Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Swiss Coffee – Which Is More Yellow?
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If you’ve spent any time down the white paint rabbit hole, you already know that there is no such thing as “just white.” There are, instead, hundreds of shades of white paint, with such subtle differences that choosing one can feel almost mind-numbing. If you’re at the point in your paint color journey when you’re considering just a handful of shades, say Benjamin Moore Simply White vs Swiss Coffee, then congrats. You’ve done the hard part, and I’m going to help you get to the finish line.
These two paint colors are both soft, warm and livable, with none of that cold, hospital-bright feeling that scares people off the crisper whites. But, they are definitely not the same color, and once you understand the core differences, I think you’ll have a much easier time choosing the right one for your walls (or trim or cabinets).
I’ve done the research (and the swatching) so you don’t have to. Here’s exactly how these two compare, what undertones to watch for, and how to know which one belongs in your space.
Because white paint reflects light, the way it looks from room to room varies greatly, so I always recommend sampling paint on your walls first! I love Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples for mess-free testing.
What Color Is Benjamin Moore Simply White?
Simply White (OC-117) is a bright, warm white with a hint of yellow and green underneath (it’s actually one of the brightest warm whites out there). I personally consider it one of my favorite whites, and Benjamin Moore named it their Color of the Year back in 2016, the only pure-ish white ever to earn that title. In most rooms it reads warm but fresh, but in some lights, or if it’s paired against pure white or cool-toned trim, its buttery tones are more obvious.
What Color Is Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee?
Swiss Coffee (OC-45) is a creamier, cozier warm white with a bit more depth to it. Where Simply White stays closer to true white, Swiss Coffee settles more into the off-white territory. Its undertone is a soft yellow-beige, and compared directly to Simply White, it’s noticeably more neutral-toned. Under cool or north-facing light, it can occasionally flash a some gray or green, so be sure to sample it in your space before you commit.
In warm, south-facing rooms, Swiss Coffee looks its best: creamy, grounded and inviting. It’s the warm white to choose when you want a little more presence on the wall.
Simply White vs. Swiss Coffee: Lightness and LRV
The biggest practical difference between these two comes down to LRV, or Light Reflectance Value, which measures paint color lightness on a scale of 0 (absolute black) to 100 (pure white). The higher the number, the brighter the paint.
Swiss Coffee has an LRV of 81.91, which places it clearly in off-white territory. It reflects plenty of light, but it holds enough pigment to feel warm and cozy even in low-light rooms.
Simply White is meaningfully brighter, with an LRV of 89.52. That extra reflectance is what makes it read almost like a true white.
Put them side by side and the gap is obvious: Simply White looks crisp and airy, Swiss Coffee looks soft and creamy. On their own, though, either one reads simply as “a lovely warm white,” which is exactly why so many people can’t tell them apart until they swatch.
Simply White vs. Swiss Coffee: Undertones
Both are warm whites, and both get their warmth from yellow. The difference is in strength and behavior.
Simply White’s yellow undertone is faint and clean. There’s no gray, no pink, no blue muddying it, which makes yellow its most obvious undertone and the one most people see regardless of where it’s placed. It’ll show its warmest side in south-facing light but it’s still very obviously a white paint color, not a cream or yellow one.
Swiss Coffee carries more of that yellow-beige warmth, plus the occasional green/gray flash under cool light I mentioned above. It’s the more saturated and neutral-leaning of the two. If you want something that’s reads like a deeper tone, without such noticeable yellow tones, Swiss Coffee will be a top contender.
One rule holds for both: be careful pairing either with a cool or stark white. That blue-based crispness will pull the yellow forward and make your warm white suddenly look off. When in doubt, keep walls and trim in the same white, or at least in the same temperature family.
Simply White vs. Swiss Coffee: Which One Should You Choose?
Here’s how I’d break it down:
Choose Simply White if you want a bright, clean white that still feels soft, or you’re nervous about undertones and want the most predictable option. It’s my pick for kitchen cabinets, trim and any space where you want fresh and airy without cold.
Choose Swiss Coffee if you want a creamier, cozier white with a little more depth, or you’re painting a warm or south-facing room. It’s beautiful with warm wood, brass hardware, and beige-based stone. I also love it for cabinets or a trim color with Simply White walls.
Whichever way you lean, the same non-negotiable applies: test it in your own space before you commit. Both of these colors shift with light and with whatever they sit next to, and a swatch in your room at three different times of day will tell you more than any blog post (including this one) ever could. Grab a peel-and-stick sample, live with it for a few days, and trust what you see on your wall.
