Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Voluntary Filers Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Public Float Consolidated Balance Sheets Assets [Abstract] Assets Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Restricted cash and cash equivalents Receivables, less uncollectible accounts and return allowances of $00000 and $14,056 at December 25, 2010 and September 25, 2010 respectively Receivables, less uncollectible accounts and return allowances of $21,407 and $14,056 at September 24, 2011 and September 25, 2010, respectively Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Accounts receivable Inventories BS Inventories Inventories Inventories Income tax receivable BS Income taxes receivable Other current assets BS Other current assets Deferred income taxes, net Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred income taxes Deferred income taxes, net Deferred income taxes, net Other Assets Held-for-sale, Current Current assets held for sale Total current assets Total current assets Total current assets Fixed assets, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Fixed assets, net Fixed assets, net Intangibles, net Intangibles Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total Goodwill Goodwill Goodwill Goodwill Goodwill, Total Other long-term assets Other long-term assets Assets Held-for-sale, Long Lived Total long-term assets Assets Held-for-sale, Long Lived, Total Long-term assets held for sale Total assets Total assets Total assets Stockholders' Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current portion of long-term debt Less current portion Less current portion Long-term Debt, Current Maturities, Total Accounts payable BS Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accounts payable Accrued compensation costs BS Accrued compensation costs Deferred Compensation Liability, Current, Total Accrued compensation Accrued expenses BS Accrued expenses Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total Income tax payable Deferred Tax Liabilities, Current Deferred income taxes, net Other short-term liabilities Other current liabilities Other short-term liabilities Other current liabilities Liabilities of Assets Held-for-sale Total current liabilities Current liabilities related to assets held for sale Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Long-Term Debt Noncurrent Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities, Total Long-term debt Long-term portion Long-term Portion of long-term debt Deferred income taxes, net BS Deferred income taxes, net Deferred income taxes Other long-term liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Long-term liabilities related to assets held for sale Long-term liabilities related to assets held for sale Total long-term liabilities Total long-term liabilities Commitments and contingencies (See Notes 6 and 22) Commitments and contingencies (See Notes 5 and 19) Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Carrying Amount Redeemable noncontrolling interests Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Carrying Amount, Total Redeemable noncontrolling interest Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.10 par value: Authorized - 1,000,000 shares; No shares issued or outstanding Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred stock, $0.10 par value: Authorized-1,000,000 shares; No shares issued or outstanding Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common stock, $0.10 par value: Authorized - 200,000,000 shares; Issued - 000000 and 132,823,585 shares at December 25, 2010 and September 25, 2010, respectively Balance at March 27, 2010, amount Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common stock, $0.10 par value: Authorized-200,000,000 shares; Issued and outstanding-154,466,463 and 132,823,585 shares at September 24, 2011 and September 25, 2010, respectively Issued and outstanding - 153,044,445 and 132,823,585 shares at June 25, 2011 and September 25, 2010, respectively Common stock, $.10 par value: Authorized - 200,000,000 shares; Issued - 141,569,636 and 132,823,585 shares at December 25, 2010 and September 25, 2010, respectively Additional paid-in capital BS Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Total Retained earnings BS Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Accumulated other comprehensive loss Ending accumulated OCI Beginning accumulated OCI Beginning accumulated OCI Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Total stockholders' equity Balance, value Balance, value Total stockholders' equity Balance at September 27, 2008 shares Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Allowance for doubtful accounts Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance Preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued, Total Preferred stock, shares outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Beginning Balance Common stock, par value Common Stock Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common stock committed under plan, shares Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Common stock, shares outstanding Common stock shares sold Consolidated Statements Of Operations Net sales Sales revenue eliminated for assets held for sale Net sales Sales to unaffiliated customers Cost of sales Cost of sales Gross Profit Gross profit Gross profit Selling and operating expenses Selling and operating expenses Selling and operating expenses General and administrative expenses General and administrative expenses General and administrative expenses Litigation Settlement Expense Settlement and license agreement Patent litigation settlement Settlement and license agreement Operating income Operating income Operating income Other Income Other income (expense), net Other Income, Total Other income (expense) Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net. Gain Loss On Financial Instruments Net Loss on financial instruments, net Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax Gain (loss) on foreign currency, net Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax, Total Loss on foreign currency, net Interest expense Interest expense Interest expense Interest expense Income before income taxes Income before taxes Income before income taxes Income tax expense Income tax expense Income tax expense Tax at effective rates Total tax expense Recognized income tax expense Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income including portion of noncontrolling interest Net Income Net income Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net Income Loss Net income attributable to GMCR Net income Net income attributable to GMCR Net income attributable to GMCR Discontinued operations: Basic income per share: Weighted average shares outstanding b Basic weighted average shares outstanding Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, Total Basic income per share, weighted average shares outstanding Earnings Per Share Basic Net income per common share-basic Net income Basic net income per common share Diluted income per share: Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding Diluted income per share, weighted average shares outstanding Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, Total Diluted weighted average shares outstanding Earnings Per Share Diluted Diluted net income per share Net income per common share-diluted Net income Diluted net income per common share Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Deferred gain (loss) on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges Deferred (loss) gain on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges Deferred gain (loss) on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, net of tax (provision)/benefit of $3.0 million, $(0.2) million and $1.2 million respectively (Gain) Loss on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges reclassified to net income (Gain) loss on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges reclassified to net income, net of tax (provision)/benefit of $0.2 million, $(0.1) million and $0.2 million respectively Loss on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges reclassified to net income Gain on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges reclassified to net income Loss on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges reclassified to net income Reclassifications to income Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation adjustment Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Total Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss) Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss) Other comprehensive gain (loss) Other comprehensive (loss) gain Other comprehensive gain (loss) Other comprehensive (loss) gain Other comprehensive gain Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Total comprehensive income Total comprehensive income Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Total comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests, net of tax Comprehensive income Comprehensive income Total comprehensive income attributable to GMCR Total comprehensive income attributable to the Company Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax Deferred gain (loss) on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, tax (provision)/benefit (Gain) loss on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges reclassified to net income, tax (provision)/benefit Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Stockholders' Equity Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] GMCR [Member] Common Stock [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member] ESOP unallocated shares [Member] E S O P Unallocated Shares Member ESOP Unallocated Shares [Member] Treasury Stock [Member] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Shares Issued Balance, shares Balance, shares Balance Proceeds from Issuance of Private Placement Sale of common stock for private placement, value Proceeds from issuance of common stock for private placement Sale of common stock through private placement. Sale Of Common Stock Through Private Placement Sale of common stock for private placement, shares Options exercised, shares Number of Shares, Exercised Number of Shares, Exercised Options exercised, value Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Stock Purchase Plans Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan, shares Stock Issued During Period, Value, Employee Stock Purchase Plan Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan, value Allocation Of ESOP Shares Allocation Of E S O P Shares Allocation of ESOP, shares Allocation of E S O P Values Allocation of E S O P Values Allocation of ESOP, values Issuance of common stock for public equity offering, shares Sale of common stock, shares Issuance of common stock for public equity offering, value Sale of common stock, value Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Treasury Stock Reissued Issuance of common stock from treasury for public equity offering, shares Stock Issued During Period, Value, Treasury Stock Reissued Issuance of common stock from treasury for public equity offering, value Stock compensation expense Stock compensation Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition, Total Tax benefit from exercise of options Tax benefit from exercise of options Deferred compensation - the compensation recognized during the period pertaining to deferred compensation arrangements. Deferred Compensation Deferred compensation expense Payments to Acquire Additional Interest in Subsidiaries Purchase noncontrolling interests Noncontrolling Interest, Change in Redemption Value Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interests to redemption value Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders Cash distributions Cash distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests shareholders Other comprehensive income, net of tax Other comprehensive gain (loss) Other comprehensive gain (loss) Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows Business Acquisition [Axis] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Timothy's Coffee of the World Inc. Timothys Coffee Of World Inc Member Timothy's Coffee Of The World Inc. [Member] Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: Depreciation Total depreciation expense Depreciation, Total Amortization of intangibles Amortization of intangibles Amortization of Intangible Assets, Total Amortization of Financing Costs Amortization deferred financing fees Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt, Total Loss on extinguishment of debt Foreign Currency Transaction Gain, before Tax Gain on foreign currency exchange transactions Unrealized loss of foreign currency Loss on disposal of fixed assets Loss on disposal of fixed assets Loss on disposal of fixed assets Provision for doubtful accounts Provision for doubtful accounts Provision for doubtful accounts Sales Returns and Allowances, Goods Provision for sales returns Sales Returns and Allowances, Goods, Total Sales returns Loss on futures derivatives Unrealized (gain) loss on financial instruments, net Unrealized (Gain) Loss on futures derivatives Tax expense from allocation of ESOP shares Tax expense from exercise of non-qualified options and disqualified dispositions of incentive stock options Tax benefit (expense) from exercise of non-qualified options and disqualified dispositions of incentive stock options Tax benefit from exercise of non-qualified options and disqualified dispositions of incentive stock options Tax benefit (expense) from exercise of non-qualified options and disqualified dispositions of incentive stock options Excess tax benefits from equity-based compensation plans Excess tax benefits from equity-based compensation plans Excess tax benefits from equity-based compensation plans Other Tax Expense (Benefit) Tax expense from allocation of ESOP shares Deferred income taxes Total deferred Deferred compensation and stock compensation Contributions to the ESOP Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisition: Receivables Receivables Increase Decrease In Inventories Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories, Total Income tax receivable Income tax receivable, net Income tax receivable (payable), net Income tax payable, net Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets Other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets Other long-term assets, net Other long-term assets, net Accounts payable Accounts payable Accounts payable Accounts payable Accounts payable Accrued compensation costs Accrued expenses Accrued expenses Accrued expenses The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in other short term liabilities not separately disclosed in the statement of cash flows. Increase Decrease Other Short Term Liabilities Other current liabilities The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in other long term liabilities not separately disclosed in the statement of cash flows. Increase Decrease Other Long Term Liabilities Other long-term liabilities Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash Change in restricted cash Change in Restricted cash Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash, Total Proceeds from Sale of Short-term Investments Proceeds from sale of short-term investments Proceeds from sale of short-term investments Proceeds from receipt of note receivable Proceeds from receipt of note receivable Proceeds from notes receivable Proceeds from receipt of note receivable Payments to acquire business, net of cash acquired Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired Acquisition of Timothy's Coffee of the World Inc. Acquisition of Timothy's Coffee of the World Inc. Payments to acquire business, net of cash acquired Advance on acquisition of Diedrich Coffee, Inc. (See Note_) Acquisition of Diedrich Coffee, Inc., net of cash acquired Other Payments To Acquire Business Net Of Cash Other Payments To Acquire Business Net Of Cash Acquisition of LJVH Holdings, Inc. (Van Houtte), net of cash acquired Acquisition of LJVH Holdings, Inc. (Van Houtte), net of cash acquired Payments for (Proceeds from) Investments Purchases of short-term investments Payments for (Proceeds from) Investments, Total Capital expenditures for fixed assets Capital expenditures for fixed assets Capital expenditures for fixed assets Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other investing activities Other investing activities Net cash used for investing activities Net cash used for investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Net change in revolving line of credit Proceeds from Lines of Credit, Total Proceeds from issuance of common stock under compensation plans Proceeds from issuance of common stock under compensation plans Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity, Total Proceeds from issuance of common stock for public equity offering Payments of Stock Issuance Costs Financing costs in connection with public equity offering Transaction related expenses Excess tax benefits from equity-based compensation plans-fin Excess tax benefits from equity-based compensation plans Capital lease obligations Capital lease obligations Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Deferred financing fees Debt issuance cost Deferred financing fees Repayment of long-term debt Repayment of long-term debt Repayment of long-term debt Net cash provided by financing activities Net cash provided by financing activities Increase decrease in cash balances included in short term assets held for sale. Increase Decrease In Cash Balances Included In Short Term Assets Held For Sale Change in cash balances included in current assets held for sale Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents, Total Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Interest Paid Cash paid for interest Interest Paid, Total Income Taxes Paid Cash paid for income taxes