Espresso Bean
CSP-30 · #3B3230 · LRV 6 — warm red tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Cordovan Brown0
- 2Espresso Bean6
What Color Is Espresso Bean, Really?
Espresso Bean reads as a warm red tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore CSP-30 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Espresso Bean
Espresso Bean earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Near-blacks like this are best as contrast — doors, trim, cabinets, window frames.
How Lighting Changes Espresso Bean
At LRV 6, Espresso Bean is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its red undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Espresso Bean are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Benjamin Moore CSP-30 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Black BeanSW 6006 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.2 | 4 | Color page → |
| Behr | Bitter Chocolate790B-7 · Behr | 2.4 | 4 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Fired Earth6011-1 · Valspar | 3.6 | 3.7 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Jumping JavaHGSW 3081 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 2.2 | 4 | Color page → |
| Magnolia Home | MomentsJG-150 · Magnolia Home | 1.8 | 4 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Espresso Bean within Benjamin Moore's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #3B3230 in HSL space. Pair Espresso Bean with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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