Coleman BBQ Buying Guide: Revolution, Dual Fuel or Pro Series?

Coleman makes three kinds of barbecue: the Revolution gas range (2, 3 and 4 burners), the Revolution Dual Fuel (gas and charcoal on one cart) and the Pro Series 5-burner. All of them except the Revolution 2 Burner can grow into an outdoor kitchen with sink, fridge and storage modules. This guide explains the differences so you can pick the right one the first time.

The short answer

• Small balcony or courtyard: Revolution 2 Burner. Its side shelves fold down to 90 cm wide.
• Best all-rounder for a family: Revolution 4 Burner, with a side burner for sauces and sides.
• You want charcoal flavour but still want gas for weeknights: Revolution Dual Fuel.
• You cook for a crowd, or want a wok burner and cast-iron grates: Pro Series 5-Burner.
• You're building a full outdoor kitchen: choose the barbecue first, then add modules or pick a ready-made Coleman outdoor kitchen.

The Coleman range at a glance

1. Revolution or Pro Series?

The two ranges are built for different cooks.

Revolution: less mess, fewer flare-ups

Every Revolution barbecue has Coleman's Flare-Free Technology. Double-stacked grates guide fat away from the flame and into a front grease cup, which Coleman says removes 75% more grease. Less fat on the burners means fewer flare-ups and less charred food, which helps if you cook a lot of sausages, chops or marinated meat. The range runs from the compact 2 Burner to the 4 Burner and the Dual Fuel, in Matt Black or Black Gloss.

Pro Series: more heat and heavier construction

The Pro Series 5-Burner is Coleman's most powerful barbecue at 86.9 MJ/h, compared with 55.5 MJ/h for the Revolution 4 Burner. It has a die-cast aluminium burner box, a double-walled porcelain-enamel lid, porcelain-enamel cast-iron grates for strong searing and an 11.9 MJ/h wok burner for stir-fries. A double-sided hotplate covers a third of the cooktop. Choose it if you cook for big groups, like high-heat cooking or want a barbecue built to last as the centre of an outdoor kitchen.

In short: choose Revolution for easy everyday cooking, a smaller footprint or the Dual Fuel option. Choose Pro Series for maximum power, cast iron and a wok burner.

2. Gas, charcoal, or both?

Gas is quick: light it, heat it, cook. Charcoal is slower but gives the smoky flavour many people buy a barbecue for. The Revolution Dual Fuel puts a three-burner gas barbecue and a 57 cm charcoal kettle side by side on one cart, so you don't have to choose.

• A 10.5 MJ gas-assist burner lights the charcoal for you, with no fire starters needed
• Use gas on weeknights and charcoal at weekends, or both at once: steaks on gas while wings smoke in the kettle
• The hinged kettle lid stays open on its own, and a hideaway ash catcher keeps clean-up tidy

Check the space: the Dual Fuel is 160.8 cm long with its shelves folded and 186 cm with them up, and it weighs 91.7 kg assembled. It arrives in three boxes.

3. What size do you need?

• Revolution 2 Burner: 2,968 cm² of cooking area and fold-down shelves (90 cm folded, 115 cm with the shelves up). Good for apartments and couples.
• Revolution 3 Burner: three main burners plus a side stove, with a one-third hotplate and two-thirds grill layout. Comfortable for four to six people.
• Revolution 4 Burner: 4,387 cm² of cooking area, a fourth main burner and a 14.3 MJ/h side burner. The usual choice for families who entertain.
• Pro Series 5-Burner: 5,174 cm² in total, enough for a full grill for a large group.

If you're between two sizes, think about the biggest group you cook for a few times a year, not the usual weeknight. A barbecue that's slightly too big is easier to live with than one that's too small.

4. A barbecue now, or a full outdoor kitchen?

Coleman's outdoor kitchen is modular. Each module has a weather-resistant 304-grade stainless steel bench top, and the modules carry a 5-year limited warranty. They suit the Revolution 3 Burner, 4 Burner and Dual Fuel, and are also used in the Pro Series kitchens. The modules are:

• Sink module: hot and cold tap over a 37 x 45.5 cm basin, with storage underneath
• Fridge module with Heller 70L tropical-grade fridge: a glass-door beverage cooler for drinks and ingredients (2-year warranty on the fridge). Also sold as a fridge module without the fridge
• Storage module: an accessory drawer and a 2-door cabinet for tongs, trays and covers. The cupboard module is the same without the drawer
• Corner module: turns a straight run into an L-shape

Two ways to buy:

• A ready-made kitchen: the barbecue and modules matched in one order. There are Revolution 4 Burner, Dual Fuel and Pro Series kitchens with different combinations of sink, fridge, storage and corner modules. For example, the Dual Fuel kitchen with sink, fridge and storage or the Pro Series L-shaped kitchen with fridge, corner and storage.
• Start with the barbecue and build over time: buy the Revolution 3 Burner, 4 Burner or Dual Fuel now and add modules later as your budget allows. Pick the same finish (Matt Black or Black Gloss) so everything matches.

5. Plan your space

• Sink, fridge, storage and cupboard modules are each 69.5 cm wide and 70.3 cm deep
• The corner module is 80.7 x 80.7 cm
• Barbecue widths: Revolution 3 Burner 143.4 cm, Revolution 4 Burner 143 cm, Dual Fuel up to 186 cm with shelves up
• Allow room to open the hood and the fridge door, and follow the clearances in the product manual
• Kitchens arrive in several boxes: the barbecue plus one box per module. Items over 30 kg go by freight and need a tailgate (lifting) service

6. LPG or natural gas?

The Revolution range, the Dual Fuel and the Pro Series on Cart run on LPG from a gas bottle, so you can put them anywhere outdoors. The Pro Series 5-Burner Built-In runs on natural gas. It is made to be built into a custom bench and must be connected by a licensed gas fitter.

Accessories worth adding

• Cover: Small for 2-burner barbecues up to 105 cm wide, Large for 3 and 4 burner models up to 155 cm, and Extra Large for 5 and 6 burner and Dual Fuel barbecues up to 170 cm
• Double-sided cast iron hotplate: fits all Revolution barbecues. One side is smooth for eggs and seafood, the other ridged for grill marks
• Tools: the 11 piece tool set with case or a simple 3 piece spatula, tongs and fork set
• Cleaning: Palmyra bristle brush with scraper

Buying Coleman from Nightingale Superstore

Nightingale Superstore is an approved Coleman stockist. We stock the full Coleman barbecue and outdoor kitchen range and deliver Australia-wide from our Derrimut warehouse in Melbourne's west, or you can collect free, usually within 24 hours. Still deciding? Contact us and we'll help you choose.