Light coffee brown is a versatile neutral color that can work in many design schemes. But what exactly is its color number? Determining the precise shade of light coffee brown and its corresponding color number requires looking at color systems like RGB, HEX, CMYK, Pantone, and more. In this article, we’ll break down the technical specifications of light coffee brown to identify its color number across different formats. We’ll also look at the psychology and meaning behind this earthy tone. Let’s dive in and unlock the numeric code for light coffee brown!
Defining Light Coffee Brown
Before identifying the color number, we first need to define what we mean by “light coffee brown.” This color sits in the neutral brown family, blending warm undertones with black and white. It’s a couple shades lighter than traditional coffee bean brown and has more variation than a flat medium brown. Light coffee brown contains hints of cream and tan that give it complexity. It’s often described as a milky, sandy, or cocoa shade.
Compared to richer browns, light coffee brown has lower saturation and intensity. Its lighter weight makes it more versatile for wide use across design elements. This brown straddles the line between warm and cool undertones, adapting well to different color combinations. It brings a subtle yet grounding effect to any palette.
RGB Values
The RGB color model uses varying intensities of the primary colors red, green, and blue to create over 16 million possible shades. This is an additive model where combining all three colors at full saturation yields white. Black is the absence of all three. RGB values are defined on a scale from 0 (minimum intensity) to 255 (maximum intensity).
Light coffee brown generally falls under the following range of RGB values:
| Red: | 150-180 |
| Green: | 110-140 |
| Blue: | 70-110 |
The red and green values push the shade into warm, earthy territory, while the lower blue value pulls it back towards neutral. Adjusting the values within this range creates limitless light coffee brown variations.
A commonly cited RGB approximation for light coffee brown is:
| Red: | 165 |
| Green: | 123 |
| Blue: | 94 |
This produces a creamy, muted light brown with a subtle hint of rosiness from the higher red. The color number in decimal RGB values is 165, 123, 94.
HEX Values
HEX or hexadecimal color codes are an alternative way to represent RGB values for digital design. The HEX system uses a base-16 numerical scale, resulting in six digit codes from 00 (minimum intensity) to FF (maximum intensity) for each primary color.
Light coffee brown generally falls under these HEX values:
| Red: | 96 to B4 |
| Green: | 6E to 8C |
| Blue: | 46 to 6E |
The most commonly cited HEX approximation for light coffee brown is:
| Red: | A5 |
| Green: | 7B |
| Blue: | 5E |
So the HEX color number for this light coffee brown shade is #A57B5E. This helps visualize the color for digital design work.
CMYK Values
While RGB is an additive color model, CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) is a subtractive model used in print design. Instead of combining light wavelengths to form colors, CMYK uses the absorption and reflection of light. The higher the color values, the more those inks are used for printing.
Light coffee brown falls under these typical CMYK values:
| Cyan: | 25-40% |
| Magenta: | 25-40% |
| Yellow: | 35-60% |
| Black: | 25-40% |
A commonly cited CMYK approximation for light coffee brown is:
| Cyan: | 33% |
| Magenta: | 38% |
| Yellow: | 51% |
| Black: | 37% |
So the CMYK color number set for this light coffee brown is 33, 38, 51, 37. The higher yellow value adds vibrancy, while black and magenta contribute muted depth.
Pantone Matching System
The Pantone Matching System is a proprietary standardized color reproduction system. It utilizes printed swatch books to precisely match colors across different materials and finishes. Pantone identifies over 1,700 solid colors by a unique number and name.
Light coffee brown most closely aligns with these Pantone swatches:
| 758 C | Russet |
| 466 C | Fawn Brown |
| 7539 C | Mocha |
Each swatch has an exact light coffee brown variation. The color number provides uniformity across manufacturers for production.
Psychology of Light Coffee Brown
Color psychology gives insight into how different hues affect us mentally, emotionally, and physically. Light coffee brown has several interesting psychological connotations:
Natural and Earthy: As an earth tone, this color connects to nature, evoking feelings of reliability and support. Its organic vibe provides a stabilizing, grounding effect.
Friendly and Warm: While still neutral, light coffee brown skews towards warmer undertones. This can cultivate an approachable, inviting impression compared to dark or cool browns.
Subtle and Soothing: Softer than bold browns, this mellow shade feels gentle and soothing. Its lighter weight eases stress and adds a subtle richness without being overpowering.
Traditional yet Casual: Light coffee brown has an old-fashioned, vintage feel that also reads as casual and relaxed. It brings a cozy, worn-in quality.
Sophistication in Neutrality: Despite its neutral status, this color retains subtle depth and dimension for an elegant, sophisticated effect.
Meaning and Symbolism of Light Coffee Brown
In color symbolism, light coffee brown can represent:
Simplicity: The muted, neutral quality connects to simple living and freedom from complexity.
Wisdom: Its vintage vibe relates to accumulated knowledge, insight, and experience.
Stability: As a soothing earth tone, light coffee brown denotes reliability, support, and steadiness.
Approachability: The friendly aura of this color symbolizes accessibility, openness, and warmth.
Practicality: Light brown’s versatility and functionality reflect pragmatism, realism, and practical values.
Vintage Charm: The nostalgic tone symbolizes well-aged character, reminiscent of antique wood and weathered leather.
Uses and Design Applications
Light coffee brown is adaptable to many contexts thanks to its neutral design appeal:
Fashion: For clothing and accessories, light coffee brown has a refined vintage mood. It pairs well with cream, tan, navy, light green, and salmon pink.
Interiors: This earthy neutral complements wood furnishings and natural textures. Use it in living rooms, bedrooms, offices, and rustic kitchens.
Print Materials: For branding, packaging, communications, and stationery, this brown injects warmth while staying legible as a dark backdrop.
Digital Design: The web-safe qualities make light coffee brown a smart background choice for websites, apps, software, and user interfaces.
Photography: Sepia-toned filters leverage light coffee brown’s nostalgic, timeless character for emotive effect.
Paint: Mix brown and beige paints to achieve different light coffee brown tones for walls, furniture, crafts, and art.
Light Coffee Brown Color Harmonies
Color harmonies explore the visual relationships between colors. Light coffee brown works nicely in these harmonies:
Monochromatic: Shades of light and medium brown create peaceful, elegant unity. Add cream or beige for subtle contrast.
Analogous: Blend with adjacent earth tones like sienna, tan, beige, taupe, ivory, and soft green.
Complementary: Pair with blue shades to create rich contrast, from sky blue to navy.
Split Complementary: Contrast with blue-green and orange or yellow-orange for vibrant balance.
Triadic: Add a pop of contrast with vibrant orange and aqua blue.
Tetradic: Combine with lighter pink, pale yellow, and cool sage green.
Notable Light Coffee Brown Examples
Light coffee brown makes an appearance across creative fields:
UPS – The delivery company’s trademark brown trucks and uniforms use a light coffee tone that promotes dependability.
Timberland – Their iconic wheat-colored boots leverage light brown’s rugged, organic qualities.
Graham Crackers – This snack cracker features a signature light coffee brown color tied to its flavor profile.
Emma Bridgewater – The pottery brand favors a handmade light brown sage pattern, echoing vintage kitchenware.
Mila Kunis – The actress often wears light coffee brown hair with blonde highlights for a warm brunette look.
Café Au Lait – This light coffee and steamed milk drink is the exact milky, creamy color as light coffee brown.
Conclusion
We’ve determined that light coffee brown is much more than a basic brown. This versatile neutral shade comes to life across color systems with color numbers like:
RGB: 165, 123, 94
HEX: #A57B5E
CMYK: 33, 38, 51, 37
Pantone: 758 C, 466 C, 7539 C
With natural, friendly appeal, light coffee brown symbolizes simplicity, wisdom, stability, and vintage charm. Use its adaptable design qualities in everything from fashion and interiors to branding and digital projects. And the next time you sip a café au lait, appreciate how its mellow tones perfectly match this sophisticated neutral shade.