Theme: 𝄲𝅘𝅥𝇤𝇥 "The best part of waking up ..."
Is not Folgers; trust me! But this "cover" of the jingle is what made my morning!
Puzzling thoughts:
Chairman
Moe here, bringing you a little bit of frivolity to accompany your
morning joe and crossword puzzle solve. Today's puzzle gives you a
caffeine jolt, right in the reveal:
64-across. Mid-morning respite, or what can be found four times in this puzzle: COFFEE BREAK.
Jacob Reed -
our crossword barista du jour - has quite the varied
vocations/avocations in his brief time on this orb we call Planet
Earth. And while being a crossword constructor is a relatively new
vocation to Jacob, he was published three times in 2025 at NY Times;
which is a feat that is quite uncommon, given the plethora of
puzzle-preparers who pepper that paper with printed previews for
potential publication
Jacob supports his coffee break puzzle as follows:
1) placing the key letters to search for in circles (oh, the dreaded circles!)
2) using a black square (also known as a block) to "break" the circled letters
3) using zero "entry phrases" in the puzzle
This is a construction technique that CMoe really digs. I am currently working on
two such puzzles which, fingers crossed, will eventually make it into
publication. Not sure where Jacob "learned" this technique; mine came
from a puzzle that that Jeffrey Wechsler created - you'll note that Jeffrey did not use any circles to reveal his "fromage a trois"
The four types of coffee that Jacob features in his puzzle are:
ICED
DRIP
INSTANT
IRISH
I highlighted these in red so you can see the break in the coffees below:
 |
| Here is the filled grid |
On to the rest of the words:
Across:
1. Dept. of Labor div.: OSHA.
5. Clinks with drinks: TOASTS. Something our erstwhile and dear departed poster tinbeni did every evening to we Cornerites - RIP
11. Loop in on the DL: BCC. If you didn't know what "DL" is (from the clue), I think it means "down low"
14. Tangible: REAL. Moe-ku:
Traveled to Rio.
Exchanged dollars and asked: "Is
This money REAL*?"
*FYI: The Brazilian Real is the local currency ...
15. The great outdoors: NATURE. With 16-across. WC: LOO, a place where many of us - whether we admit it or not - have relieved ourselves 😅
17. Like many theme park puppets: ANIMATRONIC. Plus 19-across. School URL ending: EDU is the first of the "coffee breaks" in today's puzzle (ICED). The first ANIMATRONIC I recall was this group @ DisneyWorld: (long video)
20. Off: NOT ON.
21. Award season oversight: SNUB. (long video)
22. Barter: SWAP.
23. Dating app that went public in 2022: GRINDR. A dating site for a select few
25. Apple Store purchase: IPAD CASE. I have one of these for my i13 phone, and it has proven itself a huge benefit over multiple drops by this clumsy person
27. Coat with, as melted chocolate: DIP IN. Remember seeing one of these at a wedding reception?
29. Dining table extender: LEAF. Moe-ku:
IKEA has new
Dining table set, and it's
Called LEAF Erikson
30. __ and cheese: MAC. If we were making a sandwich, it might have been HAM and cheese
33. Running jokes: GAGS.
35. Hurled: FLUNG.
38. Not for: AGAINST.
41. Pays to play: ANTES UP.
43. World Heritage Site in Jordan: PETRA.
44. Huge production: EPIC. According to Google, this was the first EPIC movie . Of course, YMMV
46. "Wheels down" hr.: ETA. "Wheels up" hr. would be ETD methinks
47. Shoe brand known for a checkerboard design: VANS.
49. Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid: ALIAS. My alias is Chairman Moe
52. Rum cocktail: DAIQUIRI. Here is the recipe, plus a little back story
55. Sundial need: SHADOW. I have visited this one in Carefree, AZ
59. Grocery chain that requires a deposit for a shopping cart: ALDI. I think that Aldi and Trader Joe's are linked through a family ownership
60. Darn: MEND. Dang, I tried drat first
62. Upscale Honda: ACURA.
63. "Emilia Prez" Oscar winner Saldana: ZOE. Her:
[reveal]
66. Musician Brian who co-developed the Oblique Strategies creative process: ENO.
67. Like disposable products: ONE USE. A good idea, really! Moe-ku:
A disposable
Product was used more than once.
It exclaimed: "I'm wiped!"
68. Diminutive suffix: ETTE. Moe-ku:
Bach piece in G Maj.
Was shortened, as per schedule;
Renamed, MinuETTE
69. __ Moines, Iowa: DES.
70. Camelot figure: MERLIN.
71. Female deer: DOES. Unlike Homer Simpson's deer, which are DOH's
Down:
1. Chimp kin: ORANG.
1. Chimp kin: ORANG.
2. Man of La Mancha: SENOR.
3. Wyclef Jean's birth country: HAITI.
4. Amaretto flavor: ALMOND.
5. Letters on red Minecraft blocks: TNT. A generational clue
6. Rower's pair: OARS.
7. Performing acts of contrition: ATONING.
8. Vampire's bedtime: SUNUP.
9. Of a clan: TRIBAL.
10. Jiffy: SEC.
11. Flew off the handle: BLEW A FUSE.
12. Musical finales: CODAS.
13. Sedan alternative: COUPE. Moe-ku:
101
Dalmatians antagonist's
Ride? A COUPE De Vil
18. "__ Mack": Disney Channel series featuring seventh graders: ANDI. Another generational clue
22. Beaufort __: SCALE. It measures wind speed
24. D&D et al.: RPGS. Short for Role-Playing-Games -
have I ever said that pluralizing an abbreviation is not my favorite
way to add words to a crossword puzzle? The answer is, "yes"
26. Artful: DEFT.
28. "Already had a bite": I ATE.
30. World view?: MAP.
31. Information conveyed by tree rings: AGE.
Fun fact: As a sommelier, I am aware of the difference between
American Oak barrels and French Oak barrels, as containers that hold
fermented wine for its initial ageing. The American Oak barrels have a
looser grain (tree rings) than the French Oak barrels, and that
"difference" plays a big role in the flavors that are imparted to the
wine. More info in this hyperlink
32. Social media posts by some pet owners: CAT VIDEOS. Sorry, I favor dogs to cats, so no videos to support this clue/answer! I will cede this to my fellow Wednesday blogger, C-E D
34. Breeze (by): SAIL. Verb definition of the word "sail"
36. Trail mix morsel: NUT. RAISIN was too large to fit
37. Dean's list fig.: GPA. After 4 years @ Pitt, my GPA was a 3.25
39. Mosul resident: IRAQI.
40. Half of Mork's farewell: NANU. Robin Williams brought joy to millions; RIP
42. Procedural that spun off from "JAG": NCIS.
45. Throbbing: PAINFUL.
48. Olympian Biles who wears a goat necklace: SIMONE. As in, Greatest of All Times?
50. Starbuck's boss: AHAB. "Barista Manager" was too large to fit
51. Revered: SACRED.
52. Seeing stars: DAZED.
53. Without help: ALONE. Chairman Moe did this recap, solo
54. Send to a specialist: REFER. Fortunately, my new Medicare Advantage program no longer requires me to get a REFERral to see a specialized doctor
56. Because of: DUE TO.
57. Go on the stump: ORATE.
58. Rouses from sleep: WAKES. Moe-ku:
A Carnival Cruise
Passenger was aroused from
Sleep. Turbulent WAKES?
61. Lydic of "The Daily Show": DESI. Another generational clue
64. Rom follower: COM. My favorite "rom com"
65. Velvet finish?: EEN.
That's a wrap! See you in April
I really enjoyed reading the 2021 review and today’s as it highlights the path taken by longtime bloggers. Also, JEFFREY WECHSLER is an all time favorite who is missed here at the Corner whose creative mind shines in the 2021 puzzle. Moe in 2021 provider extensive commentary on every fill. Now he focuses on highlighting what appeals or rankles. I recall going through the same process. I enjoy both and this puzzle. Thanks Jacob and Chris and happy midweek
ReplyDeleteAs far as constructors go, Jeff W is at the top of the list of my favorites, but like you said, he has been MIA for a couple of years now, at least in the LAT, but I haven’t seen his byline anywhere else either. Information seems to be a little scarce, do you know if he is retired or on hiatus?
DeleteWhen I saw the themed
ReplyDeleteentries, I wondered what would tie them all together. The reveal was very satisfying, in more ways than one. (I’m a big coffee drinker myself.)
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteZipped right along; the Wite-Out got a rest. D-o does not remember the Brazilian REAL. When I visited back in the '90s. the U.S. dollar was readily accepted almost everywhere. There seemed to be a plethora of short, two-word entries ending in a preposition -- SUN UP, NOT ON, DUE TO, DIP IN, ANTES UP, I'm lookin' at you. Never noticed the circles while solving, so COFFEE BREAK was a surprise. Thanx, Jacob and C-Moe.
Not able to make the print out of the answers on the puzzle itself bigger to enable to read
ReplyDeleteWhat platform are you using? (Win11, Droid, iThing, etc?)
DeleteFIR, but andy->ANDI, tee->EEN, and pulsing->PAINFUL.
ReplyDeleteDNK GRINDR. As a new widower I probably need to check out those dating apps. Not this one, however.
CSOs to greyhound Zoё and MERLIN, my last Irish Wolfhound.
The original Beaufort SCALE didn't have the shoreside descriptions. Weather instruments back then were expensive, uncommon and delicate. These days they are just expensive. Heteronyms Beaufort NC "(BOH-fert) and Beaufort SC (BEU-fert) are about 350 miles apart.
Like Moe, my Advantage program doesn't require a REFERral to see a specialist. However, many specialist practices (including my cardiologists) require one before making a first appointment.
Thanks to Jacob for the fun hump day puzzle (What do you call a camel with a straight back? Humphrey!) And thanks to our Chairman for another fun review. I get a lot of dog videos on my iPhone, especially ones starring drama queen huskies. Don't know why I get them, but most are really funny.
Took 5:17 today using my aerolatte.
ReplyDeleteI knew the Actress of the Day (Zoe), but mainly from the "Lioness" tv series, and I knew today's Spanish lesson (senor).
I honestly didn't even notice those pesky circles today while solving. Which reminds me, ...
Oh joy, circles!
It's PAINFUL (not really) for me to admit, but DUE TO some wrong guesses, it was a DNF puzzle for what is usually an easy puzzle day. The ANDI, GRINDR, DIP IN, RPGS area was unsolvable. Misspelling ANIM-I-TRONICS didn't help the situation. At least the other unknowns-DOE, VANS, & DESI-had solid perps.
ReplyDeleteDIP IN- my brain was looking for a verb. Looking at the picture all I see is a future mess and ruined clothes of the people who attempt to coat something in flowing chocolate.
ALDI and Trader Joes are not related. There are TWO Aldi chains. Aldi-NORD and Aldi SUD, for northern and southern Europe operations. The split up over 60 years ago. Nord owns Trader Joes; Sud has the Aldi chain in the US.
I don't drink COFFEE but fix a pot for DW every morning. When I see people lining up at Starbucks or 7-Brew, it's hard not to shake my head. It's no wonder some people have affordability (the new political buzzword) problems. I'm spending less than $15/month and they are spending $6.00/day.
"GPA. After 4 years @ Pitt, my GPA was a 3.25"- back in the day, that was an achievement. Today, that's a below average GPA.
SIMONE- she's great but gymnastics has subjective scoring. To be a "goat", you have to win them all by objective scoring. Usain Bolt, Eric Heiden, or that Norweigan CC skiier.
So we're also denying GOAT status to pitchers because balls and (called) strikes are subjective?
DeleteFIR. At first I thought the theme might be tea when I saw iced. The reveal cinched it for me and all became clear.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled a bit at aninatronic first trying to insert animal at the beginning of that answer. That was soon corrected.
Overall an enjoyable puzzle.
Musings
ReplyDelete-The gimmick was obvious from the start
-When I think of all the pre-OSHA construction jobs I have had, it’s amazing I’m still alive
-I remember some of the LOOS in Europe that had an attendant whose job it was to stand there all day and hand out paper towels with his little tip jar close at hand.
-DIP IN: We ate at a pricey fondue restaurant in Omaha that went out of business
-I had a lot of 3-pointers in college. That was where my GPA hovered.
-Over the years, my GP has REFERRED me to a gastroenterologist, audiologist, ophthalmologist and an ENT.
-I agree, Jeffrey Wechsler is sorely missed here.
Husker, when I visited Japan in the '60s the airport restrooms had no stalls. Just what looked like a urinal mounted horizontally in the floor with painted footprints on either side. After squatting and completing the mission, there was a female attendant present to offer a towel. Disquieting.
DeleteI'm sitting in my local diner with some homemade cornbread and of course a mug of coffee. So it's quite enjoyable to have Jacob's coffee-themed crossword with me.
ReplyDeleteI thought we might have a pangram today when I spotted the Q and Z in the SW. But alas, no J, Y, or X. The SW is also interesting because two Middle East countries cross each other (PETRA and IRAQI).
I enjoyed the theme--and not just because I love coffee. The circles were useful, and Jacob displayed his construction chops by having the four broken theme words all UNjumbled.
BigEasy, I agree with you regarding subjective vs. objective scoring. In the recent Winter Olympics, the only events that interested me were the objectively-scored ones. That includes curling.
Thanks, Jacob, for a clever Wednesday-appropriate challenge. And thanks, CMoe, for your usual thorough and entertaining recap. I'll keep my fingers crossed that at least one of your puzzles currently under construction eventually sees the light of day.
In spite of a few unknowns, I FIR. Because I left a lot of the NW blank at first, I didn’t see the theme circles until INSTANT. Neat theme. I love morning COFFEE but never after breakfast.
ReplyDeleteI’ve seen those VANS shoes but didn’t know their names. ZOE and DESI were other unknowns. Seeing DR at the end of a word puzzled me at first, then once I guessed HAITI, the NW filled in nicely.
Thank you for the informative, recap livened up by your fun Moe-kus. You are not only a Moe-ku maven but an alliteration animal.
Fun puzzle, but I am at a loss to explain how this theme has not been done before. Surely someone must have done this in a hundred years of crossword construction... I mean, it smacks you in the face every single morning...
ReplyDeleteThank you Chairman Moe for the CSO, but you should be careful what you wish for...
Beaufort was a gimme, I could not afford one of those fancy anemometers,
so I built my own weather indicator...
Sun dials? things have come a long way since sticking a stick in the ground...
Petra! I got really excited when I saw this clip on new chambers being found at Petra.... Now, I don't know what to believe anymore...
Chairman Moe! Thank you! (For all you do...)
That clip of the Disney Bear Jamboree brings back memories. Having 3 girls (4 if you count DW) I have visited Disney World many times. (Even before I had kids.) and we always visited the Jamboree every time. I can't wait to watch it again on YouTube without having to travel, wait in line, and do all things Disney.
I thought in repayment, I would post the It's a small world ride, (but accidentally post an hour long video of waiting in line with that song playing.) turns out no one on YouTube is sadistic, or masochistic enough to post it. this was a s close as I could find...
I was anticipating "DECAF" for the bottom five circles. :-)
ReplyDeleteWonderful Wednesday. Thanks for the fun, Jacob and CMoe (great Folgers jingle).
ReplyDeleteA CW with a COFFEE BREAK theme is fine by me in the morning.
I did see all the coffees, but missed looking for the breaks.
IRAnI or IRAQI is always a tossup to me.
I’ve never heard of VANS shoes.
We don’t have ALDI either. (And the grocery stores that I frequent don’t require a deposit for a shopping cart. We return them nearly 100% in my community.
I have a Targus I PAD case which gives great protection, and also can be turned into a stand. Better than the case sold by Apple IMO.
I noted the duo of SUN UP and ANTES UP.
Wishing you all a great day.
CanadianEh!, I can believe that Canadians would almost always return their shopping cart, but that's often not the case in the USA. Even when there are cart corrals in the parking lots, some people won't walk an extra 50 feet to put their cart in one. It's kinda sad. Aldi effectively solved the problem with that quarter deposit. you aren't familiar with how Aldi it works, watch this short video (36s). How to Use the Quarter Slot in an Aldi Cart
DeleteSHB: "If you aren't..."
DeleteFun start of the day. Lots of clever misdirection, and many Aha! moments. The generational stuff flew pretty much over my head, but the perps were fair. The NW corner was the last to fall..."grindr" just didn't seem right. Still, an enjoyable outing, and the WiteOut got a rest today!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jacob and Chairman Moe
ReplyDeleteCute theme. Well executed. No nits.
The timing is ironic for me. Painfully. I'm having symptoms of withdrawal. I've been cutting back on my coffee. On Monday I had zero cups, but relapsed yesterday and had 4 cups. So far today, zero cups.
DW works from home on Wednesdays and made a pot of Costco's Kirkland Colombian Supremo. From freshly ground beans. I know this because I heard the grinder at 6AM, and then smelled it. I had just purchased two bags of beans on Monday. It is so good.
Then I solve the puzzle. Coffee! 4 types! I open the review and Chairman Moe leads with the well known Folgers jingle.
So then a paragraph or so later, C'Moe comments that he likes the technique that Jacob used, and links to a Jeffrey Wechsler from Feb of 21. I open it and start reading the review (also by C'Moe). Jeffrey has Coffee references for Starbucks and for Sanka. At the Starbucks clue, C'Moe writes "For the record, I LOVE coffee." I'm going through withdrawal and now he's rubbing it in.
And then there are a handful of comments in the review about COFFEE!
It was finally just too much. I go into the kitchen to pour a cup, but DW has already finished off the pot.
At this point, (10:45) I still haven't read past the intro of C'Moe's review of Jacobs puzzle, but you'll have to excuse me now. I'm caving to my craving. I'll be back after I brew a few cups and have a COFFEE BREAK.
See all y'all later n'at!
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteThis was a very enjoyable and satisfying solve and I was totally unaware of the circled letters, so the reveal was a pleasant and fun surprise. Of course, Irish struck my fancy, although I’m not a coffee drinker. I must admit a FIW due to not knowing Petra, and misremembering Robin’s words as Nunu nene. (I never saw the show, just clips.) I went astray at Slung/Flung, Ham/Mac, and Animaltronic/Animatronic, but perps corrected those missteps easily enough.
Thanks, Jacob and thanks, Moe, for the detailed and fact filled review, especially your illustrative expo of the theme and execution. The Moe-kus were top notch and to this alliteration aficionado, your sample describing Jacob’s NY Times publishing feat was award-winning! Last but not least was the nostalgic journey into the past with Jeffrey Wechsler’s puzzle reminding us of the good old days and why he was one of our favorite constructors . Thanks, Moe, for an outstanding Blog!
Have a great day.
finding GRINDR in this puzzle had me absolutely howling. Like seeing Ron Jeremy on NBC News or something. What a day.
ReplyDeleteI was a little dissapointed that the sundial answer wasn't GNOMON. And any other sci-fi fans think at first the Starbucks boss was ADAMA? Then I racked my brain trying to remember the CEO of Starbucks, which would have fit the puzzle theme.
ReplyDeleteBob Lee@11:02. I'm only a sci-fan by association but I was also trying to think of the Edward James Olmos character.
DeleteThanks to Jacob for a fun solve! FAVs: BLUE A FUSE; World view?; and VANS (My checkerboards VANS are pink.)
ReplyDeleteLearning moment: SUNUP is one word with no hyphen.
Saw the CSOs to IRISH and Jinx for ZOE!
Thanks to C-Moe for his Perfectly Parsed review! I always enjoy your clever Moe-kus. Thanks, also, for your kind comment this past Monday.
"My checkerboards VANS are pink." Didn't I tell you not to wash your new red blouse with your sneakers?
DeleteWonderful Wednesday puzzle from Jacob Reed, and as others have noted, an alluringly alliterative analysis from Chairman Moe.
ReplyDeleteHola! What a fun time with this puzzle! I have been drinking COFFEE while solving. Luckily I've seen GRINDR before or I would never have known it.
ReplyDeleteI had the privilege of visiting PETRA several years ago and was duly awed by the remarkable carvings that span over 60 feet upward.
I also have great memories of my late uncle Ray who made me a strawberry DAQUIRI every time I visited.
And i recall one LOO that was flat on the ground, and we had to squat down to use it. There was also a woman handing out tissues and collecting money.
I hope all are having a wonderful day today! Every day is a gift!
I managed to FIR in 12, which is good for me for a Wednesday. 16 names, DNK 4. I got the theme early, which helped.
ReplyDeleteStill didn't know what DL means, although I've seen it in CWs several times now. Is it like "On the QT" which I never knew what THAT stood for either. Just looked up DL = "down low", in other words, below hearing or sight.
W/Os = MINI/CASE; HAM/MAC.
52A DAIQUIRI I needed many perps to spell.
Learning moment = "Beaufort scale" refers to wind speed. I thought it was a measure of the severity of an earthquake. Doh!!
Still don't know what AHAB has to do with Starbucks at 50D. Anyone know?
Thanx JR for the fine, fun CW.
Thanx too to C.Moe for the great write-up, and the MoeKus.
TTP@10:44 mentions Costco Columbian Supreme. I buy Costco Whole Bean French Roast. It too is very good. I have a Cuisinart coffee maker that has a water reservoir in the back and a bean hopper on top. It grinds the beans fresh for each cup of coffee. I use it to make two cups of regular in the morning, to which I add a couple ounces of Premier Protein Chocolate Shake, a little milk, and a squirt of saccharin. Delicious. Then the rest of the day I drink decaf, made in my other coffee maker, which makes a pot at a time. That Cuisinart machine is wonderful!
UncleFred, at our Costco, the Whole Bean French Roast is right next to the Colombian Supremo. I almost bought a bag of it. I like the French Roast, but she does not. Guess who gets their preference. I'm pretty happy with our Bunn coffee maker, but I'm going to look up the details on that Cuisinart coffee maker. The big deal would be the grind. Is it adjustable? She likes it ground fine for stronger coffee. She tells me that I usually grind it too coarse for her, so she takes care of it.
DeleteThank you, Chairman Moe!
ReplyDeleteStarbuck is the first mate of the whaling ship, Pequod, written by Herman Melville. Please correct me if I have it wrong.
ReplyDeleteYou've got that right, Lucina! Apparently the world's largest coffeehouse chain took its name from the character in Moby Dick.
DeleteThank You, Lucina, I would have NEVER made that connection. Great clue, now that it's 'splained to me.
DeleteI thought the circles were helpful and pretty easy to guess. My favorite clue, "Female deer", yes more than one. I had "ham" before I saw it had to be "mac". Nice Wed puzzle and excellent recap Moe.
ReplyDeleteDelightful Wednesday puzzle, many thanks, Jacob. And your commentary is always a help and a pleasure, Moe, thank you for that too.
ReplyDeleteThis puzzle makes us feel a little as if we're in a new future age, where it's not clear if we'll have any REAL NATURE anymore, and we'll feel a bit DAZED, and as if we're going to use our OARS to SAIL into a new TRIBAL world at SUNUP. I'd probably rather go to HAITI, but we have to do our best not to SNUB what we have and hang onto our I PAD CASE and accept whatever ALIAS they give us, and say no to that DAIQUIRI and request a COFFEE BREAK with a side dish of ALMONDS instead. If that SENOR offered us an ORANG as a pet, that would help, or maybe some CAT VIDEOS to watch. Maybe by then it would be okay to give the guy some TOASTS for his help, and tell him that we'd love to enjoy this EPIC trip for another day or two before we need to go home. Phew! What a relief to realize none of this actually happened, and it's time for me to have a nap without any nightmares.
Cheers! And I wish you all a sunny and cheerful day too!
Oh wow! I just watched the Country Bears Jamboree clip, they must have updated it! All new songs and acts! I was expecting to see Blood On The Saddle...
ReplyDeletehere is another classic that usually gets lost in the dark...
DeleteGreat review, Chairman Moe!
ReplyDeleteMarch forth today.
I made it through my coffee crisis. Got busy with other stuff. So zero cups today. I think that tomorrow I'll have two cups. That might be a good compromise.
"...plethora of puzzle-preparers who pepper that paper with printed previews for potential publication." I think there may have been an alliteration additive of some kind in your coffee, C'Moe, but I liked it.
The Volo Museum is about an hour's drive north of me. Here's a lengthy video of the ANIMATRONICS at the Volo Museum. The video isn't by them, but by a fan of animatronics.
The place has a lot to see. They have an auto museum of famous cars from movies and TV series. They also buy and sell classic cars, so if you are in the market and looking for a specific model vintage car in show quality condition, they may have it. Images of cars currently for sale There are a lot of real beauties there.
I got the Starbucks answer right away because I have been listening to John Hodgman reading "Moby Dick" one chapter at a time weekly in a Downeast Maine accent in his behind-the-paywall Substack. Absolutely delightful.
ReplyDelete