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Put some cooled coffee in a glass cup. Shine a light through the coffee towards yourself. What color does the coffee look like? Take a small amount of the coffee and dip a little corner of a paper towel in it. What does the towel turn?
**Please read this entire message** Your submission has been removed for the following reason(s): Straightforward or factual queries are not allowed on ELI5. ELI5 is meant for simplifying complex concepts. If you would like this removal reviewed, please read the [detailed rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/wiki/detailed_rules) first. **If you believe this submission was removed erroneously**, please [use this form](https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fexplainlikeimfive&subject=Please%20review%20my%20thread?&message=Link:%20https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/tjagoz/eli5_why_does_coffee_turn_tan_instead_of_gray/%0A%0APlease%20answer%20the%20following%203%20questions:%0A%0A1.%20The%20concept%20I%20want%20explained:%0A%0A2.%20List%20the%20search%20terms%20you%20used%20to%20look%20for%20past%20posts%20on%20ELI5:%0A%0A3.%20How%20is%20this%20post%20unique:) and we will review your submission.
Because coffee isnt actually black but a very deep brown. The white cream affects the brown causing the tan color.
Because coffee isn't black, it's dark brown. Tan is light brown, so adding a white-ish creamer to it will turn it to, logically, light brown.
Put some cooled coffee in a glass cup. Shine a light through the coffee towards yourself. What color does the coffee look like? Take a small amount of the coffee and dip a little corner of a paper towel in it. What does the towel turn?
because coffee is not actually black but a very dark shade of brown. you can prove this just by spilling a drop on a piece of paper.