Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee is a color that is being used by top designers in Interior Design. Today we will dive into why this color has become so popular with real-life examples of how it looks in homes.

If you have been researching white paint colors then you have realized that there are a ton of choices! You can go with warm whites, cool whites, neutrals, and more. My aunt recently told me she had no idea there were so many shades of white!

*This post contains affiliate links. For more details see my full disclosure.

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee Undertones

Swiss Coffee is one of the most popular whites that Benjamin Moore has and a big reason is the undertones.

Just about every paint color has some type of undertones. It’s really hard to get a white that is a true white paint color.

The undertones of Swiss Coffee are yellow, green, and a touch of gray. The combination of yellow and green gives it creaminess but the touch of gray keeps it from being too yellow.

Is Swiss Coffee Warm or Cool?

Because Swiss Coffee has those yellow and green undertones it definitely pulls on the warm side of the spectrum. But with the touch of gray it doesn’t read as a yellow paint color.

The gray keeps the color from being too warm but allows it to be the perfect creamy warm shade of white. Honestly, it’s like being wrapped in a big hug.

What is the LRV of Swiss Coffee?

LRV stands for Light Reflective Value and it is a scale from 0-100 that measures the amount of light a paint color reflects. Zero being the darkest black and 100 being the brightest white.

The LRV of Swiss Coffee is 81.91 which makes it a very light paint color. It reflects a ton of light so it’s a good choice for those of you wanting to make a room feel brighter.

How does lighting affect Swiss Coffee?

Lighting can really make an impact on what undertones come through in a paint color. Whether a room gets enough natural light or what type of light bulbs you use are very important.

• North-facing rooms have a light that tends to be a little cooler in nature and will come off slightly blue. Light colors will be a bit more muted or washed out while darker colors will be stunning.
• East-facing rooms will have brighter light in the morning and less in the evenings. The evening light will be a bit cooler. In the morning with sunrise, the bright sun will be warm. Warm color palettes are great for these spaces because they will help balance the cool feel of the evenings.
• South-facing rooms have consistent warm light throughout the day. The light really shows off the colors, dark will be very bright, and light colors will shine. Both warm and cool color palettes look good in a south-facing room.
• West-facing rooms have warm light in the evening and cooler light in the morning. Basically, it’s the opposite of east-facing.

How to know if a paint color is right for you?

The best way to judge if a color is good for you then you will want to put a swatch on the wall and look at it over a few days. Look at it in different lights and decide if you really like it.

You can do this by getting a sample from the paint store and using a brush put it up on the walls, but then you are left with a can that you can’t do anything with. Those samples are used with poor quality paint and aren’t meant for use on your walls permanently.

I recommend going with Samplize. They are a company that will send you a 12X12 peel and stick swatch of a paint color that you can stick to the wall. When you are done just peel it off and throw it away.

It’s easy and much less messy!

What colors go well with Swiss Coffee?

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee is a great color because it pairs really well with both warm and cool colors.

I would stick with mid-toned to dark grays, either warm or cool, as well as mid-to-dark blues. This color also looks amazing with dark colors such as charcoals, blacks, and very warm colors.

What is the best trim color for Swiss Coffee?

If you have Swiss Coffee on your walls and you want a white for your trim definitely go brighter and crisper with the color.

I really like Chantilly Lace, Oxford White, and Simply White.

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee Whole Home Color Palette

Get this free whole home color palette for Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee. I will send it right to your inbox!

Where to use Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee

This color is gorgeous because it can be used anywhere. Here are a few of my favorite places:

• Exterior
• Cabinets
• Walls
• Trim
• Furniture

Swiss Coffee on Cabinets

Studio McGee used Swiss Coffee at a 75% strength for these cabinets. I think they are just stunning! I love the use of gold hardware and how well the paint color goes with the dark hardwood floors.

What’s also really amazing is how this warm-toned paint color goes so nicely with the cool marble.

Swiss Coffee in a Home Spa

Designing Vibes used Swiss Coffee in this spa and I think it’s a perfect choice! What better way to create a cozy warm hug, perfect for relaxing, in a spa?

Swiss Coffee in a Living Room

Studio McGee obviously loves this paint color and it’s obvious why. This living room is painted in Swiss Coffee and it gives such a calming effect.

Using all neutrals in a home creates the feel of relaxation and that’s exactly what they have achieved here. Carrying the paint color from the kitchen through the living room really helps create a cohesive look.

Swiss Coffee on the Exterior

This home is simply gorgeous! I love how well Swiss Coffee looks with the stone on the front as well as the dark gray roof. This is a perfect example of how well this color plays with other tones.

Similar Colors

There are a lot of similar colors on the market. Let’s do a little comparison so you can see how Swiss Coffee stacks up against other popular creamy white paint colors.

Swiss Coffee vs White Dove

These two colors are very similar in LRV, Swiss Coffee is at 82 and White Dove is at 83. Where they are slightly different is the undertones. White Dove has just yellow whereas Swiss Coffee has both yellow and green.

Get a swatch of White Dove from Samplize!

Swiss Coffee vs Sherwin Williams Alabaster

These two colors are very close even though they come from different manufacturers. Sherwin Williams Alabaster has an LRV of 82 and Swiss Coffee is an 83. Alabaster is a bit more creamy with yellow undertones and Swiss Coffee has yellow and green.

Get a swatch of Alabaster from Samplize!

Swiss Coffee vs Sherwin Williams Greek Villa

These colors are similar even though they too come from different manufacturers, Greek Villa is from Sherwin Williams. They have the same LRV but different undertones. Greek Villa is creamier with just yellow undertones while Swiss Coffee has yellow but a hint of green.

Get a swatch of Greek Villa from Samplize!

Swiss Coffee vs Sherwin Williams Pure White

Pure White is a color I have used in my home. They are similar in LRV. Sherwin Williams Pure White is at an 84 while Swiss Coffee is at an 82. So Pure White is slightly brighter but the biggest difference is undertones. Pure White has a touch of gray which makes it much more muted, not showing as yellow or green as Swiss Coffee can.

Get a swatch of Pure White from Samplize!

Swiss Coffee vs Cloud White

Cloud White is a lighter color with a slightly cooler tone. The LRV of Swiss Coffee is 82 and Cloud White is 85.

Get a swatch of Cloud White from Samplize!

Swiss Coffee vs Simply White

The biggest difference between these colors is the LRV. Simply White is much brighter with an LRV of 89.5! Simply White also has only yellow undertones whereas Swiss Coffee has yellow with a hint of green.

Get a swatch of Simply White from Samplize!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Swiss Coffee so popular?

There are a lot of prominent interior designers using this color right now which has contributed to its surge in popularity. But just because they use it doesn’t make it right for your home. Make sure you test samples before committing.

Does Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee look gray?

No it does not look gray. This color is a warm white and very creamy in nature.

Does Swiss Coffee look yellow?

While Swiss Coffee does have yellow undertones it rarely looks yellow on the walls. If you have very warm lighting it can give a wink of yellow but most of the time it’s a gorgeous warm white.

Can I use Swiss Coffee on trim?

You absolutely can use Swiss Coffee on trim! I would just be careful of what wall color you are pairing it with. Stick with a whiter color so there is a good contrast or maybe a dark color such as Urbane Bronze. Again, looking for the contrast.

When should I avoid Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee?

Stay away from using this color in cooler areas with cool colors. I would also avoid using it with cooler finishes such as Carrera Marble.

What is the Sherwin Williams equivalent?

While there is no equivalents between paint manufacturers there are colors that are similar. The closest color from Sherwin Williams to Swiss Coffee is Dover White.

Recap on Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee

If you are looking for an off-white paint color that provides the perfect balance of light and creaminess then look no further. Swiss Coffee lights up a room while wrapping you in a big hug.

You can use it on walls, trim, cabinetry, and more! The color is perfect for just about anywhere. Let’s review everything we discussed today:

• Undertones of yellow, green, and a hint of gray
• LRV of 81.91
• A very light and bright paint color
• Considered a creamy off white warm paint color
• Warms up in a south-facing room
• Looks more of a neutral white in a north-facing room
• Pairs really well with both warm and cool-toned colors

I think this is one of those colors that will remain popular for a long time to come. It’s very versatile and that is the quality of a paint color that can look good almost anywhere.

Other Paint Colors You Might Like:

• Sherwin Williams Alpaca: Paint Color Review
• Sherwin Williams Greek Villa
• 5 Tips on Choosing the Perfect Paint Color for your Home
• Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige: Not Your Typical Beige
• Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist

Sharing is caring!