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Weber Finally Gave Its Most Affordable Portable Grill a Long-Awaited Update

Weber’s beloved compact grill just got a limited and luxurious new look, but its price point is also a head-scratcher.

Four grilled hamburger patties and two grilled corn cobs on a round charcoal grill over gravel ground.Weber
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By Ben Bowers

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Some grills earn cult status not through flashy features or high-tech wizardry, but by simply doing their job exceptionally well for decades.

The Weber Smokey Joe is one such grill—a diminutive 14-inch charcoal kettle that’s been praised by grilling enthusiasts for its surprising durability, portability and versatility.

Whether used for tailgating in tight spaces before the big game, car camping for two, or simply working with limited balcony space – many have even hacked together ways to use it as a portable fire pit – this pint-sized powerhouse has proven itself time and again.

Now, Weber has finally released a new look for grill in the form of a limited-edition version exclusive to Amazon and Weber.com.

Here’s what you need to know about it.

A “Premium” Feature Finally Trickles Down

Weber is touting the new Mocha Mousse edition of the Smokey Joe 14 charcoal grill as a limited edition that’s available exclusively through Weber and Amazon.
Weber

The Smokey Joe’s 14-inch cooking grate provides 147 square inches of grilling space, enough for a few burgers, hot dogs, or a small chicken.

The porcelain-enameled bowl and lid retain heat efficiently, while the adjustable dampers give you solid temperature control for high-heat searing and lower-temperature smoking.

Close-up of a Weber grill lid vent with smoke rising through four circular holes.
Previously, to get the Smokey Joe in any color other than black, buyers would have to pony up for the Premium version. Not only did the grill cost $15 more, but it also includes a slightly different mix of features.
Weber

Due to the Smokey Joe’s enduring popularity, Weber has expanded the lineup over the years to include a Premium model that offers some advantages and trade-offs compared to the original.

The Premium version features a lid lock that secures the lid to the base for safer transport. It’s also available in eye-catching colors like Crimson, Slate Blue, and Ivory.

However, the Premium model’s vents are positioned more on the side instead of at the bottom, and it also lacks an ash catcher.

Close-up of a brown metal fire pit with a silver ash catcher tray on gravel ground.
The loss of an ash-catching tray and moving the vents up from the bottom of the grill are often cited as reasons why the Premium Smokey Joe is a downgrade over the standard edition. The new Mocca-colored version of the standard Smokey Joe now gives users the option to buy a color other than black while still keeping these key grilling details.
Weber



These tweaks have divided grilling fans, and for many, the standard model remains the preferred choice for its better airflow and ash management despite the lack of color options.

Now, thanks to a new limited-edition Mocha Mousse colorway, Weber has at least partially addressed one of the standard model’s few weaknesses, offering a luxurious-looking alternative to black that’s currently very on-trend.

Pricing and Availability

Small round pink charcoal grill with a gray handle emitting smoke on gravel ground outdoors.
Strangely, the MSRP of the Mocha Mousse color is actually higher than the MSRP of the Premium Edition of the Smokey Joe. This could be because it’s a limited edition, although it’s unclear what “limited” actually means. Luckily, Amazon is offering the new color on sale right now to match the standard Smokey Joe grill price of $50.
Weber

While the new Mocha Mousse color is a nice option, its availability and pricing also muddy the grilling shopping waters.

Currently, the color is exclusive to Weber.com and Amazon. Its MSRP is also $67, which is $5 more than the Premium edition and $15 more than the standard black edition of the Smokey Joe. This puts the tiny charcoal grill in a strange pricing no-man’s land, at least within Weber’s lineup. By comparison, Yeti’s newly unveiled fire pit and grill kit system totals a whopping $1,500.

That said, Weber is positioning it as a limited edition, which might explain why it’s more expensive than Weber’s other 14″ charcoal grilling options.

The good news is that Amazon is also currently discounting the grill by 23%, so the Mocha edition’s price matches the standard black version.

At least at its “discounted” price, the new limited edition feels like an attractive option for holiday gifting, a playoff tailgate upgrade, or prepping for next camp season.

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.

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