-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 DSTdo1BxVS3TiQ7Tf9e1UQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000909954-06-000041.txt : 20061206
<SEC-HEADER>0000909954-06-000041.hdr.sgml : 20061206
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061206144517
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000909954-06-000041
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061206
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061206

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Lazaris Nicholas G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001366159

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12340
		FILM NUMBER:		061259887

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		802-244-5621

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTERS
		STREET 2:		33 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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-12-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001366159</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lazaris Nicholas G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>33 COFFEE LANE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WATERBURY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>05676</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, Keurig</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>GMCR Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14016</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.71</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14116</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>GMCR Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14016</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>51.52</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>GMCR Stock options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.71</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14016</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-10-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-10-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>GMCR Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14016</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>89267</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Nicholas Lazaris</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-12-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----