My Review of Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore

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Whether it’s farmhouse, boho or a modern organic aesthetic that tickles your fancy,  all of these design trends are currently sporting a common denominator- white walls.  Today, I am reviewing a particular shade of white paint- Swiss Coffee OC-45 by Benjamin Moore.

Chances are… if you have been researching white paints recently, you have probably found yourself overwhelmed in a rabbit hole of swatches. Who knew there could be so many damn shades of white? Seriously though.

To narrow down all of the paint swatch madness, I recommend starting with one simple question…

Are you looking for a white with warm undertones, a white with cool, crisp undertones or a white with no undertones at all (a white-white with no tint whatsoever)?

If you are looking for a creamy, warmer white, you will probably want to go out and buy a sample of  Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee OC-45 (and read the rest of this post). If you are looking for a brighter,  crisper white, you should check out this paint review I did a few months back.

My personal experience with Swiss Coffee involved a boho chic, spa treatment room I designed for a client about a year ago…

The goal of the space was to achieve a balance of earthy-zen like vibes while maintaining a certain degree of glam and elegance.

Swiss Coffee rocked this balance quite beautifully.  The off-white,  creamy nature of this particular tint lends a welcoming softness and elegance to the space. And while this particular hue does not reflect natural light as loudly as a true, crisp white would, I think that trait is, in part at least, what keeps the space from feeling too clinical (and more spa).

It is important to note however, that the undertones which lend it’s softness and warmth can read yellow/gold in certain lighting (as shown in the picture below)…

Contrasting against the white-white of the baseboards and Crown Molding, you can see where Swiss Coffee’s golden undertones can become more pronounced at certain times of the day.

To see this hue in a residential setting, I have included one of my favorite designer’s, Studio McGee, recent projects…

In contrast to a bright, crisp white, this off-white paint color exudes more of a softness and coziness..all while still establishing a fresh and classy aesthetic.

As I mentioned, this hue does not reflect the sunlight as much as a true white would, but what it lacks for in brightness, it makes up for in warmth.

In case any of you are considering a warm white for your kitchen cabinets, Studio McGee painted the cabinetry pictured below in Swiss Coffee …

As you can see, the creamy nature of Swiss Coffee becomes more apparent paired with the cooler tones of the marble backsplash and the cool grey of the stove. In my opinion, Swiss Coffee on cabinetry is best suited for a more traditional aesthetic.

If you are looking for a white paint that blends airiness with warmth, Swiss Coffee may be exactly what you have been searching for.

For unedited video footage (taken with my phone) of this paint color, be sure to check out the video I have embedded in this post. It will help you get a better sense of the undertones.

What is the Light Reflectance Value of Swiss Coffee OC-45?

On the LRV (Light Reflectance Value) spectrum with zero being the lowest value and 100 being the highest, Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee has an LRV of 81.91. For reference, White Dove, another popular warm-white made by Benjamin Moore is slightly lighter, with an LRV of 83.16.

At any rate, it is important to note that the LRV of this off-white paint color is significantly lower than that of a crisper white like Chantilly Lace which has an LRV of 90.4.

If you love the warm tones of Swiss Coffee but wish it to reflect more light, you can always reduce the saturation of this paint color. In fact, in the actual home of one of my favorite designer’s, this color was reduced down to 75% strength…

Designer , Shea McGee, says she made the choice to reduce this color by 25% as the yellow undertones were too prevalent at its full strength.

What are the undertones in BM Swiss Coffee?

While some may experience grey and green undertones with this off-white paint color, in my personal experience, I have distinctly noticed golden and yellow undertones. I find that the less natural light a room has, the more yellow undertones will be noticeable. Trim color will also effect how the undertones read.

What Trim Paint Color and Window Frame Colors go with Swiss Coffee?

When choosing coordinating trim, door and window frame paint colors to go with Swiss Coffee OC-45, I recommend staying away from paints with cool blue undertones as this can give a very dingy, yellow effect to the warmth of Swiss Coffee.

Your safest bet is to go with a slightly lighter warm- white like Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17 or go with a tone on tone effect- using Swiss Coffee on the baseboards, and trim as well as the walls.

When going tone on tone, I recommend using a different sheen on the millwork. Typically, I like to go with eggshell on walls and satin or semi-gloss on baseboards.

If you really want your trim to pop, going with a white-white (no tint) is also a great choice.

Above, I have taken a picture of a client’s spa room who used a pure white on the trim. This picture was taken in a low-light situation. Notice how the pure white of the trim and furniture upholstery considerably contrasts with Swiss Coffee painted on the walls.

What I love About this Swiss Coffee Paint Color

One advantage of going with more of an off-white color versus a crisp white is that it tends to be more forgiving in high-traffic areas (especially if you have pets or kids).

While more pure whites can feel stark in overcast or cloudy lighting conditions, the warm undertones in Swiss Coffee allow for a welcoming softness while still being very reflective of light. In my opinion, it’s a total win-win.

In recent years, I have noticed that creamy whites are becoming the more “in” choice of designers as they give off not only a sophisticated vibe, but a welcoming feel.  As time goes on, I believe this off-white will never really go out of style.

Proving the versatility of this paint color, Swiss Coffee has been used in just about every sort of application. Whether it be on exteriors, living rooms, dining rooms, foyers, bedrooms, or hallways, you really can’t go wrong with this paint color. That is…unless you aren’t keen on the creamy, golden undertones.

In that case, you may want to reduce the strength of the paint formula or go and get some more swatches of paint in Benjamin Moore’s or Sherwin Williams off-white collection.

If warm white just isn’t your jam, you will want to explore the more pure, crisp white paint samples.

Before committing to a paint color on the total wall area, it is super important to test  your sample on smaller a portion of the room you are painting and observe it under multiple lighting situations for several days.

Realize that the brand and product- line of paint you choose will also effect how this paint color looks. In my experience, color matching from other retailers is not always accurate!

I hope you found this paint color review helpful!

If you are still considering more off-white paint colors, you may also want to check out my review of Sherwin Williams Shoji White.

Now get out there and design some good vibes, and please be sure to share on social media or with a friend if you found this helpful (it truly means the world..thank you!)

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