Spring is here all across Saybrook! The leaves and flowers have sprouted, kids and families are outside, and the sun has come out of hiding after a record-breaking winter of snow. Eva Downes, a junior at Old Saybrook High School says, “Spring makes me excited about new opportunities and different activities that are arising around town.” Old Saybrook’s Ashlawn Farm is able to add to this excitement, incorporating new Spring drinks to their menu.
Ashlawn Farm Coffee is a coffee shop on Boston Post Road that specializes in handcrafted drinks and baked goods. Junior Sylvie Webber says, “Ashlawn has a great selection of food and drinks. I love the quality of their products and the environment.“ This popular spot has many spring menu additions to brighten their customers’ days. Ashlawn, as the locals call it, introduced a new Peep Latte for Easter. This latte includes an espresso base topped with marshmallow syrup and a Peep! Other menu specials included a Spring Smoothie and a Busy Bee Smoothie. The Spring Smoothie consists of piquant arugula, pear, fresh ginger, and blended with orange juice. The Busy Bee is made up of fresh blackberries, banana, greek yogurt, almond milk, sweetened with honey, and topped with bee pollen. Previous to the new Easter drink, Ashlawn also introduced a special drink for Saint Patrick’s Day. Similar to the Peep Latte, the Lucky Leprechaun Latte is another espresso base topped with marshmallow syrup and marshmallow bits.
On April 7th, 2026, we, freshman Nadia Roslonek and juniors Arionna Fox, Zoe Parakilas, and Claire Cassella, decided to go into town and try these drinks and special menu additions to get into the spring spirit. At Ashlawn, we tasted the three new menu additions. First, we tried the Peep Latte; this latte was very tasty. Claire does not like coffee, so she didn’t enjoy it as much as the rest of us did. Zoe described it as, “a good midday treat to boost her energy.” As for the Busy Bee smoothie, it was a hit amongst all of the reviewers. This smoothie was described by Ari as, “A refreshing and healthy drink that feels like spring.” However, contrasting the two previous drinks, the Spring Smoothie was not as delicious. Nadia shared the opinion of the group, saying, “we normally lean towards the sweeter drinks, while this one was more bitter and plant tasting.”
In all, the new additions to the menu were described as “fun and a strong representation of spring” by Claire. The four of us reviewers were delighted with the service and welcoming environment at Ashlawn to assist with our menu choices.
