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Maroon vs Espresso: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Maroon and Espresso is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Maroon is lighter and Maroon is more saturated. Maroon (#800000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 25%, whereas Espresso (#3C1414) sits at 0°, 50%, 16%.

Maroon#800000
Espresso#3C1414
#800000Blended: #5E0A0A#3C1414

Maroon vs Espresso: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Maroon Espresso
BrightnessDark (L=25%) — rich, serious, substantialVery dark (L=16%) — deep, heavy, grounded
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingModerately saturated (S=50%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#800000#3C1414
RGB128, 0, 060, 20, 20

Can you use Maroon and Espresso together?

Espresso text on Maroon
Maroon text on Espresso
Contrast Ratio:1.47:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Maroon and Espresso Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Maroon is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Maroon looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Maroon vs Espresso in Design

Use Maroon for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion
Use Espresso for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion

Maroon and Espresso Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Maroon#800000

Maroon (#800000) is a dark, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Espresso#3C1414

Espresso (#3C1414) is a very dark, moderately saturated red with a warm undertone — it feels deep, heavy, grounded and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Maroon and Espresso WCAG Contrast Ratios

Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.

Sample text preview
Maroon text on white
10.95:1AAA
Sample text preview
Maroon text on black
1.92:1Fail
Sample text preview
Espresso text on white
16.13:1AAA
Sample text preview
Espresso text on black
1.3:1Fail
Sample text preview
Maroon text on Espresso
1.47:1Fail
Sample text preview
Espresso text on Maroon
1.47:1Fail

Explore Maroon and Espresso individually

Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.

Maroon color page#800000 · shades, tints, pairingsEspresso color page#3C1414 · shades, tints, pairings

More Maroon and Espresso Comparisons

RedvsMaroonRedvsEspressoMaroonvsWineWinevsEspressoRustvsMaroonRubyvsEspressoRubyvsMaroonEspressovsGreyBrickvsMaroonRustvsEspressoTomatovsMaroonEspressovsBlack

Maroon vs Espresso FAQ

What is the difference between maroon and espresso?+
The main difference between Maroon and Espresso is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Maroon is lighter and Maroon is more saturated. Maroon (#800000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 25%, whereas Espresso (#3C1414) sits at 0°, 50%, 16%.
Is maroon darker than espresso?+
No. Espresso is the darker of the two at 16% lightness, while Maroon sits higher at 25%.
Are maroon and espresso the same color?+
No. Maroon is #800000 and Espresso is #3C1414. They differ by 0° in hue, 9% in lightness, and 50% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, maroon or espresso?+
Maroon is more saturated. In HSL, Maroon has 100% saturation and Espresso has 50% — Maroon is the more vivid of the two, while Espresso reads as more muted.
Is maroon warm or cool?+
Maroon (#800000) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is espresso warm or cool?+
Espresso (#3C1414) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use maroon and espresso together?+
Yes. Both maroon and espresso are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use espresso as the dominant color and maroon as the accent or highlight.
What color family does maroon belong to?+
Maroon belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 0°, 100%, 25% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for maroon?+
The hex code for Maroon is #800000. In RGB, that's rgb(128, 0, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 100%, 25%).
What is the hex code for espresso?+
The hex code for Espresso is #3C1414. In RGB, that's rgb(60, 20, 20), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 50%, 16%).