When painting the walls in your home, there is no shortage of colors and shades to choose from. But if you’re going for a timeless look that won’t go out of style, you can’t go wrong with either Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee or Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee.
While these two colors may appear quite similar at first glance, they have some subtle differences that could make all the difference in how your home looks after the job is done.
The most notable difference between the two paints is their respective undertones. Kelly Moore’s version leans more toward a warm creamy off-white, while the Benjamin Moore version has an almost gray, yellow, and green.
Let’s examine what separates them and how you can decide what is right for you.
Here Is How Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee and Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee Differ?
Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee and Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee may seem similar in name, but they have distinct differences. The Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee is a single-package alkyd-based paint with an eggshell finish, while the Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee is a water-based latex paint with a flat finish.
Here are some of their differences:
01: Color Variation
Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee is a warmer, off-white color with subtle yellow and cream undertones. It looks great with browns, blues, and greens. In contrast, Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee is more grayish-white with slight green and yellow undertones.
This color can be used to create a tranquil feeling that brings the outdoors into any room. When combined with brighter colors, such as aqua blue, it brings out the richness of the hue even more.
02: Durability
The durability of Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee paint is quite impressive because of its high Value (9.34) and Chroma (0.52). This means that it is on the higher end of the White category, which makes it suitable for exterior surfaces that need to stand up against wear and tear, moisture, UV rays, or other weather conditions without fading away quickly or easily.
On the other hand, Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45 paint has a high LRV (light reflective value) of 84. This means that it will reflect more light, making it a great choice for interior walls to make the space feel brighter and airier.
03: Viscosity
Regarding viscosity, Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee paint has a hexadecimal color code #f5f0e7 which, when broken down into RGB format, translates to 96.08% red, 94.12% green, and 90.59% blue.
This creates a very light shade of brown that may not be strong enough for certain applications, such as murals or intricate designs where more pigmentation is necessary.
In contrast, Benjamin Moore’s version has more depth in color vibrancy due to its higher value in the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color formats.
04: Odor Intensity
Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee paint has very low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and its odor is barely detectable. This makes it the ideal paint for indoor spaces, as its low VOCs are non-toxic, making it safe for living areas.
On the other hand, Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee has a water-thinned base and no fire hazard or objectionable odors at all. It’s also based on a specialized acrylic resin that dries quickly to create a tough protective coating.
05: Gloss Level
The gloss level of Kelly Moore’s Swiss Coffee is slightly lower than that of Benjamin Moore’s, creating a more matte finish when applied to walls and other surfaces. Whereas Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee paint offers a glossy finish that accentuates the colors of your wall.
The glossy finish will POP any wall color you choose to paint with this option due to its reflective properties. At the same time, Kelly Moore’s version allows you to opt for an understated matte look if desired.
06: Shade Varieties
Kelly Moore highlights three shades in their “Swiss Coffee” line. A soft creamy white, an off-white beige, and a light ivory tan color, while Benjamin Moore offers five variations of whites/beiges/cream colors in theirs.
While these colors are all quite similar, there are subtle distinctions between them that could make one more attractive than another depending on the desired effect or style of your home decorating project.
Whether you prefer an off-white, beige tone, or something bolder like a light ivory tan color, both brands provide many options for homeowners who want to achieve their desired interior design look quickly.
07: Resistance to Moisture
The Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee paint color offers better resistance to moisture than its counterpart from Benjamin Moore. While both products are formulated to be resistant to water damage and long-lasting, the Kelly Moore variant provides a more advanced solution for humid conditions due to its higher viscosity.
This makes it an ideal choice for those living in areas with high humidity levels, as the product will not suffer wear or tear from the surrounding environment. Additionally, the Kelly Moore option offers superior protection against mildew and other moisture damage, such as staining or blistering.
08: Opacity Level
Both Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee and Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee have comparable opacity levels, but the former has a higher viscosity that gives it an edge over its counterpart.
The added thickness of the Kelly Moore version allows it to form a thicker barrier on surfaces that can prevent further damage from occurring than what is seen with Benjamin Moore’s shade. This makes it an excellent choice for protective coatings or covering existing materials, or finishes with paint.
09: Levels of Coverage
When painting with Kelly Moore’s Swiss Coffee, most people find that they can achieve a smoother surface finish due to its higher viscosity which leads to less brush marks being visible upon completion.
In comparison, Benjamin Moore’s offering shows a tendency towards leaving behind faint brush strokes, which can detract from the overall look once the painting is done.
10: Drying Time
Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee paint has a drying time of 24 hours, meaning that after applying the paint, it will take a full day for the color to set in completely and for the surface to become touch-proof.
On the other hand, Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee paint takes 16 to 18 hours to dry completely. This is because Kelly Moore paints use higher quality ingredients and are made with more durable binder resins than those used in Benjamin Moore products.
As such, Kelly Moore’s painting time is longer but produces more resilient results.
11: Environmental Factors
Regarding environmental factors, Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee paint edges out its competition from Benjamin Moore.
Not only does Kelly Moore use sustainable sourcing methods for their raw materials, but they also prioritize eco-friendly practices over profits to ensure their products have a minimal environmental impact.
In contrast, while Benjamin Moore may emphasize sustainability in some of their products, they often prioritize profitability first concerning matters concerning production and waste management.
12: Clean-up
Regarding cleaning up after using either product, Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee paint is easier to clean up compared to Benjamin Moore’s version.
Kelly Moore paints are good because they have special ingredients that make them easy to wipe away. Additives also help the paint protect surfaces from wear and tear. Clothes do not need special cleaners to remove paint splatters, a damp cloth is enough.
On the other hand, cleaning up spilled Benjamin Moore paints, either a dedicated cleaner or solvent, can quickly work out discoloration or other residue left behind by the product.
Explore Elegant Neutral Paint Color Tones for Your Home Project
Whether you choose Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee or Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee for your home project depends on your preference and unique needs. The key is to explore both options and compare swatches or sample boards before deciding. That way, you’ll know precisely what color works best for your space.
With their neutral tones and warm hues, these shades offer an elegant look that will last for years, so why not try them both? Remember, whichever you choose, your space will look its best. Good luck.
S. Pushon is a paint expert, self-taught artist, and currently working as an adviser in the paint industry as a Quality Improvement and Development Assistant.
An artist by heart, he draws remarkable art pieces and as a professional paint industry individual, he seeks the insight and shares with enthusiasts. Read more…
