Espresso
Also known as: Barako Brew, American Mahogany, Indian Fig, Brown Coffee
As a rich take on red, Espresso carries passionate and urgent energy that suits 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.
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)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
neutral, leaning warm
subtle red undertone in this near-neutral
Nearest standard colors
- 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 — 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 — dividers, chart series, illustration accents — and let neutrals carry the type.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of Espresso
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
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
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 11.66:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Aa — on black
contrast 1.80:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Best text color on a Espresso background: #ffffff
Palettes featuring Espresso
Espresso with its complement
Soft neighbors of Espresso
Espresso triad
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.
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.
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