A new desktop chocolate 3D printer has entered the scene. Conceptualized in 2014 by creator (and former “Battlebots” contestant) Ellie Rose Weinstein, the Cocoa Press is an FDM-like machine that uses palm oil-based chocolate “cores” to print chocolate objects, layer by layer.
The Cocoa Press’ impending launch is exciting for a number of reasons. For one, it will breathe new life into the chocolate 3D printing space, which seems to have stalled on both the consumer and professional levels. Second is its accessibility. Starting at $1,499 for the Cocoa Press’ DIY version — which requires end-users to 3D print some components and a 10-hour assembly — it will be hard to beat the Cocoa Press in terms of value, so long as it lives up to its promises.
Chocolate 3D printers typically cost around $2,000 and above for professional machines, with few compact models managing prices closer to $500. The Cocoa Press’ fully-assembled professional model comes with a much more substantial $3,995 price tag, but the more affordable variety could spell good things for the community surrounding this machine.
Rather than heating material as it’s fed into the machine, as an FDM 3D printer does filament, the Cocoa Press fully heats chocolate cores – which will cost $49 for a pack of 10 – to just below body temperature before extrusion. Prints are then cooled at “ambient room temperature.” Then it’s snack time. Though the printer isn’t locked into the company’s own material, Cocoa Press advises that good results with your own chocolate will take some experimentation.
Hardware-wise, the Cocoa Press is a fairly bare-bones machine, featuring a touchscreen and a build volume of 140 x 150 x 150 mm, ostensibly giving users plenty of room to create chocolatey treats. The limiting factor, however, will be the amount of chocolate in individual cores. At just 70 g each, you may need to think creatively when it comes to printing larger designs; although Cocoa Press is currently working on a method that will enable mid-print reloads. As far as software goes, the Cocoa Press relies on PrusaSlicer to slice STL or 3MF files, of which there are already a few available on the OEM’s Printables page.
DIY kits for the Cocoa Press start at $1,499, with professional machines starting at $3,995. Reservations for the DIY kit will open on April 17 with a $100 deposit and an estimated September ship date. Pro printers, meanwhile, have a projected January 2024 ship date. Check out the Cocoa Press website for full specs, a detailed FAQ, and more.
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