Mocha

What color is mocha?

Mocha is a rich, warm, and comforting shade of brown. Like other brown shades, it promotes feelings of tranquility, reliability, and groundedness while also conveying a sense of luxury and sophistication.

What does mocha look like on digital screens?

Mocha is defined by the following color codes and values to ensure consistency across various digital platforms and devices.

- HEX code: #6D3B07

- RGB value: 42.7% red, 23.1% green, and 2.7% blue

Accessibility considerations play a crucial role in UX and UI design color choices. Figma offers plugins in the Community to make sure your designs meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

How should I effectively use mocha in UI design?

Here are some ways to use mocha in your designs:

• Balance bold accents. If your UI utilizes a strong color as the primary accent, mocha provides a grounding counterpoint. This creates a visual hierarchy, preventing the bold color from overwhelming the user.
• Create subtle gradients or textures. Use shades within the mocha color family to create visual interest and depth. This can add a touch of dimension to backgrounds or buttons without being overwhelming.
• Tie in vintage elements. Mocha pairs well with vintage-inspired design elements like copper accents or classic fonts. This combination can evoke a sense of nostalgia and timeless elegance.

Keep in mind that color and its meaning can change from culture to culture—and at any given time. If you are designing for a global audience, research color considerations for your specific regions.

What are similar colors to mocha?

For variations within the same rich spectrum as mocha, consider:

• Chocolate (#713600) is a deep, luxurious brown that matches mocha’s richness.
• Caramel (#FFD59A) is a lighter shade of brown with hints of yellow.
• Taupe (#54463A) is a neutral hue of brown with gray undertones that are cooler than mocha.
• Cinnamon (#D47E30) is a reddish-brown with more orange than mocha.

What colors go with mocha?

To complement mocha, consider pairing it with:

• Cream (#FDFBD4) creates depth while offering a touch of softness.
• Light blue (#90D5FF) adds a hint of coolness to balance out mocha’s warmth and promote relaxation.
• Green sage (#98A869) complements mocha’s warm tones while blending earthy shades.
• Dusty rose (#DCA1A1) offers a sophisticated look with its vintage, muted hues when paired with mocha’s richness.

Other colors worth considering include gold to showcase elegance, terracotta to emphasize natural tones, and gray to let mocha stand out.

What colors conflict with mocha?

While mocha is muted, it may clash with:

• Orange (#FFA500) can create tension with mocha’s creaminess due to its intensity.
• Pastel yellow (#FFEE8C) appears washed out next to mocha’s warmth.
• Indigo (#560591) paired with mocha can be visually jarring and lack harmony due to its deeper hues.
• Lime green (#89F336) overpowers mocha’s tranquility with its vibrancy.

What does mocha symbolize? 

Mocha’s calming hue draws connections to the natural world, particularly coffee and earth tones. Its association with the rich, fertile soil enhances this grounding quality. Its subtle hint of warmth also suggests a touch of luxury and sophistication.

In color psychology, mocha’s hues create a sense of tranquility and relaxation. It evokes feelings of security and safety, like being nestled in a favorite chair. A hint of red in mocha adds a touch of energy, preventing it from feeling overly dull.

In UI design, mocha’s grounding nature makes it a great choice for backgrounds or base elements, creating a sense of comfort and ease. Leverage mocha’s ability to convey luxury for interfaces that promote premium products or services. It’s also a natural fit for designs focused on nature, organic products, or sustainability initiatives.

What’s the history of mocha? 

Mocha’s history begins in agriculture with the export of Yemeni coffee beans from the Mocha port in the 16th and 17th centuries. By the 18th century, “mocha” referred to this rich-flavored coffee and, later, the chocolate coffee drink. In 1895, the term “mocha” officially entered the world of color, inspired by the hue of those coveted beans.

Espresso’s popularity in the 1980s reinforced the connection to mochaccinos and the color. During the 1990s, “mocha” was popularized to describe the warm brown shade, aligning with the trend of neutral tones in interior design.

Today, mocha’s versatility goes beyond a cup of coffee. It shines in bold fashion statements,  adds sophistication as an accent, and creates calming interiors. Its subtle sheen brings elegance to furniture and lighting.

Color variations

Shades

Tints

Tones

Hues

Color Harmonies

Custom Palettes

Accessibility: Contrast Checker

Color simulations

Protanopia

Deuteranopia

Tritanopia

Achromatopsia

Color conversion

The hexadecimal color #6D3B07, known as mocha, has RGB values of R:109 G:59, B:7 and CMYK values of C:0, M:0.46, Y:0.94, K:0.57.