Top Brown Fountain Pen Inks
Chocolate brown inks bring warmth, richness, and versatility to the page. In this Ink Showdown, Brian Goulet compares ten popular chocolate browns, swabbing and writing each one on Tomoe River 52g white paper using a Kakimori stainless steel nib and a R&K glass pen. The inks are arranged from darkest to lightest—not “best to worst”—to showcase their depth, undertones, and unique personalities.
Diamine Chocolate Brown
Topping the lineup is Diamine Chocolate Brown, a classic Hershey-bar shade that hits the sweet spot between richness and readability. Dark, saturated, and reliable, it’s an everyday brown that balances professional use with a cozy, approachable tone. It’s no surprise this one ranked darkest—it has long been a fan favorite.
Private Reserve Chocolat
Private Reserve’s Chocolat leans on the red side of brown, giving it warmth and vibrancy. Packaged in a generous 60ml bottle with a wide mouth, it’s easy to use and fun to write with. While not waterproof, it shades beautifully and adds a little dessert-like flair to your page.
Monteverde Brown Sugar
Monteverde Brown Sugar is smooth and sweet, with golden undertones that lighten its overall appearance. It may not be as deep as Diamine Chocolate Brown, but it flows beautifully and offers cozy warmth. If you like your inks with a hint of spice, Brown Sugar delivers.
Noodler’s Walnut
Noodler's Walnut is a bold, dark brown ink that often surprises with its reddish undertones. Waterproof properties make it especially practical for everyday writing where permanence matters. It’s darker than many in the lineup, though its red sheen lightens its feel in swabs compared to concentrated pen strokes.
Private Reserve Infinity Brown
Private Reserve Infinity Brown stands out with its “Infinity” technology, designed to resist drying out in pens. Its color is a solid, even-toned chocolate with little shading, making it reliable and consistent. While not the deepest brown, it earns its place in the middle as a low-maintenance, practical option.
Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri
Yama-guri, from Pilot’s luxurious Iroshizuku line, offers a refined taupe-brown with subtle gray undertones. The ink flows smoothly, cleans easily, and looks elegant in both casual and professional settings. Its bottle is as stunning as the ink itself, making it a premium choice for brown ink lovers.
LAMY topaz
LAMY topaz leans strongly red, giving it a warm amber glow. Though part of the more saturated Crystal series, it appears lighter than expected. Positioned in the lower half of the lineup, it’s less about depth and more about charm, perfect for sketching, accents, or creative writing.
Diamine Pick Me Up
Diamine Pick Me Up is a coffee-inspired brown with a wet, smooth flow that produces generous lines. Slightly red-leaning, it’s playful without being overpowering. It’s not as dark as Yama-guri or Walnut, but its lively personality makes it a fun choice for anyone who wants a brown ink with energy.
Jacques Herbin Lie de Thé
Lie de Thé is a sentimental classic—it was one of Goulet’s very first inks back in 2009. Its name means “tea sediment,” and its sepia-like tones lean yellow. With strong shading and a lighter profile, it brings warmth and nostalgia to any page.
Noodler’s Polar Brown
At the lightest end of the lineup is Polar Brown, an ink designed for extreme conditions. Freeze-resistant down to -40° and waterproof, it prioritizes durability over drama. On paper it looks muted and flat, especially on Tomoe River, but for writers who need practicality above all else, Polar Brown is unmatched.
The Final Lineup
From darkest to lightest, the showdown ranked the inks as follows: Diamine Chocolate Brown, Private Reserve Chocolat, Monteverde Brown Sugar, Noodler’s Walnut, Private Reserve Infinity Brown, Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri, LAMY Crystal Topaz, Diamine Pick Me Up, Jacques Herbin Lie de Thé, and Noodler’s Polar Brown. Each ink tells a different story, from the rich depth of Diamine Chocolate Brown to the tea-toned warmth of Lie de Thé and the extreme reliability of Polar Brown.
Chocolate brown fountain pen inks offer a range of tones, from near-black richness to sepia lightness, each with its own charm. Whether you want the darkest chocolate, the most shading, or the most practical everyday performer, this lineup proves there’s a chocolate ink for everyone. Write on!
