I’ve been waiting for a full-sized electric grill from Weber for a while now. It’s a potential high-growth category that W.C. Bradley Co. has been owning and innovating in with the Charbroil EDGE and the Current brand.
It appears that Weber may have one just around the corner. They filed for a trademark for Verve a little while ago, now there is a patent that would fit the description, and some possible product pages popping up.
This is all speculation, but I’m guessing it will come in two different models, a 1-zone and a 2-zone. I think the models will retail somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,000 and $1,200 respectively, which is near what Current prices their grills at.
It appears that they will offer this model in the US and in Europe. The European model will likely have slightly different specs with their different outlet voltage. I think the Verve will provide max temps around 650 degrees F though, regardless of market.
Above is a product image that’s floating around. A big difference from other electric grills on the market is the way that it transfers heat to your food. Other grills use radiant heating and conduction for cooking, the design for this one adds convection.
There are two fans on the back of the cook chamber above the heating elements and cooking grates. It’s like a combination electric grill and the Ninja FlexFlame.
The temperature on cooking zones will be digitally controlled. I think it will also offer connected grilling through the Weber app.
There were a couple of other ideas in the patent that I don’t see in the above image. First, is the patent suggests the idea of having an air fryer on the cart in addition to the cook chamber. That would be a nice way to add versatility to the grill.
The downside of that is added cost for an already premium product, and the added power consumption. I think you could also accomplish much of what an air fryer could just with a cook mode on the controller and using the convection fans in the cook chamber.
The other idea was having a warming compartment on the cart. That has similar complications to the air fryer. It will be interesting to see if those ideas make it to future models though.
Weber usually releases their new grill for the upcoming grill season around this time. I think we’ll see this one and a smart charcoal grill be announced in the next couple of months.