barbecook Carlo Tischgrill Gelb

What the Carlo Yellow Sunshine is

Barbecook lists the device as “Carlo Yellow Sunshine”, article number BC-CHA-1016, in the table grill category. It is a charcoal grill for the table in which a fan blows air into the charcoal container. According to the address in the manual, the brand is run by LivWise NV in Deinze, Belgium, and Barbecook itself describes itself as a Belgian grill brand. The German product page uses the English model name.

The Amazon photo shows a flat, rectangular body in yellow with rounded corners. On the front there are five horizontal slots with a round knob below them; on top sits a grate with a raised edge, with a ribbed plate on it. No lid is visible. That our Amazon link refers to exactly this version we infer from the colour, name and cooking area; the catalogue dimensions, stored in inches, convert to the manufacturer’s dimensions. The manufacturer’s pages do not link to an Amazon listing; we did the matching ourselves.

The price is approx. €165 (as of 20 October 2026), both at Amazon and in the manufacturer’s shop; there, shipping costs are added. In the charcoal grills category the Carlo scores 8.1 points, which is our editorial assessment. We have not grilled anything on it; the information comes from manufacturer documents and the Amazon catalogue.

There are four colours, and the manual applies to all of them: Yellow Sunshine (BC-CHA-1016), Urban Grey (BC-CHA-1015), Army Green (BC-CHA-1018) and Chili Pepper (BC-CHA-1019). Urban Grey costs €189 in the manufacturer’s shop, the other three €165 each, although Army Green and Chili Pepper were sold out there on 20 October 2026. According to the parts list, the grey version differs only in the housing (BC-SPA-8351 instead of BC-SPA-8354).

Housing, grate and fan

The parts list in the manual (page 45) contains seven parts. Five are made of stainless steel: cooking grate (BC-SPA-8352), charcoal container lid (8356), charcoal container base (8357), charcoal container (8358) and inner bowl (8353). The housing complete with fan (8354) is powder-coated; for the control knob (8355), the material symbol is missing from the list. A lid over the grate does not appear in the list; only the charcoal container has one. We conclude from this that the Carlo is built for direct heat from below.

The plate from the Amazon photo is also missing from the parts list. Barbecook sells a contact plate as an accessory; more on that in the questions below.

Barbecook gives the dimensions as 44 × 33 × 21 cm. The Amazon title states 43.5 × 33.5 × 20.5 cm, while the catalogue values converted from inches again give the manufacturer’s dimensions. The cooking area is 38.5 × 28.5 cm according to the manufacturer and is additionally stated on the product page as 1097 cm². According to the product page, there is also a grate with a raised edge and a removable grease tray.

For weight there is only one catalogue value: Amazon lists 9.9 pounds, converted approx. 4.5 kg, and leaves open whether the device or the carton was weighed. The dimensions in the same catalogue field match the device.

What Barbecook leaves open on the product page and in the manual is collected here:

• Power, speed and air volume of the fan, as well as battery running time
• Operating temperature, maximum temperature and temperature of the outer wall of the housing
• Heat-up time to grilling temperature (the Barbecook blog calls the device only “quick”) and burn time of one load
• Smoke development
• Steel grade, wall thickness and type of powder coating, material of the rotary knob and carry bag
• Dimensions and weight of the carry bag, packed size of the stowed grill
• Rod thickness of the grate, height of its edge in centimetres, and the assignment of the grease tray to a part in the parts list
• Country of manufacture, and test mark or standard for the grill itself (only EN 1860-2 for charcoal and EN 1860-3 for firelighters are named)
• Set-up dimensions beyond the 30 cm minimum distance, such as the clearance above
• Balcony, tenancy law and house rules

In detail: fan, lighting and topping up

The principle is in one sentence of the manual: the faster the fan turns, the more air reaches the charcoal container and the more intense the fire becomes. So you regulate the heat at the rotary knob via the speed. If it is too hot for the food, you reduce it; according to the manual, you should not switch the fan off completely while the charcoal is still hot.

It follows from the technology that more air means more oxygen at the embers, and the charcoal burns faster and hotter. This fits with the manual limiting the load to a maximum of 150 g charcoal, because overfilling can seriously damage the grill “due to the extreme heat”, and with it prohibiting burning wood. We draw the connection between the two ourselves; the manual does not make it.

The device is largely pre-assembled; only the four AA batteries need to be inserted. According to section 5 of the manual, lighting works like this: you place the bowl in the device, the base (called “Sockel” in the manual) in the charcoal container, fill in a maximum of 150 g charcoal, add three firelighter cubes and place the container in the bowl. The fan runs at the highest setting, and you light the cubes with a long match; the manufacturer’s page also names a lighter. When the charcoal is covered with a thin layer of white ash, the lid goes on the container, the grate is placed on and secured with the side clips. According to the manual, this usually takes about 15 minutes. As long as there are still flames in the container, you never start grilling.

On first use, you let the device burn for 30 minutes so that any remaining manufacturing grease burns off. In the same section the manual advises not putting the grate on yet: an empty grate can warp if it is held over heat for too long. (In the steps for lighting and topping up, the manual says “grill” and in our reading means the grate that goes on the device; we read it the same way in the cleaning section.)

Topping up takes seven steps according to section 6.4. You put on heat-resistant gloves, release the clips and lift off the grate, turn the fan to the medium setting, remove the lid from the container and add charcoal. Then the lid goes back on the container, the grate is put on and secured with the clips, and the fan goes back to the highest setting. When this becomes necessary you decide by eye, because a burn time per load is not stated anywhere.

Is the Carlo smokeless?

That is not proven. “Completely smokeless grilling” appears in the Amazon listing; the product page and the German part of the manual say nothing about smoke. There are no measured values.

Smoke arises mainly when fat drips into the embers, and our guide Grill smoking too much names this as the most common cause. A fan can improve the combustion of the charcoal itself, because more oxygen reaches the embers. That is an expectation from the technology. How much difference it makes with the Carlo, according to our sources nobody has measured.

Anyone hoping for little smoke because of the neighbours is therefore relying on the Amazon text. And little visible smoke says nothing about carbon monoxide, because the gas is colourless and odourless. The manufacturer’s warning on this is just below.

Set-up and safety according to the manual

The manual puts three notes on the cover and summarises the warnings on page 14 in one block. We reproduce both in full and close to the wording, because it concerns carbon monoxide and open fire.

On the cover:

• Do not use the grill in enclosed or inhabited spaces, for example in houses, tents, caravans, motorhomes or boats: risk of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Keep a minimum distance of 30 cm between the grill and combustible materials.
• Place the grill on a safe and level surface before use.

In the warning block on page 14:

• Read and follow all instructions carefully before use; assembly or use that deviates from them can cause fire and property damage.
• WARNING: Keep children and pets away from the grill.
• WARNING: The grill gets very hot; do not try to move it during operation.
• Take suitable protective measures when hot parts have to be touched.
• Keep combustible materials and liquids as well as soluble objects at a safe distance during operation.
• WARNING: Do not use methylated spirits, petrol or other flammable liquids for lighting or relighting, only firelighters to EN 1860-3.
• WARNING: Do not start grilling before the charcoal has formed a layer of ash (the duration is given above under lighting).
• Do not leave the grill unattended during operation.
• Keep a bucket of water or sand within reach, especially on very hot days and in dry environments.
• Do not use indoors, only outdoors; even in a garage, an enclosed space or a shed there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Do not use the device without switching on the fan.
• Before each use, first insert the base of the charcoal container, otherwise the fan can be seriously damaged.
• When switching on, turn the control to the highest setting and then down to the one you want.
• Replace the batteries regularly.

For choosing a location, the manual gives three points: not under a structure with an overhang (veranda, shelter, etc.) or under a leaf canopy, on stable, level ground, and not on a moving vehicle such as a boat or trailer. For assembly, the manual gives four points: remove all packaging, follow the assembly instructions carefully, do not modify any parts of the device (that would be very dangerous) and bear in mind that the user is responsible for correct assembly and that damage from improper assembly is not covered by the warranty. The warning block has one more point on the warranty, which is in the next section.

Cleaning, storage and warranty

Barbecook recommends cleaning the Carlo after every use. First you let it cool down completely, then you release the clips, remove the grate, take out the charcoal container together with lid and base and separate the bowl from the grate. Cleaning is done with a soft sponge or damp cloth and an ordinary cleaning product. According to the manual, the inner bowl, grate and charcoal container with base and lid are dishwasher-safe. You must never use acid, thinners or other flammable products for cleaning.

Depending on the material, there are separate rules. For stainless steel, the manual requires mild cleaning products that you let act on the steel, and a soft sponge or cloth, but no aggressive, abrasive agents and no metal cleaners. For the powder coating, sharp objects are taboo, and there too mild cleaners and a soft sponge apply. You rinse both thoroughly and let them dry completely before you put them away. To prevent rust forming on stainless steel, you should avoid any contact with chlorine, salt and iron.

After every use the Carlo belongs in an enclosed space, ideally in the supplied bag; according to Barbecook, this extends its lifespan. Before that it must be completely dry, which prevents rust. Before longer storage you take out the batteries. Used batteries belong at a collection point in line with local regulations, never in the household bin.

According to the manual, parts exposed to fire or intense heat must be replaced at some point. A certain deformation of a metal part is normal and requires no action; if the deformation is excessive, you order a spare part.

Barbecook grants a two-year warranty from the purchase date on all manufacturing defects. The condition is that you assemble, use and care for the device according to the manual. Damage from misuse, incorrect assembly or improper care does not count as a manufacturing defect, and according to the warning block on page 14 the warranty does not cover damage from not following the manual. It is limited to repair or replacement of defective parts. According to section 8.2, the following are excluded:

• normal wear (rust, deformation, discolouration) on parts directly exposed to fire or intense heat
• visual irregularities that the manufacturing process brings with it
• damage from poor care, improper storage, incorrect assembly or changes to pre-assembled parts
• damage from improper use, for example contrary to the manual, for commercial purposes or as a fire basket
• consequential damage from improper use or use not as intended
• rust or discolouration from external influences, aggressive cleaning products, chlorine exposure and the like

What else is worth considering?

The prices are guide values from our price boxes and change; the rating is our editorial assessment and not a measurement result. The table is not suitable for a performance comparison: we have not had any of the four grills in our hands, and the information on the other three comes from the research for their own pages. More charcoal grills are shown in the charcoal grill comparison, and the grill finder narrows the selection by budget and use.

When the Carlo suits you and when another grill does

It suits you if you grill outdoors with two to four people and do not mind four batteries. In our rating it ranks behind all three alternatives in the table.

On the number of people, Barbecook disagrees with itself: the description text of the product page speaks of up to six people, the technical data of the same page of four. For the grey version, six is stated there. We would plan for four. More than 150 g of charcoal does not fit in one load; if you grill for more people, it is best to allow for topping up, and according to the manual that works only with gloves and the grate removed.

If you want to grill spontaneously and briefly, you are better off with the LotusGrill G340. In its instructions, Lotus states 3 to 4 minutes until ready for use; with the Carlo, about 15 minutes pass until the ash layer. Both figures are manufacturer statements and were not measured the same way.

There are two ways out of the batteries. The LotusGrill includes four batteries and alternatively runs on a USB cable; a power adapter is not included. The Weber Go-Anywhere needs no power at all. With the Enders Aurora Stone, the batteries are not included according to Enders, but it also runs on a power bank.

For carrying, the Carlo sits between the light fan grills and the Weber: the LotusGrill G340 and Enders Aurora Stone each weigh 3.7 kg according to the manufacturer, the Weber 6.78 kg.

On the balcony, your tenancy agreement and house rules decide; our guide Grilling on a balcony explains the legal position. If charcoal is banned there, a fan does not help either, and you need an electric grill.

On top of the grill price come batteries, charcoal and firelighter cubes. The manufacturer’s shop sells 72 firelighter cubes for €5.95; at three cubes per lighting, one bag lasts for 24 lightings, arithmetically approx. 25 cents per lighting. The most expensive spare part is the housing complete with fan (BC-SPA-8354), €109.95 in the manufacturer’s shop and thus around two thirds of the grill price. How charcoal and briquettes differ in burn time and heat is covered in the guide Charcoal or briquettes.

Compared with the Carlo, the Enders Aurora Stone costs around €93 less, the Weber Go-Anywhere €70 less and the LotusGrill G340 €14 more. So if you want to start faster, you pay hardly any extra for the Lotus.

Who is it suitable for?

Barbecook names the city park, campsite and terrace as places of use. On the campsite, however, the manual’s rules apply: tents, caravans and motorhomes are excluded as a location, as are a veranda or shelter. If you want to cook in the awning or under the canopy in the evening, the Carlo is the wrong choice; our guide Buying a camping grill compares alternatives for travelling. Freestanding on the pitch, with 30 cm distance from anything combustible, it is set up correctly according to the manual.