Abstract: A recuperative coke oven includes at least one recuperator chamber arranged below an oven chamber. Hot undergrate firing exhaust gas is passed from the oven through the recuperator chamber. At least one elongated recuperator extends into the recuperator chamber. The recuperator includes an inner tube and a coaxially outer tube. The inner end of the inner tube is open, and the inner end of the outer tube is closed to define an annular chamber between the two tubes. Combustion air to be heated is introduced into the inner tube and passed therethrough. The combustion air then reverses direction and passes through the annular chamber and is thereat heated by the hot exhaust gas passing through the recuperator chamber. The heated combustion air is discharged from the annular chamber and passed to the heating flues of the oven.