Mocha Mousse Color Code for 2025. Story by Guillaumette Duplaix, Executive Editor of RUNWAY MAGAZINE.
For 2025, the Pantone Color Institute has selected PANTONE 17-1230 MOCHA MOUSSE as its defining shade.
Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, describes it as:
“A beautiful color to look at. It makes you want to taste it, and you just know it would be delicious. One can almost smell the chocolate baking in the oven.”
Mocha Mousse Color References
- CMYK: C: 0 | M: 27 | Y: 39 | K: 36
- HTML Code: #A47864
- sRGB (D65 Reference): sR: 164 | sG: 120 | sB: 100
The Origins of Mocha Mousse
The name Mocha traces back to Mokha, a historic port city in Yemen, which served as a major coffee trade hub during the 1600s and 1700s. Coffee from Mokha spread globally along the Ottoman Empire’s trade routes, influencing both beverage and culinary cultures.
The combination of coffee and chocolate is often attributed to 17th-century Italian confectioners, and chocolate mousse itself was created by Swiss chef Charles Fazi, who worked for King Louis XVI of France. The term “mousse” (meaning “foam” in French) was later formalized by the 18th-century chef Menon.
Interestingly, the word “mousse” first appeared in English in reference to the bubbles forming atop sparkling wine.
The Mocha Mousse Shade
As part of the brown-beige family, Mocha Mousse is explored in greater detail in my article on Beige: Its History and Values (Read Here).
This hue’s versatility makes it adaptable to a wide range of materials and industries. However, its effect depends heavily on the colors it is paired with. Mocha Mousse does not exist in isolation; it thrives in interaction with complementary shades.
Two key visual effects of Mocha Mousse:
- Film-like quality: The shade behaves like a subtle overlay, influencing perception.
- Volumetric effect: Its richness shifts depending on surrounding light and colors.
Visual Interpretation of Mocha Mousse:
For example, coffee in a cup with coffee in the percolator rod and coffee in a mazagran. These 3 containers contain the same coffee and yet you notice 3 shades:
Lighter in the percolator
Darker in the cup
Darker still in the mazagran.
Mocha Mousse: A Chameleon of Color
Mocha Mousse’s survival in 2025 will depend on its relativity to surrounding colors. When placed against different backdrops, it can appear as two entirely distinct hues. This optical illusion is a fascinating testament to the psychology of color perception. Look at this example:
Look at the little Mocha Mousse square. It appears as two different colors.
No human eye can distinguish identical color blocks when placed within contrasting backgrounds—making Mocha Mousse a shade of perpetual reinvention.
Marketing & Communication: The Mocha Mousse Dilemma
Pantone’s marketing strategy ensures its selected Color of the Year gains traction across industries—offering color palettes, interior design inspirations, and luxury branding recommendations. But what does Mocha Mousse truly offer in the grand scheme of marketing for luxury brands?
Through interviews with industry professionals, opinions on Mocha Mousse vary:
- Interior designers see it as a minor accent, not a dominant hue.
- Graphic designers struggle to use it alone, often integrating it into broader color schemes.
- Fashion designers view it as a 60s throwback, making it seem outdated.
The Verdict? Mocha Mousse cannot stand alone—it needs complementary colors to thrive. In view of these interviews, it is clear that Mocha Mousse does not “live” on its own.
A color that must be imperatively accompanied, as it is very complicated to treat.
Unlike previous Pantone Color of the Year choices, Mocha Mousse presents unique challenges. It lacks the universal adaptability of shades like Classic Blue or Illuminating Yellow.
Mocha Mousse in Fashion: A Legacy Before 2025
Luxury brands didn’t wait for Pantone to declare Mocha Mousse a trend.
Chanel’s color palette has long featured deep browns and beige shades:
- Black – Her orphanage uniform.
- White – Her First Communion dress.
- Gold – The churches of Byzantium.
- Beige – The beaches of Deauville.
- Red – The passion of revolution.
Among these shades, Mocha Mousse subtly finds its place.
Fendi, known for its mastery of brown tones, has already incorporated Mocha Mousse into its collections—not as a 2025 trend, but as part of its permanent color repertoire. For example, its Spring/Summer 2019 collection featured Mocha Mousse tones long before Pantone’s selection.
The Mocha Mousse tweed jacket with elbow patches is a timeless elegant trend. Although in the past elbow patches only protected the fabric of the jacket at the elbows, nowadays they add a stylish touch to your outfit. Mocha Mousse is already present on this style.
Emerging designers will undoubtedly embrace Mocha Mousse to align with trends, but this color does not define an era—it merely exists within it.
Conclusion: The Mocha Mousse Mindset
In my research on Beige, I reached a conclusion that also applies to Mocha Mousse:
“Beige has remained relevant throughout history for both technical and psychological reasons. Technically, it is low-maintenance and easy to produce, making it practical during economic recessions. Psychologically, beige evokes a sense of simplicity and calm.”
Mocha Mousse, much like Beige, reflects the current era of economic downturn. However, acknowledging this openly might be seen as negative. Pantone’s decision to highlight this shade instead promotes a message of balance and serenity in uncertain times.
Will Mocha Mousse successfully carry this mission through 2025? Only time will tell.
