Like second coffee? Send out first new aide (9)
I believe the answer is:
assistant
'aide' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'like second coffee? send out first new' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'like' could be 'as' and 'as' is found within the answer.
'second' could be 's' (common abbreviation) and 's' is present in the answer.
'first' could be 'ist' (ist resembles 1st) and 'ist' is found within the answer.
'new' could be 'n' (abbreviation as in New Testament NT) and 'n' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'at' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for assistant that I've seen before include "help required?" , "One helping" , "Attendant, helper" , "one helps out" , "Deputy, subordinate" .)