Well-defined Cu catalysts containing different amounts of zirconia were synthesized by controlled surface reactions (CSRs) and atomic layer deposition methods and studied for the selective conversion of ethanol to ethyl acetate and for methanol synthesis. Selective deposition of ZrO₂ on undercoordinated Cu sites or near Cu nanoparticles via the CSR method was evidenced by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma absorption emission spectroscopy. The concentrations of Cu and Cu-ZrO₂ interfacial sites were quantified using a combination of subambient CO Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and reactive N₂O chemisorption measurements. The oxidation states of the Cu and ZrO₂ species for these catalysts were determined using X-ray absorption near edge structure measurements, showing that these species were present primarily as Cu⁰ and Zr⁴⁺, respectively. It was found that the formation of Cu-ZrO₂ interfacial sites increased the turnover frequency by an order of magnitude in both the conversion of ethanol to ethyl acetate and the synthesis of methanol from CO₂ and H₂.