Printing with chocolate has been a concept for a while now, with various conversion kits allowing users to jury-rig their current 3D printers to print with the delicious treat. However, these kits have always needed to catch up in one way or another. Now, a new approach has been introduced: the Cocoa Press.
The Cocoa Press is a complete chocolate 3D printer that enables users to make almost any 3D model out of chocolate. The printer comes in either kit form for $1,500 or fully assembled for $4,000. As per CNET, Cocoa Press is a 3D printer that prints chocolate. It was unveiled at a 3D-printing convention in Maryland in late 2022 and has since garnered attention for its impressive engineering.
Unlike traditional 3D printers that use plastic, the Cocoa Press uses a reservoir filled with specialty chocolate that cools quickly and then extrudes onto a built surface in layers. The printer’s parts that come into contact with the chocolate are food-safe and made of silicone or stainless steel. The printing temperature is just 80 degrees Fahrenheit, making it safe to use around children.
What sets Cocoa Press apart from other chocolate printers is the quality of its final models. Because the chocolate cools so quickly, the printer can create more advanced geometries and a wider variety of shapes. Users can even print hollow models with a small hole to fill them with jams, fondants, or ganache. The Cocoa Press can be used at home or in a small business to make delicious treats for friends and family or to sell at farmers’ markets or online.
The kit comes with all the necessary electronics and mechanical parts to start printing chocolate, although users will need to 3D print some parts. Only four parts of the printer come into contact with the food and can be easily removed for cleaning. Cocoa Press also sells special cylinders of chocolate that fit easily into the printer’s chamber, but users can create their own. A pack of ten cylinders costs $49, weighing 70 grams (2.5 ounces).
As of April 17, 2023, the Cocoa Press is available for reservation for $100 and is expected to ship to the US and Canada in September 2023. The total price of the kit requiring users to 3D print some parts is $1,500, while a fully assembled kit will cost $4,000 and ship later in the year. Overall, the Cocoa Press provides an exciting new way for users to create chocolate treats at home or in their business.
