Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee: The Quick & Easy on LRV, Undertones & a Little More

When it comes to the most popular white paint colors, Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee has been around a looooong time – but, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the BEST. Sometimes it’s more about the familiarity of the name rather than the flexibility of the color. And while it could be the PERFECT white paint color for your home, there are some serious things to consider before you start slappin’ it on your walls or cabinets.

I love to show RELATEABLE & REAL homes, so ONLY use photos from my Online Color Consulting clients. This means I don’t always have the quality pics I need (hence the ‘QUICK Review’), but DEFINITELY have some SUPER helpful info to help you on your way!

What type of white paint color is Swiss Coffee? Is it a true white?

Swiss Coffee is not a legit white paint color, due in part to its undertones and LRV, both of which we’ll get into below. Swiss Coffee is actually a considerably SOFT white paint color.

Is Swiss Coffee a warm or cool white paint color?

Swiss Coffee is a WARM white paint color – not OVERLY yellow/creamy, but definitely warm.

What’s the LRV of Swiss Coffee?

The LRV of Swiss Coffee is ALMOST 84 (the website says 83.93, the fan deck says 82), so it’s a white, but a SOFT white that is closer to being off-white than BRIGHT white (learn more HERE).

Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.

What are the undertones of Swiss Coffee? Will it look yellow?

When it comes to Swiss Coffee, it can be about perception. If you have a lot of warm/beige tones in your home it can settle as a soft warm white. If you have cooler tones, those cool tones can react with the warmth of Swiss Coffee and make it look much more yellow in comparison. But, regardless, Swiss Coffee IS a warm creamy white. Cream is a yellow base paint color, so you WILL have a yellow-based warmth to it, but it can pick up a WEEEE wink of green sometimes, which makes me a bit nervous – especially when there are other soft whites that are a bit more predictable (keep reading).

What’s the best way to sample Swiss Coffee?

Like with every paint color, I highly recommend using SAMPLIZE. Samplize is a peel & stick paint sample that you can easily move around your room for over HALF THE COST of traditional sample pots – and they deliver right to your front door!

However, with WHITE paint colors, I recommend NOT comparing them to white paper/poster board as the cooler tones of the paper can OVEREXPOSE the undertones of some white paint colors. Only compare whites to OTHER white paint colors that are similar (ie: Benjamin Moore White Dove, Sherwin Williams Pure White).

Learn more about Samplize HERE

If I’m painting my walls Swiss Coffee, what’s the best white paint color for my trim?

If you’re painting your walls Swiss Coffee, I highly recommend painting your TRIM Swiss Coffee. Because Swiss Coffee has unpredictable undertones, I wouldn’t mess around too much with mixing and matching whites with it.

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The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams

Is Swiss Coffee a good color for the exterior of my home?

I wouldn’t do it as there are SEVERAL other white paint colors that I believe are better and safer choices for white trim or siding.

5 Tips to Choosing an Exterior Paint Color

Is Swiss Coffee a popular paint color right now?

Swiss Coffee is popular as an EXISTING paint color, as it was used a lot in the last 20 years or so and a lot of my Online Color Consulting clients have it on their trim or cabinets. However, in new construction/painting, most people are choosing whiter or safer white paint colors.

What paint colors go with Swiss Coffee?

When it comes to Swiss Coffee, there aren’t a lot of paint colors that I totally LOVE with it, and would lean the most towards…

Beige or tan paint colors that have a weeee tiny wink of green hiding in them (ie: Grant Beige)
I would absolutely avoid greige or taupe (with purple or purple-pink undertones)
I would avoid many/most gray paint colors, unless they had a bit of depth to them

Not sure if Swiss Coffee is right for you? Want a bit warmer or cooler? I’ve got more! Also, because I use Swiss Coffee so rarely in my E-design, I don’t have photos of it, but these next reviews have some AWESOME example photos for you to check out!

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Pure White

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Simply White

Not sure which paint color is best for YOUR home?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!