The manufacturer calls the G340 the LotusGrill Classic; G340 is the type designation from the instructions. It is a round charcoal tabletop grill in which a fan drives the embers. LotusGrill GmbH is based in Limburgerhof and, by its own account, grew out of the household goods maker Lotus. It calls the Classic the original of its range, which today also includes the smaller S (G280), the XL (G435), the XXL and a Hybrid Classic with additional gas operation. In our charcoal grills category, the G340 counts as a tabletop grill.
We have not handled the grill and have not grilled anything on it. The details come from lotusgrill.de (product, FAQ, accessories and spare parts pages), from the multilingual instructions in version 38 from March 2023 and from the Amazon catalogue; anything we calculate or infer from them, we mark as such. One point up front, because it affects the buying decision: the fan has no rechargeable battery, it runs on batteries or on a USB cable.
Design and power supply
Round and wider at the top than at the bottom: approx. 350 mm diameter at the upper rim, approx. 260 mm at the bottom, approx. 234 mm high, the grate measures approx. 320 mm. The product photo shows an outer shell with vertical slots, a blue glowing dial at the front and two buckles at the sides. We assign the dial to the combined on/off switch with heat control and light indicator from the parts list. According to the manufacturer, the buckles join grate, charcoal container and inner shell into one closed unit.
The grill is built from two shells. The outer shell is made of powder-coated steel with a metal base and carries the battery compartment and the electronic unit. The inner shell sits inside it, the lighting tray on top of that, above it stands the charcoal container with lid, and the grate lies on top. According to the manufacturer, inner shell, charcoal container, grate and buckles are made of stainless steel. We assume that the inner shell and the inner bowl are the same part: the care and safety notes in the instructions and the spare parts page call it the inner bowl.
According to the product page, the grill weighs approx. 3.7 kg. The weight table in the instructions gives approx. 5.0 kg, but includes carry bag, instructions, batteries and USB cable. From the manufacturer, the Classic comes in seven colours; Amazon lists anthracite grey.
The fan runs on four AA batteries, which are included. The FAQ gives a running time of approx. 15 to 20 hours for them, on average up to 25 grilling sessions with proper storage. Alternatively, the included USB cable feeds the fan from a USB power adapter, which is not in the box; as soon as the round plug is in the grill, the battery compartment is disconnected. The cable does not charge anything either: according to the instructions, it is not suitable for charging rechargeable batteries or accumulators.
In detail: what the fan changes about the embers
On a charcoal grill without a blower, the draught determines how quickly the charcoal glows through and how hot it gets. On the G340 a fan takes over this part, and according to the instructions it stays on for the whole grilling process. You set the heat with the continuously variable heat control; by our inference, this controls the amount of air the embers get.
It is lit with gel, a press of a button alone is not enough. The instructions (page 9) list ten steps; here in short form, with steps 8 and 9 combined and step 10 following below the list:
- Insert four AA batteries into the battery compartment in the base of the outer shell, observing the polarity.
- Place the inner shell in the outer shell.
- Fill the charcoal container completely with charcoal and put the lid on.
- Apply a ring of grill lighting gel about 10 mm wide around the centre hole of the lighting tray and place the tray on the inner shell.
- Switch on the on/off switch and first turn the control to the highest setting (to the right). The fan must be running so the flame is not smothered while lighting. The instructions warn here not to reach into the open flame.
- Light the gel until it burns.
- Carefully and evenly place the filled charcoal container with its lid on the lighting tray; the charcoal starts to glow in a very short time.
- Place the grate with its four metal feet into the slots of the inner shell, hook the brackets into the buckles and press down.
After approx. 3 to 4 minutes the grill is ready to use according to the instructions. The principle page advertises 3 minutes, the Amazon text 4 minutes of pre-heating time.
LotusGrill describes the result as low-smoke. According to the FAQ, the stainless steel plate in the middle of the grate covers the combustion chamber, so no fat drips into the embers from above. Technically that makes sense: fat that falls on glowing charcoal burns there and smokes. We read it this way: the fat collects in the inner bowl. For very fatty food, the instructions require emptying it regularly (safety list further below).
Is the grate enough for five people?
According to the manufacturer, yes: it calls the Classic “suitable for up to 5 people” with a grate of Ø 32 cm.
We take “up to 5” as a manufacturer claim. Whether the number is generous or tight, the range tells us only to a limited extent: the XL G435 has a grate of 40.5 cm according to the manufacturer and is meant for up to 10 people. The area of the grate disc grows by around 60 per cent from the Classic to the XL (our calculation from Ø 32 and 40.5 cm, whole disc without deductions), while the number of people grows by 100 per cent; per person, the XL therefore has around 20 per cent less disc than the Classic.
Where to set it up: what the instructions specify
The instructions are clear here. The charcoal tabletop grill must not be operated in enclosed and/or inhabitable spaces; buildings, tents, caravans, motorhomes and boats are named. There is danger to life from carbon monoxide poisoning. The manufacturer’s FAQ accordingly requires use outdoors only.
The instructions give no minimum distances to walls, parapets or flammable materials, and wooden tables, balconies and wind do not appear in them. For the place of use, the manufacturer requires a stable surface.
LotusGrill relies on the double shell. The inner shell reflects the heat upwards, air circulates between it and the outer shell, and the outer shell “never gets hot”. For that reason, the grill can be moved during operation and placed on any surface, according to the FAQ. On wood or plastic we would still use a heat-resistant mat.
Whether you may grill with charcoal on a balcony at all is governed by your tenancy agreement and house rules, not by LotusGrill; our guide Grilling on a balcony goes through the legal position. For house rules that ban fire, this applies: an open flame burns in the lighting tray while lighting, and low-smoke does not mean smoke-free. For smaller balconies, LotusGrill offers its own rail and railing holder; the data are in the frequently asked questions.
What is missing from the box and what is available
According to the manufacturer’s page, the box contains the grill, a colour-matched nylon carry bag, four batteries, the instructions for use and the USB power cable. Charcoal, fire paste or lighting gel and a USB power adapter are not included.
At Amazon the grill costs approx. €179 (as of 5 October 2026). The starter set with 2.5 kg of beech charcoal, 200 ml of fire paste and sausage tongs is listed by Amazon as a separate offer; our price box has it at approx. €200, so €21 above the grill alone.
On consumption: if you fill the container completely, you need about 150 to 200 g of charcoal on the original model according to the FAQ, and 2.5 kg lasts for approx. 15 grilling sessions. The self-declared claim that the grill needs about 80% less charcoal than other grills comes without a comparison grill and without measurement; we do not adopt it. A load burns for 40 to 90 minutes depending on the type of charcoal, and you can refill at any time. If you divide the battery running time (15 to 20 hours) by this burn time, you get around 10 to 30 loads per set of batteries, provided the fan runs for the whole of every load (our calculation).
On the capacity of the container, the manufacturer’s pages contradict each other: max. 200 g of charcoal or 400 g of Superior grill briquettes on the German product page, up to 250 g on the English one, 150 to 200 g in the FAQ. The same goes for briquettes: according to the instructions, any normal charcoal can be used and briquettes do not give the best results, whereas the product page names its own Superior grill briquettes. We would reach for the charcoal that the instructions expressly permit. For the basic question, our guide Charcoal or briquettes helps.
The stainless steel grill hood for the Classic has a safety glass insert and a thermometer in the knob, weighs approx. 1.8 kg (Ø approx. 344 mm at the bottom, height approx. 270 mm) and, according to the manufacturer, turns the grill into an oven. There is also a glass hood (approx. 1.42 kg) and a travel hood (0.660 kg) for the Classic size. Further accessories are listed in the frequently asked questions.
Care, safety and warranty according to the manufacturer
On care and safety we follow the wording of the German instructions (pages 6 to 8) and the product page; we reproduce the lists on page 6 (safety) and page 8 (care) in full.
As intended, the charcoal tabletop grill may be used for grilling with charcoal to prepare food that can be grilled. It must not be used in enclosed spaces and is intended for private use only; all requirements in the instructions must be followed unchanged.
The safety notes are in the instructions (page 6) and on the product page under four signal words:
- Warning: Risk of burns. Risk of suffocation. Do not use in enclosed spaces. Keep children and pets away.
- Caution: Only use firelighters conforming to EN 1860-3 (a European standard). Wear gloves when touching the hot grill grate. Only change batteries once the grill has cooled down completely.
- Attention: Do not use methylated spirits or petrol to light or relight. Let the grill cool down completely before cleaning. Never pour water into the charcoal container to extinguish the glowing charcoal.
- Important: Place the grill on a stable surface before use. Use grill tongs for grilling (LotusGrill recommends its own accessories). Never leave the hot grill unattended. For very fatty food, empty the inner bowl regularly. Check the batteries before every use. Do not change empty batteries while the grill is in use.
Page 8 adds a further note: do not use water to cool the hot grill, otherwise there is a risk of burns and scalds. On disposal, the product page says that used charcoal belongs only in containers made of metal or other non-flammable materials, not in plastic or other flammable containers. According to the instructions (page 7), the old appliance is handed in separately from household waste at the designated collection points.
On care, the instructions list these points:
- Clean the grill grate, inner bowl and other dirty parts after every use.
- Always wait with cleaning until the grill has cooled down completely, as otherwise there is a risk of burns.
- The grill grate and inner bowl may go in the dishwasher or be cleaned by hand with all commercially available washing-up liquids.
- For stubborn residues, use commercially available grill cleaners, such as the LotusGrill grill and oven cleaner. Never use acid, white spirit or other flammable substances for cleaning.
- Clean the outer shell with the electronic unit with a damp cloth or a brush.
- Clean the charcoal container dry only, for example with a brush, and never with water.
- Remove the batteries from the appliance before taking it out of use for a longer period.
On the warranty, the versions of the same instructions say different things. The German one refers to the statutory warranty rights; proof is the back of the instructions with the dealer’s stamp or the purchase receipt with the date of purchase. The English one states 2 years from the date of purchase against manufacturing defects, provided the grill was used according to the instructions, and requires the purchase receipt with the date of purchase as proof. Which version applies is not clarified by any of the manufacturer’s pages we have read. According to the German instructions, wear, rust formation, deformation and discolouration of the parts (especially the stainless steel parts) that are directly exposed to the fire are excluded from the warranty; LotusGrill calls this normal and function-related. The charcoal container is a wear part and should be replaced from time to time.
The spare parts page lists for the Classic the lighting tray (124 g), charcoal container, grill grate (Ø 320 mm, 0.800 kg), inner bowl (0.600 kg) and carry bag; the principle page speaks of spare parts for “all components”.
What the manufacturer leaves open
These points are answered neither by the manufacturer’s pages nor by the instructions, nor by the Amazon catalogue:
- Maximum temperature or temperature range in degrees; the control is continuously variable, nothing more is stated
- The number of sausages or steaks that fit on the grate at the same time, and the usable grate area in cm² besides the stainless steel plate in the middle of the grate; whether the XL has the same plate is likewise not stated on its product page
- A concept of direct and indirect zones; the heat is controlled only via the fan
- Power consumption, speed and number of settings of the fan, as well as the measuring conditions of the battery running time
- Surface temperature of the outer shell in degrees and the time until the residual embers have cooled down
- Smoke volume as a measured value; it stays at “low-smoke”
- Ash chamber or ash catcher (neither the parts list nor the spare parts page lists one)
- Replacement for the outer shell with fan unit, buckles and switch: the spare parts page has no entry for it, although the principle page names all components as spare parts
- Stainless steel grade, wall thicknesses and the type and heat resistance of the powder coating, and also where the impact-resistant plastic named in the materials table is located
- Country of manufacture (only the company seat in Limburgerhof is documented) and the year the Classic was launched
- Certification marks such as CE or GS (the instructions refer to EN 1860-3 only for firelighters)
- Prices for charcoal, fire paste and accessories, and a recommended price for the grill, since lotusgrill.de is not a shop
On matching our offer: the manufacturer’s pages do not link to Amazon. Amazon lists the model number G-AN-34, LotusGrill gives G-AN-34P for anthracite grey, and no page explains the suffix. The matching of our ASIN is therefore based on the Amazon title “Classic Anthrazitgrau G340” and the model number. The catalogue dimensions of the G340 entry (39.0 × 38.0 × 26.0 cm) do not match the manufacturer’s dimensions; we suspect shipping dimensions. The starter set entry gives 34.0 × 34.0 × 23.4 cm converted, and the height matches the manufacturer’s 234 mm.
What else is worth considering?
| Model | The difference | Price | Our score | Pick this one if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LotusGrill G340 (this one) | Grate Ø 32 cm, up to 5 people, approx. 3.7 kg | approx. €179 | 8.8 | you want to serve up to five people with a portable tabletop grill |
| LotusGrill G280 | Grate Ø 26 cm, approx. 2.8 kg, charcoal container max. 120 g | approx. €149 | 8.6 | you mostly grill alone or for two and every kilo counts when carrying |
| LotusGrill XL G435 | Grate 40.5 cm, up to 10 people, approx. 6.5 kg | approx. €269 | 8.5 | you regularly grill for more than five people |
| barbecook Carlo (yellow) | Rectangular grate 38.5 × 28.5 cm (1,097 cm² according to barbecook), batteries not included | approx. €165 | 8.1 | you want a rectangular grate and buy the batteries yourself |
The prices are guide values with a date and change; the score is our editorial assessment from manufacturer data, not a measurement result, and the table is not suited to comparing smoke volume or heat. The details on the G280 and XL come from lotusgrill.de, those on the Carlo from barbecook.com (pages of the Yellow Sunshine and Urban Grey variants), where the number of people is given once as 4 and once as 6 and is therefore missing from the table.
Who the G340 suits, and who it does not
In our price box, the XL G435 costs €90 more than the G340 and, according to the manufacturer’s pages, weighs 2.8 kg more (without accessories). The G280 is €30 cheaper and 0.9 kg lighter, the barbecook Carlo €14 cheaper.
The design sets limits. You control the heat solely through the amount of air, and a load burns for only 40 to 90 minutes according to the manufacturer. For low and slow, that is, hours of cooking at low temperature, we would not recommend the G340, because you would have to keep adding charcoal.
It is wrong for anyone whose house rules ban open fire. It is also wrong for anyone who wants to grill indoors, in a tent or in a motorhome: the instructions rule it out there.
If you do not yet know whether it should be charcoal at all, the Grill Finder asks four questions about fuel, budget, place of use and number of people, and shows you matching grills with a guide price.
