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Rose Gold vs Espresso: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Rose Gold and Espresso is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Rose Gold is lighter and Espresso is more saturated. Rose Gold (#B76E79) has an HSL of 351°, 34%, 57%, whereas Espresso (#3C1414) sits at 0°, 50%, 16%.

Rose Gold#B76E79
Espresso#3C1414
#B76E79Blended: #7A4147#3C1414

Rose Gold vs Espresso: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Rose Gold Espresso
BrightnessMedium (L=57%) — balanced, versatileVery dark (L=16%) — deep, heavy, grounded
SaturationMuted (S=34%) — subdued, sophisticatedModerately saturated (S=50%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#B76E79#3C1414
RGB183, 110, 12160, 20, 20

Can you use Rose Gold and Espresso together?

Espresso text on Rose Gold
Rose Gold text on Espresso
Contrast Ratio:4.24:1Large Text Only

How to Tell Rose Gold and Espresso Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Rose Gold is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Espresso 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 Rose Gold vs Espresso in Design

Use Rose Gold 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

Rose Gold and Espresso Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Rose Gold#B76E79

Rose Gold (#B76E79) is a medium, muted red with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and subdued, sophisticated.

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

Rose Gold 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
Rose Gold text on white
3.8:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Rose Gold text on black
5.52:1AA
Sample text preview
Espresso text on white
16.13:1AAA
Sample text preview
Espresso text on black
1.3:1Fail
Sample text preview
Rose Gold text on Espresso
4.24:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Espresso text on Rose Gold
4.24:1AA Large

Explore Rose Gold and Espresso individually

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

Rose Gold color page#B76E79 · shades, tints, pairingsEspresso color page#3C1414 · shades, tints, pairings

More Rose Gold and Espresso Comparisons

Rose Gold vs Espresso FAQ

What is the difference between rose gold and espresso?+
The main difference between Rose Gold and Espresso is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Rose Gold is lighter and Espresso is more saturated. Rose Gold (#B76E79) has an HSL of 351°, 34%, 57%, whereas Espresso (#3C1414) sits at 0°, 50%, 16%.
Is rose gold darker than espresso?+
No. Espresso is the darker of the two at 16% lightness, while Rose Gold sits higher at 57%.
Are rose gold and espresso the same color?+
No. Rose Gold is #B76E79 and Espresso is #3C1414. They differ by 9° in hue, 41% in lightness, and 16% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, rose gold or espresso?+
Espresso is more saturated. In HSL, Rose Gold has 34% saturation and Espresso has 50% — Espresso is the more vivid of the two, while Rose Gold reads as more muted.
Is rose gold warm or cool?+
Rose Gold (#B76E79) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 351° 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 rose gold and espresso together?+
Yes. Both rose gold and espresso are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use espresso as the dominant color and rose gold as the accent or highlight.
What color family does rose gold belong to?+
Rose Gold belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 351°, 34%, 57% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for rose gold?+
The hex code for Rose Gold is #B76E79. In RGB, that's rgb(183, 110, 121), and in HSL it's hsl(351, 34%, 57%).
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%).