A new 3D printer can print delicious chocolate 3D models and you can reserve one today

The idea of ​​printing with chocolate has been around for a while now. There are a few conversion kits to retrofit your current 3D printer, but they’re still insufficient. The Cocoa Press is a new approach: it’s a complete chocolate 3D printer that comes in kit form for $1,500 or fully assembled for $4,000 and lets you create almost any 3D model in chocolate.

I first saw Cocoa Press in late 2022 at the East Coast RepRap Festival, a 3D printing convention in Maryland. I was impressed with the engineering involved. Unlike a normal 3D print, which uses a thin strand of plastic, the Cocoa Press has a reservoir filled with specialty chocolate. This chocolate cools quickly and then extrudes onto the build surface in layers. All parts that touch the chocolate are food safe – silicone or stainless steel – and since the printing temperature is only 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius), it is safe for children.

What is interesting is the quality of the final models. Because chocolate cools so quickly, it can support more advanced geometries than other chocolate printers, allowing for a much greater variety of potential chocolate shapes. You can even print hollow models with a small hole to fill them with your favorite jams, fondants or ganache. In this image you can see that even these simple designs show how it could be used at home or in a small business. Making delicious treats for your friends and family would be a lot of fun, and you could also sell them at a farmer’s market or online.

Although the kit requires you to 3D print some of the parts, it comes with all the electronic and mechanical parts you will need to start printing chocolate. Luckily, only four parts of the printer touch food, and they’re all easily removable to clean in a sink and make sure everything’s hygienic. Cocoa Press also sells the chocolate in special cylinders that easily fit in the room, but it says you can try making your own. These cylinders will retail for $49 for a pack of 10, each weighing 70 grams (2.5 ounces). Considering the costs, it’s not bad, especially if you plan to sell your designs on Etsy or a marketplace.

I love 3D printing. It gives you a chance to be creative in new and exciting ways, so any progress that increases this creative avenue deserves some attention. Ellie Weinstein, the engineer behind Cocoa Press, has been working on this project for a while now, and following her journey as she finds new ways to print chocolate has been amazing. I also love chocolate, and combining the two makes my mouth water for cool things I could make. I already see Etsy shops full of poseable chocolate dragons, chocolate trophies, and cream-filled dragon eggs.

As of April 17, 2023, the Cocoa Press can be reserved for $100 and is expected to ship to the United States and Canada in September 2023. The total price will be $1,500 for the kit requiring you to print your own 3D parts. Or it’s $4,000 for a fully assembled kit, which will ship later in the year.