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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000909954-08-000032.txt : 20080508
<SEC-HEADER>0000909954-08-000032.hdr.sgml : 20080508
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080508110749
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000909954-08-000032
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080506
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080508
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080508

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:		08812486

	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:			0929

	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>2008-05-06</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>2008-05-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4518</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.34</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <value>GMCR Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>GMCR Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-06</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.34</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>124374</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>GMCR Common stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>86574</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>38.0917</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37800</value>
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            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>40</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>GMCR Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.34</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-06</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4518</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>GMCR Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4518</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                <value></value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-15</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <value>112500</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vests in four equal annual installments, with the first installment vesting on the first anniversary from the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">1 for 1</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/ Nicholas G. Lazaris</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----