!
While most of these accessories could be purchased elsewhere… You may want to keep everything within the same brand.
5. Bands
Around the midsection of your kamado cooker are bands. This is what the lid’s hinges attach to.
This keeps your grill opening and closing well.
Although they’re easy enough to replace… you want to make sure that they stay in good shape!
Coyote’s bands are made of 304 stainless steel.
304 stainless steel is our standard of material for outdoor appliances (except for the kamado cooker, which is ceramic).
This type of stainless steel does not rust, so it won’t take much maintenance. Just keep it clean.
The Green Eggs’ bands are made of a black stainless steel… but not the 304 stainless steel grade.
These black bands look great against the green, but while the body of the Big Green Egg is supposed to never rust… Its bands can.
While this definitely shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for the Green Egg… it’s something small to look out for and know that occasional extra maintenance may be required if you need to replace the band.
Fortunately, they’re under a five year warranty… so you won’t have to worry about purchasing new ones on your own for a while.
6. Size
The Big Green Egg comes in a variety of sizes… We’ll take a “crack” at those later.
The Coyote grills have one size, which is equivalent to the Big Green Egg “large” model—their most popular size.
This is one of the biggest differences between the Big Green Egg and the Coyote Asado.
Definitely think about how many people you’ll be cooking for before you settle on one brand or the other.
Most people who buy the Big Green Egg end up with the large… And so it doesn’t make a difference.
But if you need a smaller or bigger option… you might want to look into the Big Green Egg.
7. Price
One difference between the two options is the price.
While similarly-priced, they aren’t the same.
You can buy the Coyote Asado with a cart for $1,499. If you buy it without the cart, you’ll save $300, which brings the total to $1,199. This is great when you want to put it in your outdoor kitchen.
Meanwhile, large-sized Big Green Eggs (roughly the same size as the Coyote Asado) can be found at $999. If you’re looking to buy a cart for your Green Egg, there are several Big Green Egg stand options sold separately.
The Big Green Egg comes in a variety of sizes… so you can choose the best option for your space and budget.
The smallest Big Green Egg grills are only $429, less than half the price of the large.
Now that we know what’s different about the Asado Coyote grill and the Big Green Egg… Let’s get a closer look at their features to help you determine which is best for you. We’ll start with the Big Green Egg.
Big Green Egg Grill features
Let’s get into what makes the Green Egg special… its features!
We’ll look at the warranty, size options, and price.
Without further ado…
Warranty
The Big Green Egg comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Egg-xactly what we like to hear!
Your grill should be a life-long investment… and the warranty should protect that!
Materials
The best way to ensure your investment? High-quality materials!
A warranty saves you money if you need to replace your grill… But it’s still inconvenient if you need to replace the grill over and over again.
You want the warranty to act as insurance for your grill… but you don’t actually want to have to use it.
The Big Green Egg is made of ceramic. It’s a “unique and carefully balanced fine composition of clay” that handles heat well.
This recipe stays the same across all of the Green Egg models. Speaking of, let’s look into those.
Build an asado into your design
Big Green Egg Kamado Grill Models
One of the best parts of the Green Egg smoker specifically is that you can choose the size… and they have a lot of options (seven sizes, to be exact).
The listed Big Green Egg sizes, from largest to smallest, are:
2XL
XL Green Egg
Large Egg
Medium Green Egg
Small
MiniMax
Mini
Let’s dive into the size range. If you need something between the biggest and the smallest option… chances are, you’re covered.
The Biggest Model
The biggest Egg is called the “2XL.” This size is perfect for party animals who will be hosting larger gatherings.
According to Green Egg themselves, this massive grill can handle 35-40 burgers, 14-16 whole chickens, 18-20 steaks, 20 mouth-watering racks of rib vertically, or 1 “perfectly crisp suckling pig.”
That’s a lot.
If you’re someone who just wants smaller gatherings, a smaller option might be preferable.
The Smallest Model
The Big Green Egg “mini” is the smallest size available from Big Green Egg.
They write that it’s the “perfect solution for picnics and tailgating.“
They also recommend it for apartment balconies and camping.
It’s hard to replace cooking on a campfire on your camping trip… but one of the Big Green Egg’s recipes on their site is for s’mores!
These mini eggs can hold 2 chicken breasts, 2 pork chops, or 1 steak.
It’s probably too small for your average family’s dinner… but it still is a great addition to a small outdoor kitchen!
Now, let’s move on to their most common model!
The Most Popular Model
Let’s take a look at the “large” Green Egg.
You can see why this is the most popular size…
It can hold 20-pound turkeys, 12 burgers, 6 chickens vertically, 8 steaks, or 7 racks of ribs vertically.
It’s perfect for most gatherings, and it can accommodate most families without being overkill.
Of course, there is a whole range of sizes, so if you need something a little smaller or maybe a bit larger… The Big Green Egg is sure to be able to help you.
Price
We can’t just give you one set price… The Green Egg grill price varies with the size!
Let’s go through the Big Green Egg prices together… we’ll start with the most expensive first.
The 2XL Big Green Egg (living up to the “big” in “Big Green Egg”) comes in at $2,199.
The Big Green Egg XLarge is significantly cheaper at $1,399. This puts the XL Big Green Egg at nearly a thousand dollars less.
The large Big Green Egg is the most popular choice. It comes out to $999.
The Big Green Egg medium size will be $749.
A small Green Egg (although it sounds counterintuitive to call it a “small” Big Green Egg!) runs at $599.
If you want even smaller, but can’t quite commit to the “mini,” they offer the “MiniMax” at $659.
Last, but certainly not least, the Mini Big Green Egg comes in at $429.
If you’re building an outdoor kitchen on a budget… some of these smaller options may be perfect!
Now, how does Coyote compare?
Coyote Asado features
And finally… Onto the Coyote Asado grill features!
We’ll look at warranty, price, and model options to decide if this Coyote grill is a good option for you!
Warranty
Coyote Outdoor offers a limited lifetime warranty on all ceramic parts used in the Asado… just like the Big Green Egg!
You won’t have to worry about it breaking. Not only do they promise quality… they also back it up!
All metal and cast iron parts are warrantied for five years. The wood parts and thermometer are warrantied for one year.
Materials
Similar to the Green Egg, the Coyote Asado is a ceramic grill using high-grade ceramic construction.
This is important since you’ll be doing outdoor cooking in the elements!
This high quality material will work flawlessly for many years to come.
When it comes to buying a new grill, the Coyote grill’s combination of exceptional warranty and great material is a breath of fresh air!
This material is the same regardless of which model you purchase… Speaking of which, what are the options?
Models
There are two models… One is perfect if you want it to be freestanding. The other is a built in grill option.
Both options are the same size. They have 254 Sq. Inches of cooking space.
As mentioned, this is similar to the “large” Green Egg grill. This is enough to hold 12 burgers or 8 steaks food wise.
The grill itself is exactly the same… The different models are just either freestanding or built in.
Freestanding
The freestanding Coyote Asado is just what it sounds like. It’s good for standing on its own without building an outdoor kitchen!
It comes in a stand with bamboo wood shelves, so you get to enjoy the utility of pseudo-outdoor kitchen countertop space. This can create more cooking area for outdoor cooks!
You can move this Coyote grill wherever you need it, as the cart rests on wheels.
But if a built-in grill is more your speed, there’s an option for that, too!
Built In
Coyote also offers an option that’s perfect if you’re planning an outdoor kitchen…
A built in grill!
Its feet make sure the Asado smoker is stable.
You can fit it right in your outdoor kitchen.
Price
As discussed before, there are two prices for the Coyote Asado.
The built in costs $1,199.
The price is raised to $1,499 if you purchase the standalone version… since it comes with the shelves and cart.
These are both great options… As are the Green Eggs! It all comes down to what’s best for you.
Really, you can’t go wrong here… One brand just might be better-suited for your family than the other!
But don’t just take our word for it…
Reviews
Just to be clear… We aren’t going to take a stance on Coyote or Big Green Egg reviews!
The reviews can speak for themselves… both brands produce high-quality cookers with great warranties. It’s all up to what would be best for you and your family.
So we’ll leave the research to you! It’s not our place to pick and choose which Big Green Egg reviews or Coyote grill reviews to publish.
It’s up to you to read reviews and determine which option is best for you!
Big Green Egg
Coyote Asado
Price
$429-$2,199
$1,199-$1,499
Cooking Area:
79-672 sq. in
254 sq. in.
Material:
Ceramic & Black Stainless Steel
Ceramic & 304 Stainless Steel
Assembly Required:
Yes
No
Lid Shock Absorber:
No
Yes
Warranty
Limited Lifetime
Limited Lifetime
RTA x Coyote Partnership
At the start of this article… We briefly mentioned our strategic partnership with Coyote Outdoor Living.
Over the past few years of this partnership, we’ve installed thousands of Coyote gas grills, including some in our own backyards and summer kitchens.
Ultimately, the brand of grill you choose is entirely up to you! Only you know what you need…
However, we wanted to draw your attention to the RTA x Coyote partnership because you might find it useful!
How We Can Help
RTA has a partnership with Coyote Outdoor Living to offer our customers a full suite of grills and appliances. The benefit to our customer is two brands (RTA & Coyote) that focus on producing the best possible products.
Aside from a premium grade appliance line… What you really get here is convenience and peace of mind.
Coyote values quality and great customer service… so we feel more than confident in working together to give you a great experience. Human connection is at the core of a Coyote grill… And an RTA outdoor kitchen.
Our expert designers will help you customize the layout according to your space and needs.
You get the benefit of working with designs you know will fit the outdoor kitchen appliances you want…
And all in a one-stop-shop. No more going to multiple dealers to piece together your outdoor space.
If you’d like to learn more about how RTA Outdoor Living can help you with your project… Just schedule a call with one of our design experts! We want your outdoor kitchen project to be all you hope for it to be… and a simple 15 minute phone call could be the first step.
have a question? get an answer.
faq
There are many ways to use a Coyote Asado. It can be used as a smoker, grill, and oven all in one. It uses charcoal as a fuel.
Coyote Outdoor Living is a US based company. All products are engineered and designed here in the US.
All Coyote grills are manufactured in Asia.
The Big Green Egg is a kamado-style smoker or grill that uses charcoal.
It is absolutely worth it to get a Big Green Egg! Between its high-quality materials and limited lifetime warranty… A Big Green Egg cooker will last for decades! The quality of food you can make in a kamado cooker is outstanding. Although the Big Green Egg may seem pricy… The cost is similar to other kamado-style cookers.
The Big Green Egg is a very special cooker! It’s a reliable product with great customer service. It’s simple to start it and control the temperature. On top of that… You can cook nearly anything in it!
The Big Green Egg uses natural lump charcoal. It’s made from ceramic that retains heat and moisture… So your charcoal can last longer than typical charcoal grills.
There are several different kamado-style cooker options… Including the Kamado Joe and Coyote Asado. Which you prefer is completely up to you. The main differences will come from the exterior colors. In addition, the Coyote Asado has a lid shock absorber that you will not find on the Big Green Egg.
The Big Green Egg is technically a kamado cooker… But it works as a smoker and a grill! So yes, the Big Green Egg is a charcoal grill, smoker, and more all in one. It can also sear and roast.