Brooklyn café refunds pro-Israel congressman and tells him not to return

A Brooklyn coffee shop in New York became the center of controversy after it refunded Democratic Congressman Dan Goldman for a coffee purchase and told him he would not be served there again. The incident took place at Poetica Coffee in Park Slope and prompted a public response from Goldman, who is running in the Democratic primary in New York's 10th District.

The café posted, then later deleted amid backlash, that it does not serve “fascists” or “enablers of genocide.” It said Goldman was identified too late and that, had staff recognized him in real time, he would have been removed immediately. The post also said the $9.82 he spent on the drink was returned to him, and added, “That money probably came from AIPAC.”

Goldman replied that he bought the coffee to thank a barista who allowed his daughter to use the restroom. He wrote, “The barista was so nice when she let my daughter use the bathroom, I bought a coffee as a thank-you, I hope she at least got the tip.”

Goldman is facing former city comptroller Brad Lander in the Democratic primary. Lander has accused Israel of genocide and has the backing of New York mayor Zohran Mamdani. Goldman describes himself as a “pro-Israel supporter of peace.”