Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill Review: The Timeless Classic, Perfected for the Modern Griller

There’s a moment every grilling enthusiast recognizes. It’s not just about the food; it’s the ritual. It’s the satisfying rattle of charcoal pouring into a chimney starter, the patient wait for the embers to glow a perfect, fiery orange, and the unmistakable sizzle as meat meets the hot grates. For years, I found myself in a cycle of convenience, relying on the instant-on nature of gas grills. While efficient, something was missing—the depth of flavor, the smoky aroma that clings to the air, the hands-on connection to the cooking process. I was chasing that primal joy, that authentic barbecue experience that only charcoal can provide. This search led me back to an icon, a silhouette recognized in backyards worldwide, to see if the modern iteration lives up to its legendary status: the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill.

What to Consider Before Buying a Charcoal Grill

A charcoal grill is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for achieving unparalleled flavor that gas grills simply can’t replicate. The process of combustion and the smoldering of real wood charcoal imparts a smoky, rich taste that is the hallmark of authentic barbecue. It’s about controlling a live fire, mastering heat zones for searing and slow-cooking simultaneously, and embracing a more tactile, rewarding method of cooking. The main benefit is flavor, but it also opens up a world of cooking techniques, from high-heat searing of steaks to low-and-slow smoking of ribs and brisket, all within one versatile vessel.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who values flavor over speed and enjoys the process of cooking. If you find joy in crafting a meal from start to finish and aren’t afraid to get your hands a little dirty, a charcoal grill is for you. This includes aspiring pitmasters, weekend barbecue warriors, and even beginners eager to learn the fundamentals of fire management. Conversely, if your top priority is speed and push-button convenience for quick weeknight meals, a gas grill might be a more suitable choice. For those who want the ultimate in smoking precision, a dedicated pellet smoker or offset smoker could also be an alternative to consider.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: A 22-inch grill is a common standard, but you need to account for its footprint. Consider not just the grill itself (roughly 22.5″D x 22.5″W x 27″H) but also the safe operating space around it. You’ll need a stable, non-combustible surface and clearance from walls, fences, and overhanging branches.
• Capacity/Performance: How many people do you typically cook for? A 22-inch kettle offers about 363 square inches of cooking space, which Weber claims is enough for 13 burgers. We found this to be accurate and sufficient for a family or a small gathering of friends. Performance is about heat control and retention, which is where material quality becomes paramount.
• Materials & Durability: This is where brands like Weber stand out. The Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill features a porcelain-enameled bowl and lid. This isn’t just for looks; the coating is baked on at extreme temperatures, making it highly resistant to rust, peeling, and burnout, while also being excellent at reflecting and retaining heat for consistent cooking. Cheaper grills often use thin, painted steel that can warp and rust within a season or two.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Charcoal grilling has a reputation for being messy. Look for features that simplify the process. A good ash management system is non-negotiable for easy cleanup. Hinged grates for adding fuel, built-in thermometers for temperature monitoring, and sturdy handles are all quality-of-life features that separate premium models from basic ones.

Understanding these factors will guide you toward a grill that not only meets your cooking needs but also provides years of reliable service and enjoyment.

While the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing an Icon

The box arrived with a minor dent on the corner, a common sight in modern shipping, but as one user noted, the contents were perfectly fine. Opening the box reveals the familiar, almost iconic, shape of the kettle bowl and lid, gleaming with a deep, black porcelain-enamel finish. The weight is immediately noticeable—at 32.3 pounds, it feels substantial and well-made, not flimsy. The components are neatly packed, including the legs, wheels, handles, and the all-important cooking grate. Compared to older, more basic Weber models I’ve used, the upgrades on the Premium version are immediately apparent. The cooking grate has hinged sides, the lid sports a built-in thermometer, and the bag-style ash catcher of yesteryear is replaced with a high-capacity, fully enclosed ash bucket. It’s clear that Weber isn’t just resting on its laurels; it’s refining a classic formula. You can see its full feature set and user reviews to get a better sense of these thoughtful upgrades.

Deep Dive: A Masterclass in Grilling Performance

A grill’s true worth is proven over the fire. We put the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill through a series of tests, from high-heat searing to low-and-slow smoking, to see how its features translate to real-world cooking. This isn’t just a container for hot coals; it’s a finely-tuned cooking instrument.

Assembly and Build Quality: A Sturdy Foundation with a Few Hiccups

Putting the grill together is the first hands-on experience, and it sets the tone for ownership. The instructions are largely pictorial, which can be a double-edged sword. For the most part, assembly is straightforward and took us just under an hour, aligning with user reports. We found, as others have, that the most challenging part is attaching the three legs to the kettle bowl. The spring clips require significant force to snap into place. A helpful tip we picked up from another user was to use a paperclip or a small tool to help depress the button while sliding the leg in. Another tricky step was installing the One-Touch cleaning system’s ash catcher ring. It requires careful alignment and a bit of persuasion to seat correctly without feeling like you might chip the enamel. One user even suggested removing the leg clips installed in step one, attaching the ring, and then reinstalling the clips, which is a clever workaround.

Despite these minor assembly hurdles, once built, the grill is a rock. The aluminum legs and durable wheels create a stable, solid base that doesn’t wobble. The glass-reinforced nylon handles feel robust and are equipped with handy tool hooks. The porcelain-enamel finish on the bowl and lid is thick and flawless, promising the rust-resistant longevity Weber is famous for. We did note a few user accounts of receiving units with bent handles or chipped enamel, likely from rough shipping. However, these seem to be exceptions, and Weber’s customer service is generally praised for quickly sending replacement parts. The overall impression is one of enduring quality that justifies the “Premium” in its name—a grill built not for a season, but for a decade or more.

Unmatched Cooking Versatility and Heat Control

This is where the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill truly shines. The genius of the kettle design lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. The spherical shape promotes convection, circulating heat evenly around the food. By manipulating the vents—one on the bottom (controlled by the One-Touch lever) and one on the lid—you gain precise control over airflow, and therefore, temperature. For our first test, we grilled thick-cut ribeye steaks. Using a chimney starter (an essential accessory, as many users rightly point out), we had a full bed of coals roaring hot in about 15 minutes. We piled them to one side, creating a two-zone fire. This is the secret to perfect steaks: a blistering hot zone for a deep, flavorful sear, and a cooler, indirect zone to let the steaks finish cooking gently without burning. The built-in lid thermometer was surprisingly accurate, and we saw temperatures soar past 600°F over the direct heat zone. The steaks came off with a perfect crust and a juicy, rare center, a result that had us agreeing with the user who said they made the “BEST” steaks on this grill.

The versatility is astounding. As one owner mentioned, “There are many different techniques to distribute heat for direct or indirect cooking.” Using charcoal baskets (another highly recommended accessory), we slow-cooked a rack of ribs for several hours, easily maintaining a steady 250°F by adjusting the vents. The hinged cooking grate was a game-changer here. Instead of having to remove the entire grate (and the ribs) to add more charcoal or wood chunks for smoke, we simply flipped up the side flap and refueled. This single feature, which used to be an aftermarket upgrade, is a massive convenience for anyone attempting longer cooks. From burgers and chicken to whole turkeys and smoked pork shoulder, the cooking capacity and control this grill offers make it suitable for virtually any barbecue task.

The One-Touch Cleaning System: A Revolution in Maintenance

Let’s be honest: the worst part of charcoal grilling is the cleanup. Ash is messy, and on cheaper grills, it involves tipping the entire unit over or scooping out greasy, dusty residue. This is where the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill completely changes the game. The One-Touch cleaning system is not a gimmick; it is, for my money, the single best reason to choose a Weber Kettle over its competitors. The system consists of three angled blades inside the bottom of the kettle, connected to an external handle. By simply sweeping the handle back and forth, the blades rotate, pushing all the spent charcoal and ash through vents and down into a high-capacity, enclosed ash catcher below.

The process is, as one user aptly put it, “effective and easy to use, allowing you to collect and dump ashes in seconds.” After a cook, once the ashes have cooled, a few sweeps of the lever is all it takes. The ash catcher itself is a deep aluminum bucket that detaches with a simple squeeze of its handle. You can then carry it to your trash bin and dump the contents with virtually no mess, no dust cloud, and no fuss. This feature transforms post-grill cleanup from a dreaded chore into a trivial 30-second task. It not only keeps the grill tidy but also ensures the bottom vents are clear for optimal airflow on your next cook. For anyone who has struggled with the mess of old-school charcoal grills, a feature that really sets it apart like the One-Touch system is nothing short of revolutionary and is a core component of the premium experience.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the sentiment for the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill is overwhelmingly positive, bordering on evangelistic. Many users are long-time Weber owners, with one proudly stating their first kettle lasted 25 years. This speaks volumes about the brand’s reputation for quality and longevity. A recurring theme is the superior flavor of food cooked over charcoal compared to propane, with many new converts, like one who said, “The food that comes off of this grill is just so different then propane.”

The premium features are consistently praised. The hinged grate is called a “great addition” and a “pleasant surprise,” while the One-Touch cleaning system and enclosed ash catcher are lauded as significant upgrades over basic models. One user summed it up perfectly: “The upgrade, for me, is the ash catching attachment… what a great idea!”

However, the feedback isn’t without its critiques. The most common complaints revolve around assembly—specifically the difficulty in attaching the legs—and occasional shipping damage, such as bent handles or chipped enamel. As one user noted after receiving a defective unit, “Huge bummer after tracking the delivery home.” Fortunately, these issues are often resolved by Weber’s customer support. But they are a valid frustration for someone excited to start grilling on their brand new kettle. You can check the latest price and availability and read more first-hand accounts for a complete picture.

How the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill Compares to the Competition

While the Weber Kettle is an icon, the market is full of strong contenders. Here’s how it stacks up against three notable alternatives.

1. Char-Griller AKORN Kamado Charcoal Grill Smoker 445 Sq In

The Char-Griller AKORN is a kamado-style grill, which operates on a different principle than the Weber Kettle. Its triple-walled, insulated steel body is designed for exceptional heat retention and fuel efficiency, making it a superb smoker and low-and-slow cooker. It offers a larger primary cooking area (314 sq. in.) plus a warming rack. If your primary goal is smoking meats and you want to burn through less charcoal on long cooks, the AKORN is a fantastic choice. However, it is heavier, more complex, and lacks the simple, elegant cleanup system of the Weber. The Kettle is arguably more straightforward for classic, high-heat grilling.

2. Char-Griller AKORN Jr. Portable Kamado Grill

Taking the kamado concept and shrinking it down, the AKORN Jr. is all about portability. With 155 square inches of cooking space, it’s perfect for tailgating, camping, or for those with very limited patio space. It offers the same fuel efficiency and heat retention benefits of its larger sibling in a compact package. The clear trade-off here is size. It can’t handle nearly the volume of food as the 22-inch Weber Kettle. If you need a grill for travel or small-batch cooking, the AKORN Jr. is a great alternative, but for backyard family cooking, the Weber’s larger capacity is far more practical.

3. Royal Gourmet CD2030AN 30-Inch Charcoal Grill

The Royal Gourmet grill represents a different style altogether—the barrel grill. Its main advantage is sheer cooking surface area. With a massive primary cooking space and an offset smoker box (on some models), it’s designed for feeding a crowd. It often includes features like a charcoal access door and an adjustable charcoal pan. However, these grills are typically made from thinner, painted steel that is more prone to rust and heat loss compared to the Weber’s thick, porcelain-enameled bowl. The Royal Gourmet is for the griller who prioritizes quantity and a dedicated smoker setup over the build quality, heat efficiency, and refined features of the Weber Kettle.

The Final Verdict: An Investment in Flavor and Tradition

After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion is clear: the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill is more than just a grill; it’s a culinary institution for a reason. It masterfully blends a timeless, effective design with modern, thoughtful conveniences that solve the historical pain points of charcoal grilling. The exceptional heat control, cooking versatility, and durable construction provide a foundation for incredible flavor, while the One-Touch cleaning system makes maintenance almost effortless. While the assembly can present a minor challenge and shipping damage is a remote possibility, these are small footnotes in an otherwise stellar story of quality and performance.

This grill is for the person who wants to be more connected to their cooking, who believes that great flavor is worth the ritual, and who wants a reliable piece of equipment that will last for years, not just seasons. It’s for beginners and seasoned pitmasters alike. If you are ready to elevate your backyard cooking and rediscover the unmatched taste of food cooked over a live charcoal fire, this is the grill to get. It is an investment that pays delicious dividends every time you light it up. We wholeheartedly recommend it as the gold standard in charcoal grilling. You can get your Weber Original Kettle Premium today and start making barbecue memories that will last a lifetime.