In the method of smelting copper by melting a starting material of the group consisting of copper ore and roasted copper ore in a furnace along with a flux, separating from the melt a material of the group consisting of a matte and white metal which abound in cuprous sulfide, and thereafter smelting the separated matte or white metal with a member selected from the group consisting of oxygen and a oxygen-containing gas to convert same into blister copper, the improvement which comprises causing said matte or white metal to freely flow downwardly in a molten state and blowing a member selected from the group consisting of air, oxygen-enriched air and oxygen against the downwardly flowing stream of matte or white metal thereby dividing said stream of matte or white metal into fine particles as well as oxidatively smelting the matte or white metal to convert same into blister copper.