Based on aerophotographs made in 1962 (1:25,000), a study was carried out on the distribution of the coffee culture in 13 counties of the Northeast of São Paulo State. Determinations were made on the number of plants and plantations, occupied area, presence of conservative practices and correlation of the culture with the general relief and soil types. About 12.1 million coffee plants were found covering an area of 12,600 ha (4% of the total area of the analyzed counties), distributed in 2,300 plantations. Two thirds of these plants age more than 15 years, and only 20% were cultivated under conservation practices. The general tendency of the coffee culture in these regions is the gradual reduction, because renewing does not overcome the erradication of the old cultures.