Fogo Charcoal Review: Is It the Best Fuel for Your Grill?

If you’ve spent any time on grilling forums or watching barbecue pros on YouTube, you’ve heard the name Fogo Lump Charcoal. It’s often called the “gold standard” for kamado grills like the Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe. But let’s be honest: it also comes with a premium price tag.

For years, I was a “whatever’s on sale” kind of guy when it came to charcoal. Could a pricey bag of black stuff really make that much of a difference? I was skeptical. But after ruining a beautiful brisket with a cheap bag of charcoal that sparked, sputtered, and refused to hold a steady temperature, I decided to see if the hype was real.

I bought a bag of Fogo Super Premium Lump Charcoal, and this is my honest, hands-on review of whether it’s worth your money.

(Affiliate Disclosure: If you purchase through links on this page, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I’ve personally used and believe in.)

What Makes Fogo Different?

First off, this isn’t your standard briquette. Fogo is all-natural hardwood lump charcoal, made from a blend of dense Central American hardwoods. Unlike briquettes, which are compressed sawdust and binders, lump charcoal is just pure, carbonized wood.

This means a few things:

• It lights faster.
• It burns hotter. (Fogo claims it can reach temps over 800°F)
• It produces far less ash.
• It imparts a cleaner, wood-fired flavor.

When I opened my first bag, the difference was immediately obvious.

The At-a-Glance Breakdown: Pros and Cons

Every product has its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a quick summary of what I loved and what I didn’t love about using Fogo charcoal.

What I Loved (The Pros)

• Massive Chunks & Consistency: The “Super Premium” bag is filled with huge, fist-sized pieces of charcoal. This is a game-changer for long cooks because you don’t have to refuel. There’s very little dust or tiny, unusable chips at the bottom of the bag.
• Incredible Temperature Control: This is where Fogo really shines, especially in a kamado grill. It responds to vent adjustments quickly and holds a rock-steady temperature for hours.
• Clean Burn & Low Ash: The amount of ash left after a long cook is minimal. This means better airflow during the cook and ridiculously easy cleanup afterward.
• Excellent Flavor: The smoke flavor is clean and mild, a perfect backdrop that lets the flavor of the meat and any wood chunks you add take center stage.

What I Didn’t Love (The Cons)

• The Price: There’s no getting around it—Fogo is one of the more expensive charcoals on the market. I tend to save it for special, long cooks where performance really matters.
• Occasional Sparking: When lighting, especially with a torch, Fogo can pop and spark a bit more than some other brands. It’s not dangerous, but it’s something to be aware of.

Head-to-Head: Fogo vs. Jealous Devil

You can’t talk about premium charcoal without mentioning Jealous Devil. It’s Fogo’s biggest rival, and for good reason. I’ve used both extensively, so how do they stack up?

Here is a direct comparison table:

Feature	Fogo Super Premium	Jealous Devil Chunx
Wood Type	Central American Oak & Hardwood	Paraguayan Quebracho Blanco
Lump Size	Very Large, Consistent	Large, but can be more varied
Heat Level	Very Hot	Extremely Hot
Burn Time	Excellent	Excellent
Flavor	Clean, Mild Oak Smoke	Mild, slightly different smoke profile
Price	Premium	Premium (often very similar)

The Takeaway: Both are fantastic and are in a class of their own above standard brands. I find Fogo has slightly larger and more consistently-sized lumps, making it my top choice for long, low-and-slow cooks in my kamado. Jealous Devil seems to burn a touch hotter, making it an amazing choice for searing steaks.

The Final Verdict: Is Fogo Lump Charcoal Worth It?

After my initial skepticism, I’m a convert.

Yes, Fogo lump charcoal is absolutely worth the price, if you’re serious about grilling and smoking.

For the weekend warrior who wants predictable, repeatable results for their long cooks, the consistency and temperature control Fogo provides is unmatched. You invest a lot of time and money in a good piece of meat; using premium fuel is the best way to guarantee a great outcome.

It has become my go-to fuel for any cook over two hours. The peace of mind knowing my fire is stable and clean-burning is worth every extra penny.

Ready to take your grilling to the next level? You can pick up a bag for yourself and see the difference.