A frequently asked question that I receive is about grill choice. Probably because I have so many videos on Youtube talking about Alfresco grills and DCS grills, many of these questions ask me to choose between them. So what I am going to do here is lay out the positives and negatives of both products, let you know where I stand with them as it pertains to MY NEEDS, and then hopefully you have enough information to make an informed choice about the Alfresco grill and DCS grill.
The key point is that I am not going to tell you which grill to buy. I am going to furnish you with actionable information, then you need to make the choice based on what fits for your needs best.
Alfresco vs DCS Grills: I've Used Both Grills Extensively
Please visit our Youtube channel and you will see a plethora of videos I have posted over the years where I use both the Alfresco 42" grill as well as the DCS Series 7 36". I have owned the Alfresco ALXE42 for 9 years and I used the DCS as my primary grill for about 2-3 years. So the hands-on experience I have accrued certainly puts me in a position to cultivate an informed opinion about these products.
First, Let's Drop the DCS Series 7 From Consideration
The DCS Series 7 is a fine grill that shares a number of attributes with its sibling the Series 9. However it is not comparable to an Alfresco. My belief is that DCS is no longer positioning Series 7 as a competitor of Lynx, Alfresco, Fire Magic, Twin Eagles etc. I think that they want the Series 7 to occupy its own lane in the high end category, one we can call the "entry point for high end". It's placed above the Artisan, Coyote S Series, Blaze Pro and Sedona Lynx, but it is not in the league of the aforementioned premium grills. So this analysis will cover Alfresco ALXE vs DCS Series 9.
Alfresco ALXE Grill Review: The Positives
Build Quality
The build quality of the Alfresco is bar none, the best in the business. Crafted in Southern California by SES Brands (commercial food equipment manufacturer who is branching further into residential), the company's origin as a commercial producer has begat a residential grill that is built like no other.
Grill Expansion Capabilities
Bored with cooking with tasteless gas? Then pop in the Alfresco SFI-POD and use wood and charcoal for live fire cooking. Perhaps you want to steam fish or fry your meatballs? They offer a steamer fryer insert as well as other accessories like a commercial griddle and indirect roasting pod. Again, visit the YouTube channel for a collection of videos where I cook with the vaunted Solid Fuel Insert.
Industry Best Rotisserie Design
Have you experienced the joy of spit roasting chicken? Wait, here's another great example of the Alfresco rotisserie taking things to the next level. I have cooked chicken and prime rib on the Alfresco rotisserie and in every instance, except where I nearly blew up my grill (pilot error) the results have been incredible. Not only does Alfresco use a commercial heavy duty chain driven system which allows for support of up to 75 pounds on the spit, but there is another key design which sets it apart from other brands (except Hestan). The rotisserie motor is hidden, buried within the side of the grill so it is protected from the elements. Genius design!
Unique Burners Hold Up Over Time
Alfresco uses a different burner mixture than most other grills. Their 18SR burner is composed of stainless steel as well as titanium. This is important as the titanium prevents the burners from scaling or blistering thus it should last longer with proper care.
Front-Facing Smoker Tray (Herb infusion system)
Alfresco is one of the few grills (along with the DCS Series 7) that uses a front-facing smoke drawer. Typically the griller would load this with wood chips to impart a smoky flavor to food. However I have dubbed it the "herb infusion system" and fill it with a variety of soaked herbs which perfume the food being grilled. This chamber has a dedicated 5k BTU burner so it will start to impart smoke or scent in about 5 - 7 minutes. This chamber is a marked improvement over the smoking cannisters that other grills offer. My tests with these products have shown that they do not offer a difference in taste.
Alfresco ALXE Grill Review: The Negatives
The Knob Display
There isn't much to complain about when it comes to an Alfresco grill but their marking on the knobs has been a complete fumble. Because of the angle of the manifold, you cannot read the writing next to the knob, so it's anyone's guess whether you are on high or low. Eventually I started to set it up by knob placement (when the knob is at 3 o'clock" you are on high. Numerous customers have made the same comments to me so this is definitely a room for improvement.
Potential Lack of Service in the Fall/Winter Months
For the hardcore griller who is cooking outside year round and lives in a cold climate, it could be challenging to get your Alfresco serviced from October through March. I am writing this on May 18th 2024 and to my knowledge ADCO is Alfresco's national service company and they do not make winter calls nor do the ones they use in the metro NYC area. If you live in a different part of the country you should call the authorized Alfresco servicer (likely ADCO) and see if they will send a tech out off-season. It could be a problem if you are planning on grilling for a holiday and your Alfresco needs service and your told no one is coming out till April.
DCS Series 9 Grill Review: The Positives
After maintaining essentially the same grill since the 1990's ("Why change perfection?" was an answer I once received when questioning why it wasn't updated), DCS made the first dramatic change to their grills with the introduction of the Series 9 about 5 years ago.
With the introduction of the 9 series, DCS introduced features such as an easy lifting hood, lights inside the hood canopy as well as lights on the knob bezels to indicate that gas is flowing and the ability to cook with charcoal. A few years after the Series 9 release they would add an option to have an infrared sear burner in the grill. Let's examine some of these features:
The Hood
There are 2 positives about the Series 9 hoods. First, they are lighter thanks to a mechanism on the sides of the canopy. This is especially helpful for the 48" hood which can be a bear to lift on the Series 7. They also included lights (finally) within the hood. Prior to this (and still the case with the Series 7), the only lights available were the large one on the rotisserie motor which shines from the side.
Lighted Bezels
Around the knobs there are rings which are illuminated orange when the grill is on. This is a good safety feature, whether DCS realized it or not. There are many folks who will turn the knobs and think that the gas is shut off, yet they don't realize they have not turned the knob completely off. Even the slightest degree will leave the gas flowing which can become a significant safety hazard. When the DCS knob is completely shut ,the light goes from orange to white, and your gas flow should be cut.
Grease Management System
DCS's vaunted grease management system continues with the Series 9 grills. This features allows the grates to be flat or sloped to the front if you are cooking food which produces alot of fat or grease runoff. With the pitched grate the grease will run to the front of the grill where it lands in a trough and through a hole to the drip tray. Very easy cleanup and this will also help control flare ups as the majority of grease will not end up on the hot burners but instead in the drip tray.
DCS Series 9 Grill Review: The Negatives
No Smoker System
Unlike the DCS Series 7, the DCS Series 9 does not offer the front-facing smoker tray. I like this tray because with the use of wood chips you can add a subtle smoke flavor to food (though I would never purport that this allows you to realistically smoke on the grill). The Series 9 does offer a charcoal/smoker insert but my experience with that has been underwhelming. You can't fit pieces of lump charcoal in the tray and if using wood chips it produces too much smoke.
Recent Price Increase Negates Value Proposition
Earlier in 2024 DCS increased the price on Series 9 grills. The 48" is now $8299 (infrared sear model is $8599) and the 36" is $7299 (the infrared sear model is $7599).
Conclusion:
Both DCS and Alfresco offer premium grills that are worth the investment. With the right use and care they will hold up for years. I can make the point that the Alfresco is probably a better built grill, but the DCS, with their 10% promotion currently active, is the better value. No matter which direction you decide to take, both grills will serve you well
If there are any questions about DCS or Alfresco products, please reach out to me at jonathanatcurtosdotcom.
