Ooni Karu 12 or Ooni Koda 12?

On paper they are very alike: both 12 inches (30 cm), both 500 °C according to Ooni, and both at temperature in about 15 minutes. The difference is what you burn, and that decides how an evening of baking goes.

The Koda 12 is a gas oven with built-in ignition. Connect the gas bottle, switch it on, and there is nothing to top up while you bake. It weighs 9.25 kilos and stands only 29.8 cm tall, so it is easy to put away. The hose and regulator are bought separately.

The Karu 12 burns wood or charcoal. That means lighting a fire, tending it between pizzas and clearing out ash afterwards. In return you get a wood fire with smoke flavour, and the option of baking on gas later with the separately sold gas burner. It weighs 12 kilos and stands 80 cm tall with its chimney, so it needs more storage space.

Pick the Koda 12 if you mostly want a quick pizza on a weeknight and convenience comes first. Pick the Karu 12 if tending the fire is part of the fun, or if you want to keep the choice between wood and gas open. Neither has a thermometer, so an infrared thermometer is useful with both.