1st Experience with the S1 and Breezo

Chefstemp S1 and Breezo Fan Review on the Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco

The hype is real and here’s why

If you’ve spent any time around backyard barbecue lately, you’ve probably seen the buzz around the Chefstemp S1 smart thermometer paired with the Breezo fan. Most of those videos focus on kettles or standard grills, but I couldn’t find much showing this system running on an Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco. As a Bronco owner, that left one big question hanging in the smoke. Would it actually work?

So I reached out to Chefstemp, explained the setup and the channel, and they were kind enough to send over a starter kit so I could put it to the test. What follows is not theory or marketing talk. This is real-world cooking on a real smoker, including an overnight pork butt cook.

What’s in the Chefstemp ecosystem?

The setup I used included the Chefstemp S1 smart thermometer, the Breezo fan, two probes, and a charging station that can handle up to four probes. The S1 can be used on its own as a digital thermometer, but the magic really happens when it’s paired with the Breezo, which actively regulates airflow to maintain your target pit temperature.

The system supports up to four probes, so you can monitor both ambient and internal temperatures across multiple cuts if you want. There’s also room to expand later without replacing the core unit.

Installing the Breezo on the OKJ Bronco

Installation is straightforward but not completely plug-and-play. The Breezo uses a universal mounting system, but you do need to attach the included spring before installing it. On the Bronco, you remove the intake damper nut, insert the Breezo spring into the intake opening, and secure it in place.

One thing worth noting is that the Breezo is powered, not battery-operated. That might sound like a downside at first, but realistically, a battery strong enough to run this fan through long overnight cooks would add cost, weight, and mounting challenges. In practice, the wired setup makes sense.

The Breezo comes with brackets for kamado-style intakes and heat tape if sealing is an issue. I didn’t need the tape, though the unit wasn’t rock solid. I actually bumped it loose while filling the charcoal basket. Add curious raccoons into the mix, and a little extra tape gave me peace of mind.

Replacing the Bronco thermometer with the Chefstemp hub

The Chefstemp hub replaces the factory Oklahoma Joe’s thermometer, which is notorious for reading low. The S1’s probe is significantly longer, placing it closer to the actual cooking environment while still clearing the deflector plate and grates.

The main unit twists and locks into the hub, and from there everything is controlled through the Chefstemp app. You can connect via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, but I strongly recommend Wi-Fi, especially if you care about sleeping through the night. More on that in a minute.

App features and first impressions

The app is loaded with options. You can add devices, set internal temperature targets using presets or custom values, control fan behavior, choose alarm sounds, and switch between light and dark mode. It can feel overwhelming at first, especially if you’re not particularly tech-savvy, but once you get past the initial setup, it’s surprisingly intuitive.

Chefstemp also allows temperature compensation, though they advise against using it unless absolutely necessary. In my testing, it wasn’t needed.

Testing temperature control

For the first test, I loaded charcoal into the basket, closed the lid, and immediately set the Breezo to 250°F without letting the fire establish itself. The Breezo vent was open two clicks, and the Bronco exhaust was fully open.

After a few minutes of thick startup smoke, everything settled down. Instead of blasting past the target temp, the Breezo began pulsing airflow around 219°F and locked in at a dead-on 250°F. Using a second ambient probe for comparison, the readings were very close, with minor differences explained by probe placement.

The system held temperatures within about a 10°F range, which is impressive for a drum smoker.

I pushed things further by opening the Breezo vent completely. As expected, without airflow restriction, the pit climbed past 300°F. Closing everything back down smothered the fire completely. Then, after reopening the vents and turning the fan back on, the Bronco returned to a steady 250°F within minutes. That sealed my confidence.

The overnight pork butt test

The real test came the next night. I filled the charcoal basket with briquettes, lump charcoal, and chunks of cherry and pecan. A Boston butt went on after a simple salt and pepper dry brine.

At midnight, I set the pit to 250°F, the Breezo vent to one click, and the internal target to 203°F. Then I went to bed.

Eight hours later, the smoker was still cruising within a 10 to 15°F range. No adjustments. No alarms. No panic checks. The bark was beautiful, moisture was still present without spritzing, and the cook continued smoothly after wrapping.

Even better, the Wi-Fi connection never dropped. I tested it by driving over a mile away to the grocery store, and the app continued updating in real time. That alone is worth mentioning.

Battery life, results, and value

After more than 17 hours of runtime, the S1 had only used one bar of battery. The pork butt finished, rested, and pulled perfectly.

So is the value there? The full setup I used is roughly $250 retail, but if you don’t need two probes. That brings the cost closer to $200. For about the price of an average hotel room, I got a full night’s sleep and stress-free barbecue.

When you frame it that way, the value is absolutely there.

Final thoughts

The Chefstemp S1 paired with the Breezo fan delivers exactly what it promises. Reliable temperature control, excellent app performance, strong battery life, and true set-it-and-forget-it cooking, even on an Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco.

The barbecue was great, but that was never the question. The real win here is confidence, consistency, and sleep. And for me, that makes this system a win!

Check out the full review on YouTube: https://youtu.be/guOT39Uwjaw?si=wPDqwv0jMtahkOB-