A device for increasing the interior surface of a compact coke charge in a receiving trough, which device increases the interior surface of a coke cake or coke leaving the coking chamber by mechanically breaking apart or roughening it, resulting in a break-up of the coke structure and the formation of crevice-type cavities in the compacted coke charge so that an increased amount of water can flow into the interior of the coke charge during the subsequent quenching step through these crevices, resulting in a high profitability of the method due to reduced quenching times and lower water consumption. A method for increasing the interior surface of a compact coke charge in a receiving trough, which serves to break up a fresh coke cake or to roughen the coke in order to reduce water consumption during quenching is disclosed.