Backlash Over Coffee Shop’s Refusal to Serve Pro-Israel Congressman

A New York City coffee shop, Poetica Coffee, received criticism online after stating that Democratic Congressman Dan Goldman was unwelcome due to his pro-Israel stance. The cafe made this announcement in a Facebook post, sharing a photo of Goldman taken during his visit to their Brooklyn branch. Poetica Coffee accompanied the image with another photo showing a refund for Goldman’s $9.82 purchase, declaring they did not want business from individuals they labeled ‘genocide enablers.’

The post stated: “Hey Congressman Dan Goldman, we see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee. Do you see how it doesn’t taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference? See, here at Poetica, we don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between.” The shop expressed regret for not recognizing him sooner, saying they would have turned him away. They continued, “We issued you a refund—we don’t need your money (it’s probably coming from AIPAC anyways). Enjoy your loss on Tuesday,” referring to Goldman’s competitive Democratic primary against Israel critic Brad Lander in New York’s 10th Congressional District. The post concluded with, “Don’t ever come to Poetica.”

In response, local Jewish leaders condemned the post, sparking a wave of negative reviews online. Poetica Coffee, previously praised for its friendly service, now faces scrutiny as reports of the post spread. Yelp has halted new reviews of the business, citing heightened public attention and the need to verify the authenticity of these reviews. The platform stated, “This business recently received increased public attention resulting in an influx of people posting their views to this page, so we have temporarily disabled the ability to post here as we work to investigate the content.” They added that all reviews must reflect real consumer experiences, regardless of opinions expressed.

Poetica Coffee also disclosed receiving death threats, which it shared on Instagram before its account was deactivated. The reason for the deactivation, whether by Instagram or Poetica, remains unclear.

Goldman, who embraces his pro-Israel stance, reacted to the post. He commented that the barista served him and his young daughter kindly, allowing bathroom access without a purchase. In return for the barista’s kindness, Goldman bought coffee. He expressed hope that the barista received the deserved tip.

Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, denounced the post on Monday via the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. He stated, “Assigning collective blame to Jews or perceived supporters of Israel over disagreements with Middle East policies is the very definition of antisemitism. It is shameful and hateful, and businesses open to the public do not get to discriminate based on religion, ancestry, ethnicity, or stereotypes.”

Subsequently, President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice Civil Rights Division announced an investigation into Poetica Coffee and potential enforcement actions. Newsweek reached out to Poetica for comment, receiving a response from a staff member at the store: “No comment. We stand against genocide.”