As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at my restaurant, Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve had the opportunity to test a variety of pizza ovens, both professionally and personally. In this comparison, I’ll share my insights on two popular models: the Ooni Koda 12 and the Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven, both of which I’ve extensively used in my kitchen. To provide a thorough evaluation, I compared these ovens across multiple criteria, including quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and their performance in a real pizza cooking test. If you’re curious about the detailed process I use to test pizza ovens, be sure to check out my separate article.
- The Ooni Koda 12 is a compact, gas-powered pizza oven celebrated for its precision, portability, and rapid heating capabilities.
- The Bakebros 14” Pizza Oven offers a slightly larger cooking area and aims to balance power and versatility, making it an appealing option for pizza enthusiasts.
Here, I’ve done an in-depth comparison of the Ooni Koda 12 and the Bakebros 14” Pizza Oven, backed by my test results.
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Winner
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Loser
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Our Rating:
4.8
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Our Rating:
2.8
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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- Good-quality materials like powder-coated carbon steel
- Extremely lightweight
- Easy to clean
- Compact design
- Strictly gas-powered
- Constructed from stainless steel
- Practical design
- Smaller and lighter (39.5 pounds), making it highly portable
- Struggles with consistent heat retention
- Requires a bit more practice to get used to
- Runs exclusively on LPG (propane gas)
- Requires more frequent maintenance due to less effective soot control
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Ooni Koda 12 VS Bakebros 14: Quality and Materials
| The Ooni Koda 12 is crafted from high-quality powder-coated carbon steel with ceramic insulation, ensuring superior heat retention and durability. Its stainless steel undercarriage adds to its premium construction, making it a reliable choice for long-term use. |
The Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven features stainless steel construction, which is durable but lighter and less robust compared to the Ooni Koda 12. The stone surface performs well but lacks the premium feel of higher-end ovens.
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Ooni Koda 12 VS Bakebros 14: Temperature Control
| The Ooni Koda 12 provides precise and consistent temperature control, reaching 450°C (900°F) in just 15 minutes. This ensures perfectly crispy crusts and evenly cooked toppings, even for beginners. |
The Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven impresses with its ability to reach 900°F, offering the high heat needed for authentic pizzas. However, maintaining even heat distribution requires careful monitoring and frequent rotation.
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Ooni Koda 12 VS Bakebros 14: Shape
| The Ooni Koda 12 has a thoughtfully designed shape that optimizes heat circulation, ensuring evenly cooked pizzas with crispy crusts. Its compact design makes it ideal for small outdoor setups. |
The Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven has a well-thought-out shape that promotes even heat distribution. While the 14-inch claim is appealing, fitting larger pizzas can be challenging, and a 12-inch pizza works best in this oven.
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Ooni Koda 12 VS Bakebros 14: First-Time Usage Impressions
| Unboxing the Ooni Koda 12 immediately showcased its sleek and modern design. Its compact form and easy setup made a strong first impression, perfect for both beginners and experienced chefs. |
The Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven also makes a positive first impression with its secure packaging and useful accessories. However, there is a slight learning curve to get accustomed to its unique heat management.
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Ooni Koda 12 VS Bakebros 14: Power Source
| The Ooni Koda 12 is powered by gas, providing consistent, reliable heat with minimal effort. This power source makes it easy to use and perfect for outdoor pizza-making. |
The Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven uses LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), offering dependable performance. Gas fuel ensures convenience and is a popular choice for outdoor cooking.
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Ooni Koda 12 VS Bakebros 14: Size
| The Ooni Koda 12 is compact and portable, making it easy to transport and ideal for small outdoor spaces. Its lightweight design ensures effortless setup and storage. |
The Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven, with dimensions of 24 x 17 x 14 inches and a weight of 39.5 pounds, is slightly larger than the Ooni Koda 12 but still portable. While advertised as a 14-inch oven, it works best with 12-inch pizzas.
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Ooni Koda 12 VS Bakebros 14: Ease of Cleaning
| Cleaning the Ooni Koda 12 is straightforward and efficient. Its smooth exterior and easy-to-maintain baking stone simplify the process, and the Ooni Pizza Oven Brush ensures thorough cleaning. |
The Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven is easy to clean, thanks to its removable stone surface and mesh disc. The stainless steel exterior cleans easily with a mild soap solution, though soot from the gas burner may require extra attention.
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Pizza Cooking Test
The Ooni Koda 12 heated up in just 15 minutes, reaching its optimal temperature of 450°C (900°F). It cooked a classic Margherita pizza in only 2-3 minutes. The results were outstanding—a light, crispy crust with a perfect char, evenly melted cheese, and vibrant toppings. The flavor was exceptional, akin to what you’d find in a high-end pizzeria.
The Bakebros Pizza Oven took slightly longer to preheat, around 20-30 minutes. It cooked a Margherita pizza impressively fast, in just 60 seconds. The high heat delivered a good crust, though precise timing and rotation were needed to prevent uneven cooking. The flavor was excellent, with a touch of smokiness, though the crust didn’t quite match the consistency achieved with the Ooni Koda 12.
How We Tested
To provide a fair and thorough comparison of the Ooni Koda 12 and the Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven, I conducted a series of side-by-side tests in similar outdoor conditions. The goal was to evaluate their performance in key areas such as preheating time, cooking speed, and the quality of the pizzas they produced.
Both ovens were set up on stable outdoor surfaces, ensuring safety and even heat distribution. The Ooni Koda 12 was powered by gas, while the Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven utilized LPG gas as its fuel source. I used the same pizza dough recipe and fresh ingredients—tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil—for consistency in results.
Each oven was preheated to its recommended cooking temperature, with the warm-up time recorded. I used built-in thermometers to monitor the internal temperature and ensure both ovens reached optimal conditions for cooking. Once preheated, I prepared a classic Margherita pizza in each oven, closely observing how long it took to cook and the evenness of heat distribution.
To ensure accurate results, I rotated the pizzas during cooking, which is necessary for most outdoor pizza ovens. I assessed the crust texture, topping consistency, and overall flavor of the pizzas, noting any differences influenced by the ovens’ designs and features.
This testing process provided valuable insights into the performance, strengths, and limitations of both the Ooni Koda 12 and the Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven, helping to identify which oven might be the better choice depending on your needs and preferences.
Conclusion
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Winner
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Loser
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Our Rating:
4.8
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Our Rating:
2.8
|
|
Pros:
|
Pros:
|
|
Cons:
|
Cons:
|
- Good-quality materials like powder-coated carbon steel
- Extremely lightweight
- Easy to clean
- Compact design
- Strictly gas-powered
- Constructed from stainless steel
- Practical design
- Smaller and lighter (39.5 pounds), making it highly portable
- Struggles with consistent heat retention
- Requires a bit more practice to get used to
- Runs exclusively on LPG (propane gas)
- Requires more frequent maintenance due to less effective soot control
The choice between the Ooni Koda 12 and the Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven depends on your priorities. If you value precise temperature control, quick heating, and an intuitive, compact design, the Ooni Koda 12 is a fantastic option. However, if you’re seeking affordability, rapid cooking times, and a slightly larger design, the Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven offers great value.
If you decide to purchase one of these ovens, I’d greatly appreciate it if you used my referral links. I’ll earn a small commission at no cost to you, which helps support my blog. Here’s the link for the Ooni Koda 12 and the Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven. Thank you for your support!