Jealous Devil vs Fogo Super Premium: Which One Should You Buy?

Jealous Devil and Fogo Super Premium are the two premium lump charcoals that serious pitmasters argue about. Both are dramatically better than anything you'll find at a hardware store. Both are made from dense hardwoods. Both burn clean and hot. But they're not identical, and the differences matter for specific cooking styles. ## Quick Comparison | Feature | Jealous Devil | Fogo Super Premium | |---------|--------------|-------------------| | **Price** | ~$30/20lb | ~$35/17.6lb | | **Wood Type** | South American hardwood | Central American oak | | **Burn Time** | Excellent (longest in class) | Very good | | **Heat Output** | Very high | High | | **Spark/Pop** | Minimal | Low | | **Piece Size** | Large, consistent | Large, some variation | | **BBQ Experience Score** | 8.4/10 | 7.8/10 | ## Burn Characteristics Jealous Devil burns longer than any lump charcoal we've tested. The South American hardwood is incredibly dense — pieces feel heavy for their size. A full chimney lasts 4+ hours at grilling temperatures. For long cooks, you're refueling less often. The burn is clean with virtually no sparking. Fogo Super Premium burns hot and clean but doesn't last quite as long. The Central American oak produces excellent heat but the density isn't quite at Jealous Devil's level. Pieces are generally large but with more size variation — you'll find some smaller fragments that burn faster. ## Flavor This is where Fogo fights back. The oak base produces a slightly sweeter, more nuanced smoke flavor than Jealous Devil's neutral hardwood. For kamado cooking and low-and-slow smoking where the charcoal contributes to flavor, Fogo's profile is marginally more interesting. Jealous Devil's flavor is clean and neutral — it lets the wood chunks you add provide the smoke character. Some pitmasters prefer this blank canvas approach. Others want the charcoal itself to contribute. ## Value for Money Jealous Devil is cheaper per pound ($1.50/lb vs $2.00/lb) and burns longer. The math is straightforward: you get more burn time for less money. Combined with the 8.4 vs 7.8 score gap, Jealous Devil wins the value equation decisively. Fogo's higher price makes sense only if you specifically prefer its oak flavor profile and are willing to pay a premium for it. ## Verdict **Jealous Devil wins.** Longer burn time, lower price per pound, higher score. It's the best lump charcoal for the broadest range of cooking styles. The 8.4/10 score reflects a product that does everything well with no significant weaknesses. **Buy Fogo Super Premium if:** you specifically prefer the oak smoke flavor, you cook in a kamado where charcoal flavor matters more, or Jealous Devil isn't available in your area. Both are premium charcoals that will transform your cooking compared to mass-market alternatives. You can't go wrong with either. But Jealous Devil is the better overall choice. [Full Jealous Devil Review](/en/reviews/jealous-devil-lump-charcoal-review/) | [Full Fogo Super Premium Review](/en/reviews/fogo-super-premium-charcoal-review/)