FAQ's: The basics

  • How does it work?

    Cocoa Press is a 3D printer which means it builds up a chocolate object layer by layer. It's kind of like an automated piping bag. Cocoa Press heats chocolate to just below body temperature, extrudes it, and allows it to solidify in ambient temperature air.

  • How does Cocoa Press differ from a traditional (FFF) 3D printer?

    Most parts of Cocoa Press are very similar to a traditional consumer 3D printer. The biggest difference is that all of the chocolate for a print gets heated at the same time instead of being fed into the printer as it goes.

  • What kind of things can I print with Cocoa Press?

    With Cocoa Press the possibilities for what you can print are only limited by your imagination. You can make personalized designs with names and logos, unique textures and patterns, holiday symbols, figurines, sculputures, and more!

  • Where do I get designs

    We will have some pre-made designs or you can find a design online from a site like Printables which is like the Google Images for 3D printable files. You can also design your own prints in any CAD software. Cocoa Press uses .stl and .3mf files which are standard across all 3D printers.

  • How easy is it to use?

    Cocoa Press is designed for easy use with simple setup and reliable results. That being said there is a learning curve for 3D printing and figuring out what designs work best. Once you have the basics down, you will be able to unleash your creativity and bring your ideas to life.

  • How fast is 3D printing chocolate?

    3D printing chocolate is for personalized designs, small batch/custom orders, and creating parts not possible with traditional making. Each chocolate takes between 5 minutes and 2 hours to create depending on the size and complexity of the design.

FAQ's: About the Printer

  • What is the build volume?

    Cocoa Press has a 140 x 150 x 150mm (5.5"×6"×6") build volume. That being said, you are more limited by the amount of chocolate in the cartridge. Each chocolate core contains 70g of chocolate. We are working on a method to allow you to reload chocolate in the middle of a print.

  • What is the difference between the DIY kit and Pro package?

    The biggest difference is that you need to 3D print your own parts for the DIY kit, and will need to assemble it. The professional package comes fully assembled and has additional benefits like an extra cartridge, accessories, and a longer warranty. The printers themselves are the same.

  • How difficult is the assembly process?

    The DIY printer kit takes about 10 hours to build. We only recommend the kit if you have previous 3D printing experience. It is slightly easier than a VORON V0.1 assembly You do not need to have any previous knowledge of electronics or wiring.

  • How much power does the printer use?

    The printer peaks at 150 Watts and plugs into a standard wall 110 or 220 outlet.

  • How easy is it to use no previous chocolate experience?

    Cocoa Press makes it easy to use without any previous knowledge of chocolate. Our chocolate cores and reusable cartridge system makes you almost forget you are 3D printing in chocolate.

  • How can I get a printer?

    You can reserve a DIY printer kit starting April 17th with a $100 deposit. This will help us to determine how many parts to buy. We aim to ship printers this September and will charge you when they are ready to ship. We will ship the fully assembled pro printer package starting January 2024.

FAQ's: About the Chocolate

  • What kind of chocolate do you use?

    We have our own formulation of milk and dark chocolate we recommend using. It is compound chocolate which means that while it still uses cocoa solids, the fat is palm oil based instead of cocoa butter based. We use sustainably sourced palm oil certified by the RSPO. Our chocolate cores will cost $49 for a pack of 10. Larger quantities will also be available.

  • Can I use my own chocolate with Cocoa Press?

    You can certainly use your own chocolate! That being said it will require a fair amount of experimentation to get working. The main challenges you will face will be making the chocolate refills air bubble free, and finding the right printing temperature. Our chocolate cores will be easier and more reliable, but the printer is not locked into using our chocolate.

  • What kind of chocolate do you offer?

    We currently offer milk and dark chocolate cores. In the future we will be adding white chocolate and colorful chocolate. Check back soon for our ingredients and nutrition information.

  • Can I add caramel, candies, or marshmallows in during a print?

    Definitely! You can use the pause button on the printer's touschreen, add your drop-ins, and then hit resume. You can also add the M0 command into your G-code to be sure the print pauses at the perfect time.

  • How do I clean Cocoa Press?

    Cleaning your Cocoa Press printer is very easy, The chocolate only touches four pieces that can all be removed without any tools and washed in the sink. We include all of the brushes you need with the printer. You should use a clean plunger between every print, and wash the other three pieces at the end of every day.

  • What temperature and humidity can I print chocolate in?

    We recommend keeping the room temperature between 64°F and 74°F, and keeping the relative humidity under 50%. If your room is colder you should turn up the temperature of the chocolate, while if your room is warmer you may want to reduce the print speed or complication of your prints.

  • What are the ingredients of your chocolate?

    While they are not finalized yet, here are the current ingredients of our chocolate.

    Dark Chocolate:

    Sugar, Vegetable Oils (Palm Kernel, Palm), Cocoa (processed with alkali), Lactose (Milk), Sunflower Lecithin (an emulsifier), Vanilla (Milk)

    Contains: Milk

    Milk Chocolate:

    Sugar, Vegetable Oils (Palm Kernel, Palm) Non Fat Milk, Whole Milk, Cocoa (processed with alkali), Sunflower Lecithin (an emulsifier), Vanilla (Milk)

    Contains: Milk

  • Is your chocolate vegan? Is it kosher?

    Our chocolate compound is certified Kosher Dairy by Chicago Rabbinical Council.

    We do not currently have vegan chocolate cores. We are working to remove milk from the dark chocolate so there will be a vegan option moving forward. This is still in progress but we are aiming to finish it before the printer ships.

  • How do I store my chocolate cores and prints?

    Our chocolate should be stored at room temperature (65°F-75°F). It should not be refrigerated or frozen since that may cause the chocolate the bloom.

    Our chocolate cores have a 12 month shelf life. After that, the chocolate may bloom, but it will still be safe to eat.

FAQ's: Ordering your Printer

  • How can I convert my reservation to an order?

    Starting September 18th we will have a new product listing for the Cocoa Press DIY kit. If you check out using the same email address you used to reserve a printer, it will apply a $100 "discount" at checkout.

  • How will the printers be shipped?

    Your printer and the chocolate for your printer will ship separately. We will use UPS for orders in the US. For orders shipping to Canada we will work with a 3rd party supplier.

  • Can I change my shipping address/name/order info?

    There is no need to update your info for your reserved printer. We will use the shipping name and address you provide when you convert your order. If you would like to change your name or address after placing your order, please email our support team at hello@cocoapress.com.

  • What can I do to prepare to get my Cocoa Press DIY kit?

    There are a few things you can do to prepare to get your Cocoa Press DIY kit!

    • First, ensure you have the space to build the printer, and have space to fit the 320x380x7500mm machine after it's assembled.
    • Think about what color scheme you want to use for it. It requires ~750g of the primary color and ~250g of the accent color
    • By the end of September we will have the 3D printable files posted and you can begin to print them
    • Our PrusaSlicer profile is live! Follow the steps to get it set up below
    PrusaSlicer setup tutorial 

  • Can I order additional chocolate and spare parts?

    Yes! We have additional chocolate and parts available below. Need something that's not on our list? Reach out to support at hello@cocoapress.com

    Shop Cocoa Press 

  • How long do I have to convert my reservation?

    You will have from September 18th to November 17th to convert your reservation before we release the stock to others. We are expecting to sell out!a

    Anyone who converts their reservation by October 13 will maintain their spot in line for shipping, based on your original reservation time.

Have any more questions?