Since years 70 with the petroleum crisis the search for alternative energy has being developed. Moreover, obtaining clean energy is also an environmental goal. The hydrogen production by steam reforming of methanol is an important clean energy alternative source that can be used in fuel cells. In this work catalysts based in Cu were prepared by different methods: coprecipitation, sequential precipitation and homogeneous precipitation. Some variations in these methods also were tested as the reagents addition order and aging time. Zirconium and yttrium were used as promoters in different amounts. The catalysts were characterized by a variety of techniques, including Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), N2 adsorption surface area analysis, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Temperature Programmed Desorption of H2 (H2-TPD), N2O oxidation and infrared spectroscopy of methanol adsorption. The preparation methods did not influence the precursor phase formation. The aurichalcite was the main phase found in the catalysts as prepared. In the case of calcined catalysts were found the CuO and ZnO phases. Yttrium based catalysts prepared by co-precipitation method showed no crystalline precursor phases and smaller surface areas. Zirconium modified the catalyst crystalline structure increasing surface area and the metallic copper area when prepared by homogeneous precipitation. Two decomposition steps were found in the majority of catalysts and were attributed to dehydroxylation and decarbonation of precursor phases. H2-TPD profiles showed three or four desorption peaks that were attributed to Cu metallic sites of different sizes at the samples surface. The metal area values obtained by H2-TPD and N2O oxidation techniques were not coincident. This fact indicated that this kind of determination is only to observe tendences. The preparation methods and promoter type influenced the catalysts morphologies. Catalyst prepared by coprecipitation method showed regular particles. When others methods were used particles with needle forms were found. They were origined by the remained precursor after the sample calcination. Infrared results showed bands attributed to formiates and metoxy ions adsorbed on oxide copper. These ions would be the intermediate species in the steam reforming of methanol confirming the water influence in the Cu metallic species oxidation. These oxided species seem to be the responsibles by the hydrogen formation.