A method and a device for breaking up a fresh and hot coke charge in a receiving trough having mobile plate segments, the coke charge being conveyed to a quenching tower in the receiving trough of a flatbed transport car in which the coke charge is cooled down to ambient temperatures by mobile plate segments so that the coke structure is broken up and crevice-type cavities are formed in the compacted coke charge. These crevice-type cavities then allow an increased amount of water to flow into the interior of the coke charge during the subsequent quenching step, resulting in a high profitability of the method, a higher coke quality and a reduced burden on the environment due to reduced quenching times and lower water consumption. A device for carrying out the method is also disclosed.