Espresso
Also known as: Barako Brew , American Mahogany , Indian Fig , Brown Coffee
Espresso is what happens when red turns rich and gentle. The effect is passionate and urgent, made for sportswear and call-to-action buttons. Reach for a cyan companion shade to give Espresso maximum contrast. On white it reads clearly at 11.66:1 contrast, safe for body text under WCAG AA.
Reference
Espresso color codes
- HEX
- #4E312D
- RGB
- rgb(78, 49, 45)
- RGBA
- rgba(78, 49, 45, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(7, 27%, 24%)
- HSV
- hsv(7, 42%, 31%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 37%, 42%, 69%)
- LAB
- lab(23.9 13.2 8.3)
- OKLCH
- oklch(34.7% 0.043 28.1)
Analysis
Color intelligence
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Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
Undertone
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neutral, leaning warm
subtle red undertone in this near-neutral
Nearest standard colors
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- CSS: maroon #800000 · ΔE 17.3
- RAL 8016: Mahogany brown #4C2F26 · ΔE 2.7 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck. Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Espresso works
- Web & UI: Use it directly for text on light surfaces; it clears AA contrast without adjustment.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land: a front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
- Fashion: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
- Branding: Best in a brand's supporting palette: packaging interiors, patterns, campaign accents.
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively for dividers, chart series, and illustration accents, and let neutrals carry the type.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Espresso
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →Palettes built from Espresso by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 11.66:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 1.80:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Best text color on a Espresso background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Espresso
Espresso with its complement
Soft neighbors of Espresso
Espresso triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Dark Roast #4A2D2F · ΔE 3.3
- Couch #4E2A20 · ΔE 4.3
- Lonestar #522426 · ΔE 6.4
- Havana #3B2B2C · ΔE 6.5
- Brunette #664238 · ΔE 6.9
- Wild Thing #654243 · ΔE 6.9
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Espresso is closest to Elite Teal .
FAQ
Espresso FAQs
What color is Espresso?
Espresso is a dark red with the hex code #4E312D. In HSL terms it has a hue of 7°, 27% saturation, and 24% lightness.
What is the hex code for Espresso?
The hex code for Espresso is #4E312D. In RGB it's rgb(78, 49, 45), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 37%, 42%, 69%).
What colors go well with Espresso?
Espresso pairs naturally with cyan tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
Planning around this color? See everything that goes with Espresso : 10 computed pairings with palettes.
Got a photo with a color like this? Identify it with the analyzer . Free, private, on your device.