The methods used for estimating the leaf area index (LAI) of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) show limitations related to therepresentation of some aspects of coffee crops, affecting the LAI in time and space. This work was developed to propose a method forassessing the LAI of coffee aiming to reduce those limitations. We studied plants in the production phase of the Mundo Novo and Catuaívarieties, in plantations loc...