Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and a coffee pun brings warmth to a grid mixing everyday clues with geography and classroom notation. Come on in and let the familiar clues get you started.
How The Mini Works
The Mini is a compact version of the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring a 5x5 grid with five Across and five Down clues. Saturdays expand to a larger grid with more clues. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime. No streak tracking here, but the built-in timer lets you compete against yourself or challenge friends.
New puzzles drop at 10 p.m. EST on weekdays and Saturdays. Sunday's Mini arrives earlier at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 5x5
Total Clues: 10 (5 Across, 5 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 9A is the toughest stop because it asks for conventional proof notation rather than an everyday word. Use the crossing clues if that classroom shorthand feels distant.
Gimme Clue: 7A is the clearest foothold, pointing directly to a familiar destination for incoming messages.
Theme Spotted: None today, straight trivia and wordplay.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. England's neighbor to the west
Hint: Think of the country with Cardiff as its capital. Five letters, starts with W.
6A. Something a selfie taker tries to get right
Hint: Think about how someone tilts or positions the camera to flatter their face. Five letters, starts with A.
7A. Where emails pile up
Hint: Look for the mail folder where new messages arrive before you sort them. Five letters, starts with I.
8A. "I love you a ___!" (coffee drinker's pun)
Hint: A milky espresso drink supplies the affectionate sound play. Five letters, starts with L.
9A. End of a mathematical proof
Hint: Recall the traditional Latin abbreviation that signals a proof is complete. Three letters, starts with Q.
Down Hints
1D. Cry loudly
Hint: Think of a prolonged, sorrowful cry rather than quiet tears. Four letters, starts with W.
2D. Actress Kendrick of "Pitch Perfect"
Hint: Recall the performer who plays Beca in the a cappella film series. Four letters, starts with A.
3D. Pride initials
Hint: Think of the identity abbreviation associated with rainbow flags and Pride celebrations. Five letters, starts with L.
4D. Mexican street corn
Hint: Picture corn on the cob dressed with creamy toppings, cheese, chili and lime. Five letters, starts with E.
5D. High school health class topic, for short
Hint: Think of the shortened classroom term for lessons about reproduction and sexual health. Five letters, starts with S.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. England's neighbor to the west
Answer: WALES
6A. Something a selfie taker tries to get right
Answer: ANGLE
7A. Where emails pile up
Answer: INBOX
8A. "I love you a ___!" (coffee drinker's pun)
Answer: LATTE
9A. End of a mathematical proof
Answer: QED
Down Answers
1D. Cry loudly
Answer: WAIL
2D. Actress Kendrick of "Pitch Perfect"
Answer: ANNA
3D. Pride initials
Answer: LGBTQ
4D. Mexican street corn
Answer: ELOTE
5D. High school health class topic, for short
Answer: SEXED
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 6A, "Something a selfie taker tries to get right," earns its place with ANGLE. The familiar act of adjusting a camera makes the answer natural, while "right" adds a neat geometric wink.
Wordplay Winner: 8A wins the wordplay prize with LATTE. The coffee drink substitutes for "lot" in an affectionate expression, turning a café order into a playful declaration.
Quick Fill: INBOX at 7A is the fastest confident fill because the email clue points straight to it. It anchors the middle row and supplies a letter to every Down entry, WAIL, ANNA, LGBTQ, ELOTE and SEXED.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank direct definitions such as INBOX before tackling specialized notation. If QED does not come immediately, its crossings with LGBTQ, ELOTE and SEXED let you assemble it from more familiar clues.
When a clue explicitly flags a pun, read the surrounding phrase aloud. LATTE rewards listening for the familiar expression beneath the coffee reference.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
This grid offers friendly footholds while leaving QED as a crisp final test of recall. LATTE supplies the smile that makes the mix feel welcoming.
See you at the next grid.