-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 V4w+sSxes6blYXxEhIJkSfWapxpn2Aygdi2tb06D7f4pFb4NTbPqqu/FqHH78HVv
 gbzu1o9LxTmC8fbfg+YhjA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000909954-04-000012.txt : 20040318
<SEC-HEADER>0000909954-04-000012.hdr.sgml : 20040318
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040318161125
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000909954-04-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040317
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040318

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STILLER ROBERT P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218950

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12340
		FILM NUMBER:		04677961

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE
		STREET 2:		33M COFFEE LANE
		CITY:			WATERBURY
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05676

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTERS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000909954
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS FOOD PREPARATIONS & KINDRED PRODUCTS [2090]
		IRS NUMBER:				030339228
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0928

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		33 COFFEE LANE
		CITY:			WATERBURY
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05676
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8022445621

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		33 COFFEE LANE
		CITY:			WATERBURY
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05676

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930729
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000909954</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>gmcr</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218950</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STILLER ROBERT P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>33M COFFEE LANE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WATERBURY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>05676</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>GMCR Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.0072</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2282861.9</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert P. Stiller</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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