monolith BBQ Guru Edition CLASSIC, Manual

14  LIGHTING THE CHARCOAL

A. 

Depending on temperature and application, use 

either the cast iron fire grate or the charcoal basket. 

When using low temperatures and grilling for a long 

period of time, we recommend using the cast iron fire 

grate. This enables you to fill up the firebox with a 

larger amount of charcoal, allowing for a longer burn-

ing duration and easy temperature control due to the 

reduced airflow.

When using medium to high temperatures, we recom-

mend using the charcoal basket. The extra airflow 

enables the charcoal to reach higher temperatures 

faster. Fill the charcoal basket up till the opening for 

the wood chip feeder system. The cast iron fire grate 

and the charcoal basket can be used simultaneously.

Ensure that there aren’t any small charcoal pieces  

at the bottom of firebox or charcoal basket, as these 

can obstruct airflow. The charcoal baskets for the 

Monolith BBQ Guru Edition Classic and Monolith BBQ 

Guru Edition Le Chef can be divided, allowing you  

to use only half the area, hence creating direct and 

indirect grilling zones.

CAUTION: 

We recommend only high quality, large 

lump charcoal. Note that the grill can reach very high 

temperatures and should not be placed in the immedi-

ate vicinity of combustible materials. The grill must 

not be operated in closed rooms. Keep children and 

animals away from the hot grill. Please stay close to the 

grill during the process of heating up the charcoal, 

temperatures in excess of 840°F can be reached very 

fast and may cause damage to the grill components.

B.

 We recommend lighting the center of the charcoal. 

Please  do not use chemical or liquid accelerants, as 

their fumes can be absorbed by the ceramic unit and 

may adversely affect the flavor and quality of the food. 

We recommend the propane torch or chemical free fire 

accelerants. Close the lid and open the air vent and 

ventilation cap. Due to the chimney effect, the charcoal 

heats up extremely fast (approx. 15 minutes).

CAUTION:

 Do not use chemical or liquid fire acceler-

ants. Never light the grill with the lid closed.

C.

 If cooking under 400°F, you can use your DigiQ or 

CyberQ Cloud BBQ Guru Control to set your cooking 

temperature with oven-like precision. Set your Cook 

Temp to the desired temperature, and the BBQ Guru 

control will bring it up to temperature for you quickly 

and with great accuracy. If cooking over 400°F, instead 

adjust the air vent and ventilation cap, leaving a gap of 

approximately .5 – 1 inch. 

CAUTION:

 The grill and its metal components can get 

very hot, please wear gloves or use tongs when adjust-

ing the air vents.

By adjusting the air vent and ventilation cap, you can 

regulate the required temperatures. Opening both 

vents will increase airflow and oxygen intake, making 

the charcoal hotter and the temperature increase. By 

closing the vents, you reverse the process. Due to the 

very good insulation of the heavy ceramics, it will take 

some time to lower the temperature from the high 

temperature range. Therefore, we suggest not letting 

the temperature rise too high if you are planning on 

using the Monolith BBQ Guru Edition in the low tem-

perature range. 

D.

 Then place the appropriate accessories according to 

the setup for the desired grilling method inside the grill.

CAUTION: 

The grill and its metal components can get 

very hot, please wear gloves or use tongs when placing 

the metal grates, pizza stone or deflector stone in the 

grill or when removing them. Do not place hot compo-

nents on flammable or sensitive surfaces. Please exer-

cise caution when handling the hot components in 

order to avoid injuries.

E. 

By closing both of the air vents, the embers will be 

extinguished; this will take approximately 10 – 20 min-

utes. The remaining charcoal can be reused. After 

cooling down, simply lift the charcoal basket out of the 

Monolith BBQ Guru Edition by the handles, then shake 

off the ashes, or use the ash hook to remove the ashes 

within the ceramic fire box.