I’ve seen a lot of refrigerator colors introduced since I started covering large kitchen appliances in 2019. Stainless steel still reigns supreme, but black and matte black had their moment, followed by glass white. In the past few years, shades of green made a splash—first, deep green, then a lighter, mintier hue. This year's pick, dubbed the "Color of the Year" by True Caliber (the brand known for its colorful fridges) stopped me in my tracks at the 2026 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show.
Meet Espresso.
I’ve been covering kitchen appliances since 2014, and I’ve never seen a brown fridge—or really any brown appliance. In recent years, small appliance brands embraced deep, saturated hues like green and purple, and now the trend has shifted to softer shades like Breville’s Almond Nougat, a light brown, and Bella’s Oatmilk, a creamy beige. But brown still feels unusual—especially for a large, expensive appliance that’s harder to swap out or tuck away once you tire of the color.
I was stunned by its beauty and how seamlessly it blended into the warm, earthy kitchen in True Caliber’s booth, but I wasn’t surprised. My team and I have been noticing a shift toward deeper, richer tones in the appliance world. They feel warm and inviting, a departure from the bright whites and airy kitchens I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a decade ago.
“It’s true, minimalism is officially out,” says Monique Valeris, our home design director. “Homeowners are embracing deeper tones, including brown, to express their style. It's a refreshing shift in the design world, and we can expect to see more and more moody hues popping up in kitchens.”
The espresso color is rich but not overpowering. At the show, it was displayed among similarly toned, textured brown cabinets—another trend that stood out.
It's hard to say whether and when this espresso color will take off, since trends can take a while to reach the mainstream, but it feels easy to embrace.
"Shades of brown have a way of adding warmth to a kitchen, and this particular color choice from True Caliber feels elevated. It's one of those shades that would work well with a slew of design styles," says Valeris.
Who knows what fridge color will be popular when I get to redo my kitchen one day, but let's just say: I. Can't. Wait.
