A heat press comprising: base; a handle pivotally coupled to the base; a heater arm pivotally coupled to the base; a controller pivotally coupled to the handle and the heater arm such that the controller pivots from a first position to a second position during a pivotal movement of the handle from an open position to a closed position; a lower platen connected to the base; and an upper platen connected to the heater arm, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one parameter of the heat press, the controller including: a viewing surface (S 18) that is visible to an operator of the heat press during movement of the controller from the first position to the second position; a display disposed on the viewing surface; and at least one button configured to set the at least one parameter of the heat press, wherein the pivotal movement of the handle causes the controller to move such that the display and the at least one button are unobstructed while the controller pivots from the first position to the second position, wherein, when the controller is in the first position, the viewing surface of the controller is disposed at an angle relative to an upper surface of the upper platen, and wherein, when the controller is in the second position, the viewing surface of the controller is disposed substantially parallel to an upper surface of the upper platen, wherein a surface of the upper platen is separated from a surface of the lower platen in the open position, and the surface of the upper platen is in contact with the surface of the lower platen in the closed position. base; a handle pivotally coupled to the base; a heater arm pivotally coupled to the base; a controller pivotally coupled to the handle and the heater arm such that the controller pivots from a first position to a second position during a pivotal movement of the handle from an open position to a closed position; a lower platen connected to the base; and an upper platen connected to the heater arm, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one parameter of the heat press, the controller including: a viewing surface (S 18) that is visible to an operator of the heat press during movement of the controller from the first position to the second position; a display disposed on the viewing surface; and at least one button configured to set the at least one parameter of the heat press, wherein the pivotal movement of the handle causes the controller to move such that the display and the at least one button are unobstructed while the controller pivots from the first position to the second position, wherein, when the controller is in the first position, the viewing surface of the controller is disposed at an angle relative to an upper surface of the upper platen, and wherein, when the controller is in the second position, the viewing surface of the controller is disposed substantially parallel to an upper surface of the upper platen, wherein a surface of the upper platen is separated from a surface of the lower platen in the open position, and the surface of the upper platen is in contact with the surface of the lower platen in the closed position. a viewing surface (S 18) that is visible to an operator of the heat press during movement of the controller from the first position to the second position; a display disposed on the viewing surface; and at least one button configured to set the at least one parameter of the heat press, wherein the pivotal movement of the handle causes the controller to move such that the display and the at least one button are unobstructed while the controller pivots from the first position to the second position, wherein, when the controller is in the first position, the viewing surface of the controller is disposed at an angle relative to an upper surface of the upper platen, and wherein, when the controller is in the second position, the viewing surface of the controller is disposed substantially parallel to an upper surface of the upper platen, wherein a surface of the upper platen is separated from a surface of the lower platen in the open position, and the surface of the upper platen is in contact with the surface of the lower platen in the closed position.