Restricted choice - Bugg or E2Go ??

[gozzie61]

Hi All,


I’ve just recently discovered this forum and I’m wondering if the experienced and learned people here can help with a few queries?

I’m in the market for a new portable BBQ and have been given a sizeable gift voucher from Bunnings for this purchase. This means that I’m restricted to what they retail. This of course means no Weber or Ziegler & Brown. Really then, I’ve got a choice between the Beefeater Bugg or the Everdure E2Go.

I’ve gathered a lot of info from trawling the net but I’m left with a few points to clear up before I make a final decision. I’m one of those odd people who HATE making the wrong choice so please forgive me if the questions seem a bit pedantic.

I’m only interested in the units themselves, not worried about issues with their stands as I won’t be using those anyway.


BEEFEATER BUGG

1. Is it easy to control the temperature when roasting with 1 burner? Some have indicated that they cannot get the temp low and stable enough to get a consistent result without outside burning.

2. When roasting lid down does fat / oil run down the inside of the lid and then leak outside the unit, around the controls etc, and onto the stand, as some have suggested?

3. Does the yellow coloured Bugg discolour easily through use?


EVERDURE E2GO

1. With it’s single burner, this unit seems to have a similar output to the Weber Q2000. Does it get hot enough with the lid up for a good grilling?

2. Has anyone used this unit for lid down grilling (as in the Weber units). The Everdure manual apparently says the the lid can only be down with the burner on “low” as in roasting. This seems a bit odd as it has an aluminium lid same as the Weber Q, which is built around lid-down grilling. Anyone with experience on this?


Any comments from anyone who has used either of these units would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[Davo]

Heres a couple of Videos to help make up your mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-TW3BLc_UA for the Bugg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S37CCZe2MA for the Everdure

After watching these vidoes....My pick would be the Everdure.

I think that both bbqs have their merits, I have not used either so I can't give you my personal opinion on how they go, both would be great to take away with you for a bbq picnic so that's a plus.

The difference with Weber is that they designed the original compact bbq with the Weber Q series from the ground up....it was their revolutionary design after the famous Weber kettle.

The Weber Q (I've had all 3 sizes) is a brilliant bit of work and was designed specifically to be used for lid down high heat grilling where the other brands have to high heat grill with the lid up......why is that? It's not just the lid material, it has to do with ventilation in order to be able to high heat grill and the Weber ventilates on both sides of the lid to allow the heat pressure to escape. It's also the same with Weber large BBQs like the genesis and Summits, it's the way they control ventilation that allows them to be able to high heat grill with lid down.
The difference is amazing, say for example a steak......say you put it on the high temp grill for about 4 or 5 minutes per side, with the weber,because the lid was down during the grilling, the top side of the steak is partially cooked so that means you only have to have it on the other side for about 2-3 minutes instead of 4-5 minutes.
The flavour stays around the food instead of up into the atmosphere with a Weber. with the other BBQ brands, you must grill with the lid up due to ventilation design.

The Bugg seems to have the temp meter up higher which is good for measuring the lid temp which will be higher to the grill temp due to the fact that heat rises.That's good to know when doing pizzas...raise the pizza stone up higher off the grill so that the pizza is higher in the lid and you'll cook the toppings around the same time as the base is ready.

Personally i'm not too sure if I'd like those control knobs on the back of the Bugg....I prefer them on the side or in front...but that's just me.

Let us know which way you'll go....google your heart out on each and then make an informed decision.

Cheers

Davo

[Smokey]

My Father bought an E2GO against my advice,,, And its a POS.
Dont walk away from it ,,,, Run.
Make your choice between a Q2200 or a Z&B. The latter being hotter for lid up if that is your thing.

Sorry, Just re read your stuck to bunnings. Maybe replace the house lights with LED's ?

[Davo]

Wow Mick...are they that bad? lol is there a hint of exaggeration there by any chance

Yeah unfortunately he is stuck with Bunnings and if me, I'd buy my BBQ (Weber Q) from a Weber Specialist store and by all the accessories and other stuff at Bunnings that are related to BBQs with the vouchers.
I'm afraid I'm a die hard Weber man....

Cheers

Davo

[beaver]

-1 point on the Beefeater Bugg
numerous reports of burnt hairs due to the flame control being at the Back of the bbq......

i would say sell the bunnings voucher at a 10-20% loss and then go get a weber (my opinion)

[Cobblerdave]

G'Day
I have a q 200 which is in constant use on my back verandah, and that's 5 years now.
I've left a lot of home built BBQ across Aust over many years. And that's wood fired.
My charcoal Weber with the wooden handles sufferd from " excelerated wear" and died under the wheels of a 4 wheel drive whilst been used by the kids.
The magic BBQ has never been invented.
My q200 has always had floppy tables till I screwed some big time braces.
It doesn't have a proper stand but a purpose built hardwood one. If it didn't I'd have a lot a fat stains on the deck. The Qs drip fat from the hinges.
I'd really like to hear a review on these BBQs in proper use.
I've seen a lot 4 and 6 burners make it to the kirbside pickup.
Not much of anything else. You'd think they'd be in use.
Regards dave

[gozzie61]

Thank you all for the replies.
Davo, I take your point about the Weber design allowing the lid down grilling. I hadn't thought of it that way, makes sense. I suppose the E2go doesn't have that same design and would be a risk of dangerous overheating without the venting.
To be honest, if it wasn't for having to use a Bunnings gift voucher for the BBQ purchase (from the Mother-in-law who would probably be offended if I didn't use it for it's intended purpose), I would be seriously looking at a Weber Q2200!
That said, and stuck with Bunnings, I've almost decided to give the Bugg a go. I like the fact that it's got the 2 separate burners so I can grill lid up with plenty of grunt If I want, but can also grill lid down (as in the Weber) albeit using only the 1 burner (as outlined in the Beefeater manual). The real concern that I have is about it's ability to maintain a low enough, useable, stable temperature for lid down roasting. This has been a problem for some users in various reviews, others have said it's not an issue. My rationale is that I can buy it, try the roasting on it and if it's lowest temp is still too high, I will return it under the "Unfit for Purpose" consumer law (thank you ABC's The Checkout).
What I would appreciate is to hear from anybody with experience in using the Bugg. Just in it's general performance but in particular it's roasting capability.
Thanks and regards,
--Adrian.

[gnol]

I picked up an E2Go for free in January this year. It was in really good condition. I had the baby Q for a few weeks by then and cooked on the E2Go a couple of times.
It was pretty average and I got rid of it on Ebay. Not worthy for it to be in the bbq family around here.

Never used a Bugg so I cant comment on that one.

[Cobblerdave]

Thank you all for the replies.
Davo, I take your point about the Weber design allowing the lid down grilling. I hadn't thought of it that way, makes sense. I suppose the E2go doesn't have that same design and would be a risk of dangerous overheating without the venting.
To be honest, if it wasn't for having to use a Bunnings gift voucher for the BBQ purchase (from the Mother-in-law who would probably be offended if I didn't use it for it's intended purpose), I would be seriously looking at a Weber Q2200!
That said, and stuck with Bunnings, I've almost decided to give the Bugg a go. I like the fact that it's got the 2 separate burners so I can grill lid up with plenty of grunt If I want, but can also grill lid down (as in the Weber) albeit using only the 1 burner (as outlined in the Beefeater manual). The real concern that I have is about it's ability to maintain a low enough, useable, stable temperature for lid down roasting. This has been a problem for some users in various reviews, others have said it's not an issue. My rationale is that I can buy it, try the roasting on it and if it's lowest temp is still too high, I will return it under the "Unfit for Purpose" consumer law (thank you ABC's The Checkout).
What I would appreciate is to hear from anybody with experience in using the Bugg. Just in it's general performance but in particular it's roasting capability.
Thanks and regards,
--Adrian.

Gday
Just prop the edge of the lid with a pr of tongs to drop the temp when baking. I do that with my Q200 to drop the temps.
The gas flow stays strong so it doesn't blow out and it's not wasting gas as these types of BBQ are that miserly anyway with the gas.
Regards dave

[Davo]

I think one must have to understand that a BBQ of most types won't do everything, especially those BBQs that are designed with one major purpose and that is to grill.
Too many of the little cheap n cheerfuls just don't have the power to give people a good sear so when one comes out that has a reputation to getting good heat such as the bugg, then people are wanting to do low n slow with it too.....the Gas grills don't generally give you that much control, they require a certain amount of gas pressure to keep going and have a risk of going out and being dangerous if not monitored when people try and get the temps as low as possible.

I Always suggest if you want to experiment with some low n slow, buy a Weber kettle, some briquetes like Heat beads, learn how to construct the snake method by lining 2 rows of UNLIT heat beads with one row up top and smoking wood along one side of the kettle, lighting about 15 heatbeads until ashed over completely then pour those coals over one end of the snake....the rest of the snake should light up eventually giving you even heat in the kettle.

You're looking at getting around 225 to 250F BBQ temp (we work in the American Farenheit temp system for operation simplicity.

So if you want to experiment with low n slow...buy the appropriate BBQand learn how to use live fire as compared to an artificial fire from Gas.

You can buy a used kettle off gumtree or ebay for around the $100 mark.

Cheers

Davo

[Cobblerdave]

Gday Davo
I think he reqiures lid down roasting rather than low and slow.
Regards dave