ABSTRACT Agricultural spray adjuvants (ASA) are widely used in pesticide applications to enhance the performance of pesticides. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of ASA on static surface tension (SST) and foliar spray retention on coffee leaves. The SST of ASA at different concentrations was determined by the drop weight method. Spray retention on adaxial and abaxial coffee leaf surfaces was performed using a micro-sprayer at solution concentrations of 0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0% v v−1. The ASA assessed were: polyether-polymethylsiloxane-copolymer (PPC); Nonylphenol ethoxylate; nonyl polyethylene glycol ether; mineral oil; nonylphenoxy polyethoxy ethanol; carboxyl copolymer of styrene and butadiene; primary aliphatic oxyalkylated alcohol plus carboxyl copolymer of styrene and butadiene; and soyal phospholipids and propionic acid. All ASA reduced the SST of the aqueous solutions. PPC provided the best performance in decreasing SST, reaching values below 20 mN m−1 at a concentration of 0.05% v v−1. Spray retention on leaves was influenced by adjuvant type as well as concentration. A very strong positive correlation between SST and spray retention on coffee leaves was observed. Decreasing the SST of the solution provided a reduction of spray retention when spraying was performed until run-off point.