June 24, 2026 BROOKLYN, NY What started as a routine $9.82 coffee run has erupted into a full-blown federal civil rights investigation, dragging a popular Brooklyn coffee chain directly into the crosshairs of the United States Department of Justice.
Poetica, a trendy coffee spot in the progressive haven of Park Slope, is finding out the hard way that mixing politics with espresso can have massive legal consequences. The shop is under fire after workers served, then publicly rejected payment from, and banned U.S. Representative Dan Goldman simply because of his stance on the Israel-Hamas war.
The $9.82 Refund Heard 'Round the Web
The political storm began brewing on Sunday when Poetica’s management took to social media to brag about a petty act of defiance. The shop revealed it had digitally refunded Goldman the $9.82 he spent on June 21 while out campaigning with his family.
The establishment's public post didn't hold back, dripping with hostility:
“Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away. We issued you a refund—we don’t need your money (it’s probably coming from AIPAC anyways). Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Don’t ever come to Poetica.”
The aggressive ban is dripping with irony for a chain owned by Parviz Mukhamadkulov. Poetica heavily promotes its progressive values by proudly displaying shelves of "banned books" at its locations—a feature usually meant to celebrate free speech and tolerance.
The Feds Step In: "Potentially Illegal"
The petty digital snub quickly transformed into a major legal nightmare. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced that the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division has officially launched an investigation into the coffee shop’s actions.
"Federal law prohibits public accommodations such as coffee shops from discriminating against patrons based on their race, religion, or national origin," Dhillon announced. "These actions are not only reprehensible, they’re potentially illegal. The Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation and will bring an enforcement action if warranted."
"A Sad State of Affairs"
Appearing on CNN, Congressman Goldman recalled having a perfectly pleasant interaction with the actual barista who poured his coffee, making the subsequent online trashing all the more shocking. He lamented the incident as a symptom of a deeply broken political climate.
“What is going on in the Middle East is horrific. The idea of accusing someone you don’t know of supporting a genocide, it’s crazy,” Goldman said. “We have to stop dividing ourselves so much, and try to find a common ground and unify.”
