Swiss Coffee Behr Vs Benjamin Moore: Which Brand Has the Better Warm White? 

I’ve tested, sampled, and painted with many versions of Swiss Coffee.

But swiss coffee behr vs benjamin moore isn’t about picking a warm white paint.

It’s about understanding these two shades, despite sharing the same name, they don’t look the same.

The confusion is real.

Behr Swiss Coffee and Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee are not interchangeable. The undertones shift differently.

The depth changes. One is creamy, the other is more neutral-greige depending on your lighting.

Choose wrong and your cozy bedroom idea turns into an off space. 

So, I’m breaking down both versions of Swiss Coffee Behr Vs Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45.

We’ll get into their LRV, undertones that shift throughout the day, how lighting changes these colors, and which rooms they work best in.

I’m also comparing them to other popular whites.

Here are my other blogs that you can also read:

• Clay Sage Vs Evergreen Fog
• Snowbound Vs White Dove
• Oyster White Vs Shoji White
• Woodlawn Blue Vs Palladian Blue
• Liveable Green Vs Softened Green

Swiss Coffee 12 Behr (#12)

Behr Swiss Coffee is at an LRV of about 84. It is a warm, creamy white and that’s accurate but it is more beige compared to Benjamin Moore’s version.

If you’re budget-conscious, this is the go-to option since Behr is cheap.

Here’s the thing though. This color gets WARM.

In some lights, artificial warm lighting or south-facing afternoon sun, Behr Swiss Coffee can look straight-up yellow-beige.

I used this in a client’s living room like huge windows facing southwest. It looked perfect in the morning. 

This doesn’t make it bad but makes it perfect for spaces where you want richness and depth. Modern farmhouse vibes, Behr Swiss Coffee nails it.

Traditional spaces with warm wood tones, oak floors, beige furniture, it all flows together. I’ve used it in bedrooms where the extra warmth feels cozy rather than harsh.

Bathrooms with limited natural light benefit from this because the warmth compensates for the lack of sun. If your space is warm, Behr Swiss Coffee may push it into too-yellow territory.

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee (OC-45)

Benjamin Moore’s version is lower at an LRV around 82-83. But bright, reflects light, but there’s a subtleness that Behr doesn’t achieve.

OC-45 has this soft creamy undertone with beige warmth, but it lacks the strong yellow or pink undertones.

I’ve used this color more than any other warm white. It is a bit warmer than pure whites but doesn’t look beige.

There’s depth and richness without feeling heavy.

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee works in any interior style. I’ve put it in modern spaces with black-framed windows and it softened without looking like we were trying too hard for a farmhouse.

Used it in a contemporary kitchen with white oak cabinets and marble countertops. The marble looked clean against BM Swiss Coffee.

Bedrooms with this color feel restful. Living rooms get inviting warmth.

Bathrooms, mainly ones with chrome or brushed nickel fixtures look expensive.

What is the Difference Between Swiss Coffee Behr and Swiss Coffee Benjamin Moore?

The names match. The paint swatches look similar at the store.

Then you get them on the wall and you’re looking at two different paint colors.

LRV

Light Reflectance Value measures how much light a color bounces back. Pure white is at 100. Black is 0.

Behr Swiss Coffee comes in around 84 while Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee is closer to 82-83.

The 1 to 2 point difference sounds small but it’s enough to notice. Behr appears bright and saturated. Benjamin Moore is soft, muted.

In a room with natural light, Behr feels more energetic.

In a dark space, the same brightness could feel harsh against shadowy corners while BM Swiss Coffee would feel more balanced.

Undertones

Behr Swiss Coffee has more yellow-beige.

In warm light, the yellow shows up. It’s creamy, but it’s pushing toward beige-cream rather than soft-cream.

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee has a subtle yellow-beige. There’s a neutral-greige quality to it in some lights, not gray, but not as warm-yellow as Behr.

It is in a middle zone that makes it easier to pair with different trim colors, furniture, and accent colors.

I tested both in the same room. West-facing bedroom.

Morning light made both look similar, soft, creamy, nice.

Afternoon light and Behr became golden-warm. BM stayed creamy but calmer.

Lighting Affect

North-facing rooms get cool, indirect light. Behr Swiss Coffee in the north loses its warmth and can look dingy.

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee holds up better because it wasn’t as warm and stays creamy without going gray.

South-facing rooms get gorgeous warm light. This is where Behr Swiss Coffee shines.

I’ve seen it look beautiful-golden and I’ve seen it look beige-yellow.

Depends on the time of day and what else is in the room. Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee in south light looks expensive. 

East and west-facing rooms shift throughout the day. Morning east light is cooler and soft, both colors look good.

West afternoon light is warm and intense but Behr can get saturated while BM stays more balanced.

Style and Best Uses

Behr Swiss Coffee works best when you want a cozy, enveloping warmth. Pair it with warm wood trim.

Use it with earth-tone furniture, warm neutrals, and natural textures.

It’s perfect for traditional spaces, farmhouse kitchens, bedrooms where you want that wrapped feeling.

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee handles variety. You can pair it with bright white trim and it looks intentional.

Works with cool accent colors like navy, charcoal, soft grays.

Use it when you want warmth but flexibility. Modern, transitional, contemporary spaces handle better than the warmer Behr version.

Feature	Behr Swiss Coffee #12	Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45
LRV	~84	~82-83
Undertones	Strong yellow-beige, creamy	Soft beige-cream, more neutral
Warmth Level	Warmer, richer	Warm but balanced
Best Lighting	South-facing, warm artificial	Works in most lighting
Price Point	Budget-friendly	Premium
Best Style	Farmhouse, traditional	Versatile
Trim Pairing	Warm whites, same color trim	Works with bright white trim

Which Color Suits Best In Different Types of Rooms? Swiss Coffee Behr Vs Benjamin Moore

Room choice matters more than you think. What works gorgeously in a bedroom might feel completely bad in a kitchen.

Here’s where I’d use each one based on projects that worked.

Living Room

Behr Swiss Coffee in a living room creates a cozy, lived-in feeling. I used this in a traditional living room with a brick fireplace, caramel leather sofa, and oak floors.

The warmth tied everything together. It made the space feel collected and comfortable rather than decorated.

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee gives you a sophisticated living room vibe. Less “family room” and more “this is where adults have conversations.

” I used it in an open-concept living room that flowed into a white kitchen. The BM version bridged both spaces without feeling warm.

Worked with both the cool marble and warm wood floors.

Bedroom

Behr Swiss Coffee in bedrooms feels warm. The master bedroom with morning light is perfect. The warmth wakes up with you.

I used this in my own guest bedroom with white bedding and warm wood furniture.

Looks inviting without trying hard.

The extra warmth makes up for the fact that it’s a small room with only one window.

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee works better in large bedrooms or ones where you want calm rather than cozy.

I did a primary suite with BM Swiss Coffee, white trim, and it felt spa-like.

The neutral undertone let the homeowner use cooler gray-blue bedding without color clash.

Bathroom

Behr Swiss Coffee in bathrooms is tricky. A small powder room with no windows creates warmth.

But I made the mistake of using it in a bathroom with builder-grade beige tile. Everything merged together in a NOT-GOOD way.

If your bathroom has warm elements, Behr can be too much. 

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee is safe for bathrooms. Works with any tile color like white, gray, marble, the trendy green tiles.

I used it in a bathroom with white hexagon floors and gray vanity.

The soft warmth from the paint kept it from feeling sterile but didn’t compete with the fixtures. 

Kitchen

Behr Swiss Coffee on kitchen walls with white cabinets creates contrast.

I’ve seen it look amazing with cream or off-white cabinets because everything flows.

But next to bright white cabinets, the walls can look yellowy-tan rather than warm-white.

If you’re doing a full warm-toned kitchen, Behr Swiss Coffee ties it all together.

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee is my go-to for kitchens. It’s warm to not feel cold but neutral to not clash with white cabinets, marble counters, or stainless appliances.

I’ve used this in many kitchens. Works every time.

The undertone is subtle enough that it supports everything without needing attention. 

Swiss Coffee Behr Vs Benjamin Moore Vs Other Colors

Seeing how these compare to other popular whites shows you where they sit on the warmth spectrum.

Behr Swiss Coffee vs Benjamin Moore White Dove

White Dove (OC-17) has an LRV around 83, same brightness to BM Swiss Coffee. But White Dove is slightly cooler with a hint of warmth.

Next to Behr Swiss Coffee, White Dove looks bright-white.

Next to BM Swiss Coffee, they’re almost the same, both warm but White Dove is the more neutral one. 

Behr Swiss Coffee Vs SW Creamy

Sherwin Williams Creamy (SW 7012) is warmer than both Swiss Coffees.

LRV around 74 makes it darker, richer, and saturated.

If Behr Swiss Coffee feels warm for you, Creamy will be too much.

But if you love Behr and want warmth, Creamy is the next step.

I’ve never used them in the same space because they’re similar in undertone but different in depth.

Behr Swiss Coffee vs Benjamin Moore Navajo White

Navajo White (OC-95) is around LRV 72, darker, warmer, and is more beige than white.

Behr Swiss Coffee is like Navajo White’s lighter, brighter.

If you tested Behr Swiss Coffee and thought “I wish this was warmer,” Navajo White may work. 

Behr Swiss Coffee vs Benjamin Moore Simply White

Simply White (OC-117) is a TRUE white. LRV around 91 makes it bright and fresh.

Cool undertones. Next to Behr Swiss Coffee, Simply White shows you how warm and creamy Swiss Coffee is.

I use Simply White on trim when I want fresh.

Using it next to Behr Swiss Coffee walls creates strong contrast which is good in modern spaces but feel harsh in traditional ones.

Behr Swiss Coffee vs Benjamin Moore Black Canvas

Black Canvas (2119-10) comes up because it’s a popular accent color with warm whites.

It’s a soft black, not harsh, kind of charcoal.

Pairs well with both Swiss Coffees.

I’ve done accent walls, door trim, kitchen islands in Black Canvas with Swiss Coffee walls. 

Color	Brand	LRV	Undertone	Warmth vs Behr Swiss Coffee
Behr Swiss Coffee	Behr	84	Yellow-beige	Baseline
BM Swiss Coffee	Benjamin Moore	82-83	Soft beige-cream	Slightly less warm
BM White Dove	Benjamin Moore	83	Warm white	Cooler/more neutral
SW Creamy	Sherwin Williams	74	Yellow-beige	Much warmer/darker
BM Navajo White	Benjamin Moore	72	Peachy-beige	Much warmer/darker
BM Simply White	Benjamin Moore	91	Cool white	Much cooler/brighter

Behr Swiss Coffee Complimentary Colors

Getting the wall color right is step one.

Making it look good requires pairing it with colors that enhance rather than going against it.

Warm earth tones are the obvious choice like terracotta, rust, warm browns.

These feel natural next to Behr Swiss Coffee’s yellow-beige undertone.

I did a living room with Swiss Coffee walls, terracotta pillows, and a rust-colored vintage rug. Felt collected and warm without being overwhelming.

Deep navies create gorgeous contrast. Benjamin Moore Hale Navy is my go-to.

The warm white softens the navy while the navy grounds the cream.

Used this combo in a dining room.

Blacks and charcoal give you a modern edge. Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black or Benjamin Moore Black Canvas on doors, window frames, or furniture creates definition.

The warm white keeps it from feeling industrial.

Warm wood tones like oak, walnut, natural wood furniture flow with Swiss Coffee.

This is where the warmth shines. I’ve paired it with light oak floors, medium walnut dining tables, and dark wood beam ceilings.

Soft greens pair well. The warmth in Swiss Coffee is yellow so that it doesn’t clash with green undertones.

I’ve done sage green accent walls with Swiss Coffee trim. Very California-casual.

Is Behr Swiss Coffee the same as Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee?

If you’re matching paint from one room to another and you switch brands, you’ll notice.

And if you’re the kind of person who cares to research swiss coffee behr vs benjamin moore, you’re the kind of person who’ll notice.

I recommend picking one brand for your project. Don’t mix them thinking it won’t matter.

If you’re doing multiple rooms, stick with either Behr OR Benjamin Moore throughout for consistency.

Conclusion

Choose Behr Swiss Coffee if you want warmth, you’re working with a budget, your space leans traditional or farmhouse, and you have good natural light that can handle the yellow-beige richness.

Choose Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee if you want versatility, you’re pairing it with cooler elements, your lighting is inconsistent or you have north-facing rooms, or you want the safe option that works in many situations.

I keep both in my recommendations depending on the project.

They’re not competitors, more like different tools for different jobs.

But if I’m being honest and someone asked me which ONE I’d pick, Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45.

Comparing Swiss Coffee Behr vs Benjamin Moore can be a bit confusing but you can take a sample and live with them. Paint big swatches.

Check them morning, afternoon, evening. With your lighting. Your furniture to know the correct color.

FAQs on Swiss Coffee Behr vs Benjamin Moore