NYT Strands puzzle #669, dated Thursday, January 1, 2026, has the theme clue “Not your average joe.” Its spangram is COFFEE. Read on for a hint before the full answer list.
Hints for Strands #669
- Theme clue: “Not your average joe.”
- Gentle hint: Think of Starbucks lovers.
- Starting letters: The seven theme words begin BO, NU, BI, SM, ST, AR, and VE. The spangram begins CO.
- Spangram direction: Parade describes COFFEE as running mostly diagonally across the board.
Answers for January 1, 2026
Spoilers below: the complete answer list is here.
- BOLD
- NUTTY
- BITTER
- SMOOTH
- STRONG
- AROMATIC
- VELVETY
- Spangram: COFFEE
The puzzle has eight theme words when the spangram is included: seven regular words and COFFEE.
How the Strands hints work
Parade reproduces the New York Times rules as follows: “The spangram describes the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. It may be two words.” Parade also says that found theme words remain highlighted in blue, the spangram is highlighted in yellow, and finding three non-theme words earns an in-game hint that reveals letters of a theme word. The direct NYT rules page was not available for verification.
A secondary Strands explainer describes a 6×8 board where letters can connect in any direction, including diagonally, and paths may turn mid-word. That site disclaims affiliation with the New York Times, so it is secondary guidance rather than an official rules source.
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