Wet quenching of coke with low vapor emissions is provided when the quenching vapors are bunkered before delivery to the atmosphere and subsequently or immediately a condensate is drawn off and cooled further. The bunkered vapors are intermittently mixed with air to prevent the development of explosive carbon monoxide concentrations. The condensate obtained is again distributed, cooled and subsequently recycled for further condensation. The apparatus for performing this process includes a quenching tower connected with a condensor separator and having a buffer space for the quenching vapors. The buffer space has a closable fresh air valve and the condensor separator has a condensor return with an intermediately connected water purifier and the condensor separator and buffer space are connected with each other. A twin cooling system can be connected with a by-pass for feed back which receives fluid from the water purifier.