The New York Times' Strands puzzle for January 3, 2026, features a coffee-inspired theme titled 'Not your average joe,' focusing on words describing coffee's taste, smell, and texture. The puzzle's central spangram is 'COFFEE,' which helps connect seven key theme words: BOLD, NUTTY, BITTER, SMOOTH, STRONG, AROMATIC, and VELVETY. These descriptors reflect various sensory experiences associated with coffee, from flavor intensity to aroma and mouthfeel. The puzzle challenges solvers to identify these coffee-related words and the spangram, which is highlighted by starting with the letter C, located on the far left of the puzzle grid. The theme emphasizes the sensory language used by coffee enthusiasts and baristas, making it a cozy, coffee-centric challenge. Hints provided by NYT's Strands Sidekick suggest starting with obvious words like BOLD, SMOOTH, or STRONG, while more complex words like VELVETY and AROMATIC may require careful pattern recognition. The puzzle is rated as moderate in difficulty and encourages solvers to think about common coffee descriptions. Additional resources include solving tips, community comments, and related articles about the puzzle's design and theme. The puzzle's clever use of coffee descriptors and the central spangram 'COFFEE' make it a unique and engaging challenge for word lovers and coffee aficionados alike.