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Wine vs Espresso: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Wine and Espresso is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Wine is lighter and Espresso is more saturated. Wine (#722F37) has an HSL of 353°, 42%, 32%, whereas Espresso (#3C1414) sits at 0°, 50%, 16%.

Wine#722F37
Espresso#3C1414
#722F37Blended: #572226#3C1414
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Wine vs Espresso: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Wine Espresso
BrightnessDark (L=32%) — rich, serious, substantialVery dark (L=16%) — deep, heavy, grounded
SaturationModerately saturated (S=42%) — balanced in intensityModerately saturated (S=50%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#722F37#3C1414
RGB114, 47, 5560, 20, 20

Can you use Wine and Espresso together?

Espresso text on Wine
Wine text on Espresso
Contrast Ratio:1.67:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Wine and Espresso Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Wine 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.

Wine or Espresso: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickEspresso

Espresso is more saturated (50% HSL vs 42%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Wine can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickEspresso

Espresso hits a 16.13:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Wine only reaches 9.65:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickWine

Wine is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Espresso leans warmer and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickWine

Wine is the more muted of the two (42% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Espresso's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Wine vs Espresso in Design

Use Wine 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

Wine and Espresso Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Wine#722F37

Wine (#722F37) is a dark, moderately saturated red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and balanced in intensity.

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

Wine 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
Wine text on white
9.65:1AAA
Sample text preview
Wine text on black
2.18:1Fail
Sample text preview
Espresso text on white
16.13:1AAA
Sample text preview
Espresso text on black
1.3:1Fail
Sample text preview
Wine text on Espresso
1.67:1Fail
Sample text preview
Espresso text on Wine
1.67:1Fail

Explore Wine and Espresso individually

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

Wine color page#722F37 · shades, tints, pairingsEspresso color page#3C1414 · shades, tints, pairings

More Wine and Espresso Comparisons

RedvsWineRedvsEspressoRubyvsWineRustvsWineRubyvsEspressoWinevsGreyEspressovsGreyBrickvsWineRustvsEspressoBrownvsWineEspressovsBlackMaroonvsWine

Wine vs Espresso FAQ

What is the difference between wine and espresso?+
The main difference between Wine and Espresso is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Wine is lighter and Espresso is more saturated. Wine (#722F37) has an HSL of 353°, 42%, 32%, whereas Espresso (#3C1414) sits at 0°, 50%, 16%.
Is wine darker than espresso?+
No. Espresso is the darker of the two at 16% lightness, while Wine sits higher at 32%.
Are wine and espresso the same color?+
No. Wine is #722F37 and Espresso is #3C1414. They differ by 7° in hue, 16% in lightness, and 8% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, wine or espresso?+
Espresso is more saturated. In HSL, Wine has 42% saturation and Espresso has 50% — Espresso is the more vivid of the two, while Wine reads as more muted.
Is wine warm or cool?+
Wine (#722F37) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 353° 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 wine and espresso together?+
Yes. Both wine and espresso are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use espresso as the dominant color and wine as the accent or highlight.
What color family does wine belong to?+
Wine belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 353°, 42%, 32% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for wine?+
The hex code for Wine is #722F37. In RGB, that's rgb(114, 47, 55), and in HSL it's hsl(353, 42%, 32%).
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%).