Alabaster (SW 7008) from Sherwin-Williams and Swiss Coffee (OC-45) from Benjamin Moore are two of the most requested warm whites, and they are compared constantly. Most comparisons describe Swiss Coffee as noticeably creamier. The manufacturers’ own color values tell a different story: these two are about as close as two whites from different brands get.
Side-by-side numbers
| Alabaster | Swiss Coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams | Benjamin Moore |
| Code | SW 7008 | OC-45 |
| Hex | #EDEAE0 | #EEECE1 |
| RGB | 237, 234, 224 | 238, 236, 225 |
| LRV | 82.2 (lighter) | 81.9 |
| Yellow–blue (b*) | +5.2 | +5.6 (warmer) |
| Green–red (a*) | −0.7 | −1.2 |
| Difference (ΔE) | 0.8 |
Hex, RGB and LRV from the manufacturers' color records. CIELAB values and ΔE (CIEDE2000) calculated from those hex values.
Both reflect about 82% of light (LRV 82.2 vs 81.91). The measured difference between them is 0.8, which is below what most people can pick out even on two large samples side by side. Note that this is Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45; Behr sells a different color with the same name.
Undertones: Alabaster vs Swiss Coffee
Swiss Coffee is a fraction yellower (yellow–blue +5.6 against +5.2) and a little greener (green–red −1.2 against −0.7). That faint green is the "creamy-green" note people notice in Swiss Coffee under cool bulbs. Alabaster has slightly less of both, so it reads as the more neutral warm white. Our undertone guide explains how to read these numbers.
How they compare in each light
In north light both soften to a gentle off-white with a hint of gray; Alabaster can look a little grayer, Swiss Coffee a little greener. In strong south or west sun both warm up to cream, and Swiss Coffee shows its yellow first. Under 2700K bulbs the two are almost impossible to tell apart; cool 4000K+ bulbs bring out Swiss Coffee’s green.
Simulated from the manufacturer's color values. Always test samples in your own light.
Which one fits your room?
Choose Alabaster if…
- You are buying Sherwin-Williams paint or working with SW coordinating colors
- You want the slightly more neutral of the two
- Your room gets strong afternoon sun and you want less yellow
Choose Swiss Coffee if…
- You are buying Benjamin Moore paint or pairing with BM whites like White Dove
- You like a soft, creamy warmth with a faint green-gray note
- Your lighting is warm 2700K and you want a white that glows
Where each one works
Walls and whole-house color
Either works as a whole-house white. Because they are so close, choose the one that matches the brand of your trim, ceiling and accent colors, so every shade is mixed in the same system.
Kitchen cabinets
Both are popular cabinet whites. Alabaster suits white or gray-veined quartz and polished nickel; Swiss Coffee looks lovely with warm marble, brass and butcher block. On cabinets, the sheen you pick changes the look more than the gap between these two colors.
Trim and doors
Used on trim with the same color on walls, both give a soft, tone-on-tone look. For more contrast, pair Alabaster walls with Pure White trim, or Swiss Coffee walls with Chantilly Lace.
Exteriors
Both are warm enough to avoid the stark blue-white glare a bright white can have in full sun. On a sunny facade both will read as cream; on a shaded north side they read as soft white.
Can you use Alabaster and Swiss Coffee together?
You can, but there is little point. At 0.8 apart they will look like the same color, and any slight mismatch can look like a touch-up error where walls meet trim. If you mix brands, keep each surface type in one color, for example Swiss Coffee on all walls and Alabaster on all trim, never both on the same wall.
Trim and colors to pair with each
For Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams whites such as Pure White and Extra White give a crisper trim. For Swiss Coffee, White Dove gives a soft step brighter and Chantilly Lace a clean, bright edge. Warm greiges such as Agreeable Gray and Edgecomb Gray suit both as wall colors in adjoining rooms.
If neither is quite right
For a brighter, slightly cooler warm white, try White Dove (LRV 83.2) or Greek Villa (LRV 84.2). For more cream, Dover White (LRV 82.5) is noticeably yellower, 1.9 from Alabaster; see Alabaster vs Dover White. For a softer greige-white, Shoji White (LRV 74.3) is darker and earthier; see Shoji White vs Swiss Coffee.
Read the full reviews
Alabaster review · Swiss Coffee review · All white paint reviews
Alabaster vs Swiss Coffee FAQs
Is Swiss Coffee the same as Alabaster?
No, but they are very close. Swiss Coffee (Benjamin Moore OC-45) and Alabaster (Sherwin-Williams SW 7008) measure 0.8 apart, a difference most people cannot see on the wall.
Which is warmer, Swiss Coffee or Alabaster?
Swiss Coffee, but only slightly. Its yellow–blue value is +5.6 against Alabaster’s +5.2, and it has a faint green note. Alabaster reads as the more neutral of the two.
Which is more yellow, Swiss Coffee or Alabaster?
Swiss Coffee is a hair more yellow. Strong sun and warm bulbs show it first; in most rooms the two look the same.
Which has the higher LRV?
Alabaster, by a fraction: 82.2 against Swiss Coffee’s 81.91. Both reflect about 82% of light.
Which is better for kitchen cabinets?
Both work. Choose Alabaster for cool quartz and nickel, Swiss Coffee for warm marble, brass and wood counters. Use a satin or semi-gloss cabinet enamel.
Can I use Swiss Coffee and Alabaster together?
Yes, if each surface type gets one color, such as Swiss Coffee walls with Alabaster trim. Avoid using both on the same wall, where they look like a mismatch.
What trim color goes with Swiss Coffee?
Swiss Coffee itself for a tonal look, White Dove for a soft contrast, or Chantilly Lace for a crisp, bright edge.
What trim color goes with Alabaster?
Alabaster itself for a tonal look, or Pure White or Extra White for a cleaner contrast.