Masterbuilt Gravity Series Review for UK Cooks

A long brisket cook that still tastes properly charcoal-fired, followed by pizza-hot temperatures for a busy Saturday evening, is exactly the promise behind the Gravity Series. This Masterbuilt Gravity Series review looks beyond the headline features to answer the question UK buyers really need answered: is it the right centrepiece for your garden cooking setup?

Masterbuilt’s gravity-fed charcoal grills occupy an interesting space. They are not a traditional charcoal barbecue, where every adjustment is manual, and they are not a pellet grill, where flavour comes from compressed wood pellets. Instead, they pair lumpwood charcoal or briquettes with digital temperature control. The result is a grill designed for people who want charcoal flavour without standing over the vents all afternoon.

What makes the Masterbuilt Gravity Series different?

The defining feature is the charcoal hopper. Fill it with charcoal, light the fire at the base, set your desired temperature and the fan feeds the fire with air as required. A digital controller regulates that fan, bringing the cooking chamber up to temperature and maintaining it throughout the cook.

It is a genuinely useful concept, particularly for cooks who enjoy low-and-slow barbecue but also want a straightforward weeknight grill. You can smoke ribs at a low temperature, cook a whole chicken indirectly, then increase the heat for steaks. Depending on the model, the Gravity Series can reach very high grilling temperatures, well beyond what many conventional charcoal barbecues manage comfortably.

The system gives the range an appeal that is broader than its smoker credentials. It is capable of smoking, roasting, baking, grilling and searing, so it suits a household looking for one substantial outdoor cooker rather than several specialist appliances.

Masterbuilt Gravity Series review: cooking performance

At low temperatures, the Gravity Series is impressively capable. The fan-driven control is especially valuable on longer cooks, where the biggest challenge with a conventional charcoal smoker is maintaining a stable fire. Once the grill is properly warmed through and the hopper is fuelled, it can hold a chosen cooking temperature with far less intervention than a kettle barbecue or offset smoker.

That does not mean it removes every variable. Charcoal quality matters, as does keeping the hopper clear and managing the airflow doors correctly. Weather can also affect warm-up times, particularly during a cold, wet North West winter. But for real-world home cooking, the consistency is a major advantage. You can get on with preparing sides, greeting guests or simply enjoying the garden rather than continually adjusting vents.

The flavour is another strong point. Charcoal provides a deeper, more traditional barbecue character than a pellet-fed cooker, while wood chunks can be added to build smoke flavour during a slower cook. This is not the hands-on theatre of tending a live fire all day, and purists may prefer that ritual. For most families and keen home cooks, however, it delivers a convincing balance of flavour and convenience.

High-heat performance is where the Gravity Series separates itself from many digitally controlled outdoor cookers. It can produce the sort of heat needed for a good crust on steaks, burgers and chops. The large cooking area on the bigger models also makes it practical for entertaining. There is room to cook for a family on an ordinary evening and scale up for a birthday, bank holiday gathering or a full garden party.

Which size is right for your garden?

The compact Gravity Series 560 is a sensible entry point for smaller households, patios and cooks who do not regularly cater for a crowd. It still offers the core benefit of charcoal cooking with electronic control, but takes up less room and is easier to accommodate alongside garden furniture or an existing outdoor kitchen run.

The 800 and 1050 models are better suited to buyers who want generous capacity. Their larger grates make a noticeable difference when cooking several racks of ribs, multiple chickens or a mixture of indirect and direct dishes. If you frequently host, the extra space is not a luxury - it makes cooking more relaxed because you are not constantly rearranging food.

The right choice depends on how you cook, not simply how many people live in the house. A couple who regularly entertain may be better served by a larger model than a family of four who mainly cook burgers and chicken at weekends. Measure the proposed position carefully too. Leave safe working space around the barbecue, room to open the hopper and access to a suitable outdoor power supply.

The practical compromises to understand

The Gravity Series is not a fit-and-forget appliance. It makes charcoal cooking more controllable, but it still needs cleaning, fuel management and sensible setup. Ash needs emptying regularly, grease management should not be ignored, and the cooking grates require the same care as any premium barbecue.

It also relies on electricity to operate its controller and fan. That is a key consideration for British gardens, where a weatherproof outdoor socket or carefully planned power arrangement is essential. If a power cut occurs mid-cook, the grill cannot regulate airflow in the usual way. For some buyers, this is a small trade-off for the convenience; for others, a fully manual charcoal barbecue will feel more reassuring.

Build quality should be viewed in context. These are performance-led charcoal grills with electronic components, rather than heavy ceramic kamados built around simplicity and thermal mass. A quality cover, regular cleaning and sheltered positioning will help protect your investment from prolonged rain and winter grime. It is also worth buying from a specialist retailer that can help with setup, accessories and after-sales questions.

Fuel consumption varies with temperature, ambient conditions and cook duration. Low-and-slow sessions can be economical when the hopper is loaded correctly, while extended high-heat grilling naturally uses more charcoal. Use good-quality lumpwood charcoal or briquettes consistently, and avoid mixing in damp or poor-grade fuel that can disrupt airflow and temperature control.

Ease of use and technology

The digital control panel is approachable for first-time users. Set the target temperature, monitor the grill and let the fan do the hard work. App-connected functions on compatible models add useful visibility, allowing you to check temperatures while preparing food indoors or spending time with guests.

That said, app control is a convenience, not the reason to buy. A great barbecue should cook well even if you never open an app. The real value is the combination of repeatable temperature control and charcoal heat. Treat the technology as a helpful assistant rather than a substitute for learning how different foods behave on the grill.

For best results, allow enough time for the cooker to stabilise before adding delicate food. Use a reliable probe for larger joints, keep the lid closed as much as possible, and build a simple cleaning routine after each cook. Those habits will do more for consistent results than chasing every advanced setting.

Is it better than a kamado or pellet grill?

It depends on the cooking experience you want. A kamado such as a Kamado Joe is exceptionally fuel-efficient, holds heat beautifully and offers an almost timeless style of charcoal cooking. It is ideal for people who enjoy managing a live-fire cooker and value ceramic heat retention. It can, however, take more practice to master and is less immediately convenient for frequent temperature changes.

A pellet grill is exceptionally easy for long smoking sessions and can be a strong choice for cooks who prioritise set-and-monitor convenience. Its limitation for some buyers is that it does not deliver the same direct charcoal character or intense searing performance without additional features.

The Masterbuilt sits between the two. It is for the buyer who wants the flavour and flexibility of charcoal, but prefers digital control to manual vent management. It is particularly compelling for someone upgrading from a standard charcoal barbecue who wants to tackle brisket, pulled pork, reverse-seared steaks and larger entertaining menus with more confidence.

Who should buy a Gravity Series?

This is a strong option for keen cooks who want one barbecue that can handle weekday grilling and ambitious weekend smoking. It is equally well suited to households building an outdoor entertaining area, where the barbecue needs to be versatile enough to earn its footprint.

It is less suitable for someone seeking the simplest possible charcoal grill, or for buyers with no practical outdoor power option. If you love the tactile, fully manual process of setting vents and managing a fire, a classic kettle or ceramic kamado may give you more enjoyment. But if inconsistent charcoal temperatures have held you back from cooking bigger cuts, the Gravity Series solves a very real problem.

Gardenbox customers planning a wider outdoor kitchen should also think about placement early. Allow space for prep surfaces, charcoal storage, access for cleaning and comfortable circulation around the cooker. A well-positioned barbecue becomes part of the hosting area rather than a hot, awkward corner of the patio.

The Masterbuilt Gravity Series earns its place when you use its range properly: slow-cook a shoulder of pork without hovering over it, then turn up the heat and finish dinner with steaks that have real charcoal character. Choose the size that reflects the way you host, protect it from the weather and give yourself a sensible power solution - then it can become the barbecue your garden revolves around.