A coating press for multi-face foil coating of work pieces, includes a work table for receiving work pieces that are to be coated. The work table has a table plate with grid-shaped through holes formed therein and the table plate has a top surface. A bottom press plate is provided for supporting the work table. There is a tray carriage which receives the work table and introduces the work table into the coating press. There are carrier elements having footing faces movably disposed in the through holes. The carrier elements receive and support the work pieces. Each of the carrier elements are reversibly variable in length between an extended position and a non-extended position. The carrier elements fully covered by the work pieces are in the extended position standing on the footing faces on the bottom press plate and extend above the top surface of the table plate for raising the work pieces above a level of the table plate. The carrier elements not covered or partially covered by the work pieces are put in the non-extended position.