An apparatus for producing form coke that is coke having pieces of substantially identical form comprises a heated shaft furnace comprises mixing fine coke with a caking coal and pressing the mixture at temperatures at which the mixture is plastic in order to form briquettes. The briquettes are permitted to harden and degasify and thereafter they are exposed to a high temperature after hardening for example to a temperature of from 400.degree. to 900.degree. C. from 60 to 120 minutes. Thereafter the briquettes are cooled. A first mixing substance is prepared by permitting a fine coal to fall in a non-compressed stream in the shaft furnace while heat is transferred thereto substantially by radiation. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes a regeneratively fired shaft furnace which is provided with heating flues and which has a clear height of approximately 35 meters, a width of approximately 1 meter and a length of approximately 5 meters. The shaft furnace is provided with gas offtakes extending at different levels of the shaft furnace obliquely upwardly and having widened cross sections. They are either provided with steam inlets or connected into spaces or retorts which are equipped with steam inlets. The shaft furnace and its gas offtakes are made of a good heat conducting material containing silicon carbide or aluminum oxide.