In his review for
AllMusic, Alain Drouot states that "the music is extremely dense, despite the fact that the session only involves a trio and the musicians avidly seek to fill all the spaces ... Despite its shortcomings,
Caffeine manages to sustain the listener's interest due to, in particular, Hunt's and Baker's attention to details."
The Penguin Guide to Jazz notes that "with Baker and Hunt, Vandermark is slightly too exposed." The
Chicago Tribune review by Howard Reich states that "Baker's restless pianism, Vandermark's penetrating reed work and Hunt's meticulous percussion perpetually react to one another in unexpected, novel ways." The
DownBeat review by Bill Shoemaker states: "
Caffeine provides high-energy blow-outs followed by explorations of space and color. Baker's first recorded outing is appetite-whetting, as he skillfully skirts Taylor's long shadow." ==Track listing==