Electrochemical CO 2 reduction presents a sustainable route to storage of intermittent renewable energy. Ethanol is an important target product, which is used as fuel additive and as a chemical feedstock. However, electrochemical ethanol production is challenging as it involves the transfer of multiple electrons and protons alongside C−C bond formation. To date, the most commonly employed and effective catalysts are copper-based materials. This review presents and categorizes the most efficient and selective Cu-based electrocatalysts, which are divided into three main groups: oxide-