Our Review of Swiss Coffee Paint by Benjamin Moore

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Benjamin Moore has made a name for itself in the paint world. In fact, we think it could have the potential to become a household name for paint, just like Kleenex is to tissues or La Croix is to sparkling water. Of course, Benjamin Moore has certainly earned its status as a top player in the paint world, and we admit that we are big fans. But here, we offer an honest review of the popular Swiss Coffee Paint by Benjamin Moore so you can decide if it is the right color for your home.

If you are interested in painting your home’s exterior off-white, brick&batten can help you envision your dream before you bring it to life. We offer virtual exterior design services and provide with realistic renderings.

A Tranquil, Versatile White

White is one of those colors that can either make you feel at peace or a little on edge. You might associate it with peace and tranquility like a cozy bedroom that is light and airy, or stark and unwelcoming like a hospital room. A lot of how you perceive white might have to do with its undertones.

Typically, neutral whites, which are whites that don’t lean too far on the cool or warm side, are considered calming. Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore is a neutral off-white, but it does lean a little warm. Its neutral color stance matches its neutral style stance because it looks just as good on the exterior of a farmhouse as it does on a midcentury charmer.

Its Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is 83.93, which means it certainly isn’t a stark white. On the LRV scale, 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white.

Swiss Coffee is Off-White at Its Finest

If you think you want to paint your home’s exterior white, ask yourself if you truly want white, or if you actually want off-white. A true white on a home can look clean and modern, but it can look a lot brighter than you’d think (and in some cases, it can seem nearly blinding) on sunny days. This is why we often encourage our clients to explore off-white options. We’ve outlined our opinion on Swiss Coffee as well as the other common off-white alternatives.

Swiss Coffee: Creamy and Warm, Not Crisp and Clean

Just like a perfect latte and true to its name, we describe Swiss Coffee as creamy and warm. It certainly isn’t a crisp white, so if that is what you are going for, we suggest looking elsewhere. In fact, Swiss Coffee can give off a slight yellow tint, making every hour golden hour. It almost gives your home’s exterior a vintage, yet timeless look.

It doesn’t reflect as much light as a true white, so it won’t give off a bright and airy feeling, but a warm and cozy feeling that welcomes potential buyers or house guests.

Alabaster by Sherwin Williams: An Alternative to Benjamin Moore

The old Sherwin Williams vs Benjamin Moore debate is similar to the Toyota vs Honda argument. Both brands make great, long-lasting products. If you prefer Sherwin Williams paint over Benjamin Moore or if this brand is more accessible to you based on where you live, there is a similar choice. Alabaster by Sherwin Williams is another off-white with warm undertones that is quite similar to Swiss Coffee.

White Dove: An Understated Off-White

When you look at an off-white, sometimes it’s easy to tell if it has blue or yellow undertones. While white dove is a warm off-white, it isn’t as warm as Swiss Coffee. People still use the word creamy to describe this paint, which is why we usually suggest a good, old fashioned swatch test if you’re stuck between the two.

Sea Pearl: Slightly More Gray

Sea Pearl is another one of Benjamin Moore’s off-white options that we love, but it has cool undertones rather than warm undertones. If you tend to reach for blues more than you do for yellows, then Sea Pearl could be a good fit for your home. Sea Pearl looks great with gray accents like painted trim or a slate roof.

We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.

Applications for Swiss Coffee Paint 

We suggest pairing Swiss Coffee with other warm elements, like chocolatey wood trims and terra cotta pots on your porch. If you’re lucky enough to own a home with a clay tile roof, this color was meant for you. However, there is one color that we recommend avoiding if you go with Swiss Coffee, and that is a true white, which can make off-white look dingy and unintentional.

The Bottom Line on Swiss Coffee Paint by Benjamin Moore

Swiss Coffee Paint by Benjamin Moore ranks on our list of favorite off-whites. Like we’ve mentioned, it isn’t as bright as a true white, and it’s warm undertones are incredibly popular right now, as seen on every Instagram filter ever. It’s cozy and it’s creamy, just how we like our coffee. If you want more information on our favorite white paints for exterior purposes, you can find that here.

Choosing the right white to paint your home’s exterior can be a daunting task. In a world with countless options to choose from, we are here to help you bring your vision to life. Contact us for more information on a brick&batten virtual exterior design.

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