Coal compacts which are suitable for coking in coke oven chambers are prepared by pressing and compacting coal in a pressing device having a design which shapes the surface of the coal compacts to provide higher surface area. Already compacted coal blocks can be pressed to generate the surface shape. The resulting coal compacts exhibit significantly improved properties during the coking process, resulting in improved gas and heat exchange. A device for compacting coal preferably contains a plate provided with shaping elements on the pressing surface.