Is Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee The Best White Paint Color?
Swiss Coffee: Why it shouldn’t be popular…but is
If you’re a fan of Studio McGee and love white cabinets, walls, or trim, you’ve probably come across Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee. And Shea McGee’s BEAUTIFUL home might have you thinking that Swiss Coffee is the color for YOU – and it might be.
But before you start slapping paint on your walls, we need to chat (insert wine here).
Heck, even Nate Berkus states that Swiss Coffee is one of his favorite shades of white. I love me some Nate, but I don’t love me some Swiss Coffee (although I agree with him on Sherwin Williams Alabaster and Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe – they’re amazeballs).
Let me preface this by saying that Swiss Coffee can be a beautiful paint color, and I’ve seen it look stunning in many homes.
So, if you currently have it and it’s working, awesome possum (in other words, don’t shoot the cute little Ginger messenger). One of the only reasons Swiss Coffee is popular is that famous people use it.
However, there’s a ‘but.’ And it’s such a HUGE ‘but’ that you’ll think it’s been surgically enhanced. But, before we chat about that, let’s cover the four most popular white paint colors…
NOT Swiss Coffee. This is Sherwin William’s Alabaster
THE MOST POPULAR SHADES OF WHITE
There are four popular shades in the soft, warm white world
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace: A bright, almost true shade of white with only a wink of softness.
- Sherwin Williams Alabaster: A popular, soft, warm, creamy shade of white.
- Benjamin Moore White Dove: A gorgeous, soft, warm shade of white – not as warm as Alabaster, but getting there.
- And Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee…
All of these whites have their place (just so you know, Swiss Coffee isn’t popular in my world—it doesn’t even make my TOP 10, but it is in others). Some love Chantilly Lace’s brighter, slightly cleaner approach, whereas others lean into the creamy warmth of Alabaster. But… (here it is, and it’s JUICY)…
If there’s ONE of these white paint colors that’s slightly more likely to flash GREEN, which one do you think it is?
BENJAMIN MOORE SWISS FREAKIN’ COFFEE
The green is more noticeable as it’s against a cool, white-blue background… but it’s there.
That’s right – green.
- Is it subtle? YES, very.
- Can this undertone work for some homes? YES.
- Will you see it in YOUR home? Probably not.
- Am I being anal about this? Definitely
But for most people, green isn’t the undertone they’re looking for when choosing a soft, warm shade of white for their walls, cabinets, or trim.
SWISS COFFEE?! Nope. This is Sherwin Williams Pure White
And do you know which white is SO SIMILAR TO SWISS COFFEE THAT IT’S CRAZY?
Benjamin Moore White Dove.
WHITE DOVE vs. SWISS COFFEE
While both White Dove and Swiss Coffee are among the most popular white paint colors, White Dove is more predictable than Swiss Coffee and is less likely to have a greenish hue.
So, if I’m looking for a soft, warm white, which one do you think I’ll choose 99.9% of the time? White Dove.
White Dove is also whiter and brighter than Swiss Coffee, making it a bit more flexible. You might have seen that Shea lightened Swiss Coffee by 25%, which would brighten it, maybe even a WINK lighter than White Dove.
WHITE DOVE’S LRV: 83.16
SWISS COFFEE’S LRV: 81.91
Would this affect the way the undertones read? Possibly. I’ll ask Shea next time we chat (wink, wink).
Benjamin Moore White Dove
There are 3 reasons I suggest Swiss Coffee to my Online Paint Colour Consulting clients…
- If it already exists in the home, and it makes sense to continue with it. For example, if all of the trims, doors, and ceilings are painted Swiss Coffee, then Swiss Coffee makes sense for the cabinets. Or if they want white walls and have Swiss Coffee trim already, well, we’d do it on the walls, too.
- If their finishes are inclined toward green. Even then, I might still go for White Dove.
- I like Swiss Coffee on the exterior of a home, as its softness sits a bit better than brighter shades of white (on the whole home, not just the trim).
Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee vs. The TOP 5 Shades of White!
LEARN MORE ABOUT WHITE PAINT COLOURS…
The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colours
Is White Still Trendy On Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors?
Benjamin Moore’s 8 Best White Paint Colours
FULL Paint Colour Review: Sherwin Williams Pure White
NEED HELP?
Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2022, UPDATED FOR YOU IN 2024
I am SO happy to have stumbled across this post!! Too early to pop a bottle of bubbly to celebrate?! I was about to paint my living room with Swiss Coffee, but still with some hesitation…I am so over comparing whites! My walls are covered in samples and my budget is shot buying samples – LOL. My trim everywhere in my house is White Dove and in my east-facing living room I have really struggled with whites. After reading this (and what feels like 2 zillion other white paint comparison stories) I think I am going to paint the walls White Dove, too, and be done with it…or just go wild with hot pink at this point! I’ve kind of come to detest white paint, ha! And now that I’ve found you I will be a regular reader! Thank you very much for your entertaining and expert information!!
Wahooooo, this is JUST what I love to hear – thank you, Sam! I have White Dove in my own home and LOOOOVE it!
We’re building a “coastal” home on the east coast, we’re in California. The exterior paint is SW Blue Horizon. I’m having to choose interior paint from 2500 miles away, so I’m not able to get swatches and see how they look in the room. The family room and kitchen is south facing with windows all along the back wall but there is a solid patio cover keeping the direct sun from all the windows. So, not sure if I need a warm or cool white, lol! I’m at a loss what kind of white paint and I was considering Swiss Coffee. After reading your article, I think I will eliminate it, 1 less to consider, haha! I’m leaning toward doing trim, walls and cabinets the same white to make it simpler. My builder suggested Snowbound but I sense a slight pink cast to it. I’m thinking either Simply White or Pure White. I’m just rolling the dice at this point, lol!
DON’T DO SNOWBOUND! I’m glad you’re already seeing how that might go ;). Yes, stick with the same white for trims/walls/cabinets. I PERSONALLY would lean into Pure White seeing as you’re in California and have some good southern sun, although with the overhang muting it, Simply White could be that bit brighter/warmer for you.
I did Simply White throughout my home in New York (walls, cabinets, trim, ceilings). We love it. It shines on our walls. It can have a yellow undertone, but we don’t see it in our home. I do have an open floor plan, cathedral ceilings, and skylights so I get plenty of light. Simply white is my favorite. Very classy.
I’m struggling so much picking out a white for my west facing living room with warm oak floors and white wood vaulted ceilings – not an open floorplan and doesn’t get a TON of light. I don’t want something too warm as I want the white walls to contrast my wood floors. Simply White looked awfully muted. Chantilly lace, too stark. Should I try Atrium?
Funny enough the best color I found is Night Blooming Jasmine from Behr but my painter wants BM or SW. What a conundrum.
What base molding trim did you do with simply white? We don’t have any crown in our meditteranean home so I don’t want it to feel too stark? Thoughts?
I’ve finally decided on Alabaster for a bedroom. Will do eggshell for walls. One end of the room has a sloped ceiling with a skylight and meets the wall about 24” from floor. Would you recommend painting the ceiling also in Alabaster eggshell?
You betcha, although you COULD consider a matte finish so that the ceiling isn’t at all shiny :).
So happy I ran across this! I was About to
Paint my whole living room Swiss coffee!
Leaning toward edgecomb Gray now . The adjoining kitchen I I was thinking of painting revere pewter. I have old Chicago ( yellow orange and pinkish brick floor)
Would that look ok with revere pewter paint for walls not sure about cabinets yet??
Hey Melinda! Edgecomb and Revere Pewter LOVE each other – I see no problem with this!
Your paint reviews on Youtube have been so invaluable, as a first time homeowner! Been trying to update my early 2000s greige travertine bathroom, which happens to be the darkest room in the whole house (tiny window, northern exposure).
Welp. I test painted a wall Swiss Coffee, which looks great and has a lovely green undertone against the complementary colored tile…for the 3 hours of the day the bathroom gets some light. Then immediately the wall look grungy as soon as the shadows settle in, and at night against the white trim, it looks brown again. Yikes! I should have taken your advice and steered away from this paint.
Most of the travertine refreshes I’ve seen online have tons of natural light, which is great for white paint, but doesn’t do my tiny dark bathroom any favors. Am I trying to do the impossible here? I would love your advice!
Oh, that’s TOUGH! When it comes to a situation like this, it isn’t always about the paint colour, but about the LIGHTING in the room. Is there anyway to improve the lighting, perhaps a fixture that takes more bulbs? YOu can also play around with the KELVINS of your bulbs, see if they can have you feeling better! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/how-light-bulbs-affect-paint-colours-kelvins/
Ooh, I have a fixture that takes 3 bulbs, but I’ve only been using 1, because all the bulbs in the house are 5000+ Kelvin. Swapping them out for more bulbs of a softer light may do the trick. Originally I vetoed White Dove because it looked too cold under the 5000K bulb. I’ll rethink that choice once I try a different light temp.
Love your site!! We’re gutting an old laundry space on Northeast corner of house and putting in all new custom cabinets in Chantilly Lace. Aria quartzite for counters with lovely gray and gold veins, and a ruvati gunmetal sink. Awesome contrast. Thinking White Dove for little bit of wall. The one trick question is this gorgeous Kathryn Beals piece is going over the dryer. It can cast gold to pink depending on how you look at it. Stay with White Dove?
https://kathrynbeals.com/alder-series-1/alder-3
Hi Kylie—–dying to know what you think of (SW) GREEK VILLA — I live in an old 1928 SF apt bldg–currently walls are sort of greige…want to go a bit lighter/brighter..not a fan of Alabaster..Pure White is too white.
So, what’s funny is that Greek Villa and Pure White are the same DEGREE of white – they’re equally as white as each other. What you’re missing is the WARMTH! And Greek Villa can be a great option when you find Alabaster that bit too yellow :).
Ooh now I think it may be too bright! ;P My apt gets sunlight morn-till night –thx for the info -any other photos or comments on Greek Villa you could provide would be great. I love your attention to detail–congrats on such an informative site.
Ooooooh I think maybe it will be too bright then? My apt gets sun all day along. Thanks for your info–great website–any other photos /blogs about SW Greek Villa you could share would be helpful.
Hi I’m wanting to paint my nursery in off white on three walls and a colored wall where the crib is going. What off white is best to pair with either terracotta or green colors? I’m leaning towards white dove but not sure if the undertones will go well with my theme.
Just in time. Repainting west facing living room and hallway which are currently patriotic white. Because we have a front porch I would like to brighten things up and was thinking of Swiss coffee. Now it’s narrowed down to white dove or seashell. We have seashell in our family room and it’s pretty but also a sunny room. Kitchen abuts both rooms and is crystal blue. We live year round on the northeast coast so want coastal vibe but not over the top.
I’m stumped! Swiss Coffee is what I would like as a trim color…I have looked at pairing it with Halo by Ben Moore or French Canvas by Ben Moore, both seem to have a green undertone in my space…any suggestions?
Kylie – I am so grateful to have run across this post. After numerous Pinterest Boards and suggestions, I chose Swiss Coffee for our basement. I have one coat up on a 1000 sq ft basement (it definitely needs two) and ALL of the things feel wrong… I see lime green everywhere I look! AND it’s coming off way too creamy yellow when it’s not reading green! I hate it so much. I’m $450.00 in on the paint at this moment.
So my question – if I went back to Ben Moore and ordered White Dove, do you think one coat of this color would be enough to cover the Swiss Coffee since the color is so similar? Do you think this color would be my easiest fix?
Thank you,
Stacey
Hey Stacey, I’m sorry to hear this, but glad it’s not just ME who sees this! So, would one coat fix it? I would think so. HOWEVER, with what you’re explaining, I’m not sure that you’ll feel THAT much better about White Dove as it will still have that creamy hue. Might you consider Sherwin Williams Pure White????
So glad to have found your website!!!!! I keep reading the “whites, cabinets, old granite” posts. (Over and over and over!) Old St. Cecilia granite, dark cabinets, smaller kitchen with not much natural light. Cabinets are being painted next month. Was considering Swiss coffee till reading this. Yikes, it would not have gone well. Just got my samplize sheets and have narrowed it down to: White Down, White Dove, Cloud White, Ballet White. There is a type of travertine backslplash. I think my top 2 are White Down and White Dove. Any thoughts? Thank you again for your SUPER easy explanations! Left to my own devices, I’m kind of a disaster!
I am thrilled to read your article and so glad I chose White Dove on the exterior of my MCM ranch home. I paired it with Benjamin Moores soft green on the textured brick accents and it’s jaw dropping gorgeous!
Now the thing is I would love to put the White Dove everywhere inside the house but before I learned of White Dove I bought Atrium White which is also Benjamin Moore. Do you think I should toss out the Atrium White and go with White Dove on the interior? Thank you for advice.
Ooooo, I’m glad you asked! Atrium White is one I don’t use often as it has a pink undertone – I would definitely make a shift! I would also LOVE to see your exterior – I’m always looking for great examples for my blog of REAL homes!
Personally Swiss coffee tends more to yellow tones than greens. I have it in my master bedroom and bath (did tone on tone with the baseboards). I also diluted it 25% and it is a beautiful shade of white. I also used it in my mud room and it is nice and bright in there.
I love all you videos and reviews of colors! I’m painting an accent wall in my bedroom cityscape and I am looking for the right neutral for the rest of the walls. I cannot figure out what compliments it best. I wanted something a little warmer so I was considering Swiss coffee until I read this review, I don’t want green. Any suggestions? It has south light and a vaulted ceiling.
Oooo, with Cityscape I could totally fall for SW City Loft, Egret White, BM Classic Gray 🙂
Hi Kylie, I am having a tough time choosing a white and between, Swiss coffee 75% strength, Greek Villa, Alabaster and White Dove. Believe it or not that’s a vastly slimmed down list! My home is light and bright with lots of windows and without doing a full reno, want to freshen things up and update little by little. Have some dark woods in furnishings. I’m also used to seeing white ceilings, trim, doors with a color but it seems people, when using whites opt to use same color for all and change sheens. Thoughts? Favorites?
What did you choose? Am having the same dilemma & am looking at those colors as well…did you end up liking your choice?
Me too.. oh add in Dove Wing and Stonewall! Wonder what you chose
Hi Kylie! I am trying to pick the best white for kitchen cabinets, walls and trim. (Will be all the same color) I will have black soapstone and kitchen faces north. I do not want a stark white so I’m looking at white dove. What do you think about white dove at 50% less? Have you ever done that before? Or do you think I’ll be okay with full strength? Thanks!!
Hi Kylie, I am a client of yours. You helped me with my house outdoor paint project. I currently have bm halo in my living room which is visible from my dining room and I am sitting in between wanting to paint my dinging room bm swiss coffee or going for a moody look and painting the trim the same color, a color like london fog, pashmina, chelsea gray, what do you think? Thanks!
Helloooo Lia!
So, with Halo on deck, Swiss Coffee is an easy, safe win. As for going a bit darker, it’s definitely about humoring Halo’s green undertones. London Fog is too taupe. Pashmina is too warm. Chelsea Gray? Better. Even green-blues that are blended into gray could be interesting, like BM Puritan Gray/Duxbury Gray 🙂
I’m considering White Dove for my whole house; walls, trims, doors, possibly cabinets, but different sheens, but scared of the commitment to all white. It’s currently a tan with yellowing cream trim. I’ve considered going a bit darker with Dove Wing. Do you use Dove Wing much? Thank you.
Hey Kristi! Dove Wing caaaan work, but personally, in some lights i find it a touch dingy. I have White Dove 25% lighter at our lake home on walls/trims/cabinets and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I find with an all-white home, it’s often about the surroundings, so making sure you have the decor, furnishings, and finishes to support an all white look – even a soft warm one like White Dove.
Kylie,
I tried to book a consult but you’re out of stock. lol. So here goes my question. I am building a new home.
My kitchen cabinets are perimeter, light mocha, and my island is Thunder green ( darker green, earthy). I have a neutral countertop called Calcutta Prada. I was going to do my whole home in Swiss Coffee. Is this a mistake? Or should I play it safe with BM White Dove? Lots of windows and natural light. Help please 🙂
Hi Carrie! You know, a lot of people love Swiss Coffee, but PERSONALLY, i like White Dove and find it that bit more predictable 🙂