Matte or high gloss — technically identical, not so in everyday use. Which finish suits your patio, and what the price difference actually means.
The Beast or The Beauty? Technically, there’s no difference — same ceramic, same 51 cm grate, same warranty. What you’re deciding is the finish: matte and low-maintenance, or high gloss and eye-catching.
The Evolve Ultra Series comes in two finishes, and the most common question before buying is which one is better. The honest answer: technically, neither. Both models are built identically. The decision comes down to the finish — and that does have real consequences in everyday use.
The Beast or The Beauty: what’s identical
Ceramic construction, 51 cm grate diameter, two-zone grilling system, glazed and crack-resistant heat deflectors, fiberglass gasket, hover hinge, large thermometer, two-piece firebox, and the limited lifetime warranty on the ceramic for the original owner. If you’re looking for a performance difference, there isn’t one: a steak turns out the same on both, and so does a brisket after twelve hours.
| The Beauty | The Beast | |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | High gloss, diamond pattern | Matte, urban design |
| Solo price | EUR 749 | EUR 799 |
| Stains and fingerprints | Clearly visible | Barely visible |
| Surface care | Wipe with a damp cloth | Rarely needed |
| Grate diameter | 51 cm | 51 cm |
| Ceramic and glaze | Identical | Identical |
| Two-zone system | Yes | Yes |
| Fiberglass gasket | Yes | Yes |
| Hover hinge | Yes | Yes |
| Two-piece firebox | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | approx. 96 kg | approx. 96 kg |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime on ceramic, original owner | |
The Beast: matte, urban, low-maintenance
The Beast Solo Kamado has a matte finish with an urban design. The practical advantage lies in what you don’t see: water spots, dust and fingerprints barely register on matte. If the grill sits unprotected on the patio all year round, it won’t show its third year. Price: EUR 799.
The Beauty: high gloss, eye-catching
The Beauty Solo Kamado is the more affordable model at EUR 749, and also the more eye-catching one. The diamond pattern under the high-gloss glaze catches the light and turns the kamado into more of a showpiece than an appliance. The glaze is thermal-shock resistant and crack-resistant — its only sensitivity is visual: water spots show more clearly and need a quick wipe with a damp cloth.
The decision in one sentence
If the grill sits under a roof or on a patio you clean regularly, choose The Beauty — it looks better and costs EUR 50 less. If it stands unprotected outdoors and you want it to demand little attention, choose The Beast.
Which model fits your situation?
- Covered patio, and you clean regularly — The Beauty. It looks better and is EUR 50 to 100 cheaper at every tier.
- Unprotected, exposed to wind and weather — The Beast. After three seasons, it won’t show.
- The grill takes center stage when guests are over — The Beauty. The diamond pattern under the high-gloss glaze is the conversation starter.
- You want to spend as little effort on it as possible — The Beast, without question.
- Budget decides — The Beauty, at every tier.
What do both cost at every tier?
| Tier | The Beauty | The Beast | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo kamado | EUR 749 | EUR 799 | EUR 50 |
| + side tables and cart | EUR 949 | EUR 999 | EUR 50 |
| Easy Clean Set | EUR 999 | EUR 1,099 | EUR 100 |
| Chef Combo | EUR 1,199 | EUR 1,249 | EUR 50 |
If you’re not torn between the models but between the tiers, the guide Buying a kamado grill: what to look for can help — it walks through the five criteria and weighs solo against a set.
The Beast or The Beauty in four tiers
The finish doesn’t determine how much you order alongside it. Both models are available solo, with a premium cart and side tables from EUR 949, as an Easy Clean Set with ash container, and as a fully equipped Chef Combo — such as the The Beast Chef Combo or The Beauty Chef Combo for EUR 1,249 and EUR 1,199 respectively. All variants sit side by side in the kamado grill collection.
Frequently asked questions
Does The Beast really not grill better?
No. The name describes the look, not the performance. Ceramic thickness, grate and ventilation are the same on both models.
Why is The Beauty cheaper even though it looks more elaborate?
The EUR 50 price difference comes from how the matte finish is manufactured, not from the equipment. Nothing changes in what’s included.
Can I change the finish later?
No — the glaze is part of the ceramic body itself. The decision holds for the lifetime of the grill, which, under a limited lifetime warranty on the ceramic for the original owner, is a long time.
The Beast or The Beauty: what matters after three years
In the showroom, looks decide; in everyday life, location decides. If the grill sits under a roof, the high gloss stays looking like day one for years, and The Beauty is both the better-looking and the cheaper choice. If it stands exposed, high gloss visibly collects water spots and dust — that’s where The Beast shows its advantage, simply because use shows less on it.
None of this changes the cooking result, and that’s where many comparisons go wrong. Both models share the ceramic construction, the 51 cm grate, ventilation and warranty. Choosing between The Beast or The Beauty is a decision about upkeep and taste, not performance.
For more on ceramic itself and its thermal properties, see the Wikipedia article on ceramics.
Frequently asked questions about the model comparison
Does cleaning differ between the two models?
Not on the inside — both are burned off and brushed out the same way. On the outside, matte is less sensitive to water spots; high gloss shows them more clearly but wipes off in seconds with a damp cloth.
Are there price differences in accessories?
No. Grates, pizza stone, ash container and cart are identical for both models and cost the same, because both use the same 51 cm grate and the same firebox.
