Charcoal Briquette Pros

• The strengths of charcoal briquettes make them contenders for those grilling occasions that require hot cooking temperatures for a long period of time. If you are cooking for a large gathering, be it family, friends or co-workers, large numbers of people require a lot of food. Briquettes can maintain consistent heat for a long while. Briquettes are also cheaper than lump charcoal.
  
  

Charcoal Briquette Cons

• Many people complain about the chemical smell and flavor that briquettes create. They are also a man-made product, and so-called purists claim that the best charcoal is made from real hardwood. It is somewhat harder to control and regulate the cooking temperature with briquettes. And they leave a large amount of ash to clean up.
  
  

Lump Charcoal Pros

• Because lump charcoal is made of chunks of solid hardwood, grillers do not experience the chemical smell and flavor of briquettes. Hardwoods also tend to burn at higher temperatures than briquettes. These temperatures are also easier to control by using the vents built into charcoal grills. There is no need to douse lump charcoal in lighter fluid. It is inherently easier to light. And when the grilling is over, there is less ash to deal with.
  
  

Lump Charcoal Cons

• The problems with lump charcoal are that it is more expensive than briquettes--sometimes cost prohibitive to some interested customers. And the lump sizes vary greatly---down to sizes that are unusable. Lump charcoal burns and loses its heat faster than charcoal briquettes as well.
  
  

Conclusions and Suggestions

• Based on this information, using the right charcoal form for the right occasion would be the best idea. For longer grill times go for the briquettes; for smaller gatherings, go for lump charcoal. If your friends and family do not care for the chemicals, use lump charcoal. If you are concerned about clean-up time, choose lump charcoal.
  
  When grilling, place a tray of wet mesquite or hickory chips in with briquettes so the smoke will mask the chemical smell and flavor. Because briquettes burn for a long time, utilize them when you are smoking meats.