Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | Cold Espresso |
| SKU | 442-7DB |
| Hex | #554434 |
| RGB | 85, 68, 52 |
| HSL | 29°, 24%, 27% |
| LRV | 6 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Brown |
About Dutch Boy Cold Espresso
At LRV 6, Cold Espresso 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 orange 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.
Cold Espresso earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
Closest matches by brand
8 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all brown from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Glidden
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Magnolia Home
Backdrop
Similar Dutch Boy colors
closest in the Dutch Boy deckThe nearest shades to Cold Espresso within Dutch Boy's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #554434 in HSL space. Pair Cold Espresso with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Dutch Boy Cold Espresso Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Cold Espresso from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Dutch Boy 442-7DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Cold Espresso
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Cold Espresso is Van Dyke Brown (SW 7041). At ΔE 0.61 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Van Dyke Brown and you'll get the same color. See the full Van Dyke Brown swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Cold Espresso
At Behr, the closest color to Cold Espresso is Breakfast Blend (280F-7) — very close at ΔE 2.49, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Breakfast Blend swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Cold Espresso
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Cold Espresso is Deep Taupe (2111-10) — very close at ΔE 2.8, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 8 vs 6) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Deep Taupe swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Cold Espresso
At Valspar, the closest color to Cold Espresso is Swiss Chocolate (3010-10) — very close at ΔE 2.51, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5.9 vs 6) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Swiss Chocolate swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Cold Espresso
At Glidden, the closest color to Cold Espresso is Earth Brown (00YY 07/093) — very close at ΔE 3.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Earth Brown swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Cold Espresso
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Cold Espresso is Van Dyke Brown (HGSW 2481). At ΔE 0.61 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Van Dyke Brown and you'll get the same color. See the full Van Dyke Brown swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Cold Espresso
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Cold Espresso. The nearest is Wooded Acres (JG-122) at ΔE 4.65 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Wooded Acres swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Cold Espresso
Backdrop has no exact twin of Cold Espresso. The nearest is It's a Date (BD-IT) at ΔE 3.74 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full It's a Date swatch →