Evaluating the temperature dependence of heat-transfer based detection: A case study with caffeine and Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as synthetic receptors

•Preparation and optimization of MIPs for detection of caffeine.•First evaluation and optimization of the temperature dependence of the HTM.•Thermal detection caffeine with HTM and TWTA.•First proof of concept for measurements in complicated samples such as beverages.•Ability to fine-tune limits of detection by changing the temperature.