A method and apparatus for the wet quenching of coke is disclosed wherein hot coke is sprayed from above with quenching water, the steam generated by the heat of the coke is condensed by a spray of condensation water from the top of the quenching tower, and the hot condensate-water mixture is collected at the bottom of the quenching tower and recirculating to the top of the tower where it is sprayed between quenching operations to be cooled by a counterflowing stream of air. The cooled condensate-water mixture is suitable for reuse as the condensation spray water.