I have bought seven travel mugs. Seven. Most of them made it about two hours before my coffee was lukewarm. One leaked in my bag and ruined a paperback. One had a lid mechanism so complicated I needed two hands and concentration to open it while driving.

I finally found one that works. Here is the one, plus the runner-up in case you want something different.

The Winner: Zojirushi SM-KHE48

This is the mug that made me stop buying mugs. Stainless steel, vacuum-insulated, 16 ounces. I poured coffee at 190°F at 7 AM. At 1 PM — six hours later — it was still hot. Not warm. Hot. I actually burned my tongue because I was not expecting it.

The lid is a one-handed push-button operation. It locks so it will not open in a bag. The mouthpiece comes apart into three pieces for cleaning — no hidden mold traps. It is narrow enough to fit in a car cupholder and light enough (9 ounces empty) that you are not carrying around a brick.

The only downside: it insulates so well that if you pour boiling-hot coffee and seal it immediately, it will still be undrinkably hot an hour later. I leave the lid off for five minutes after pouring.

Runner-Up: Contigo Autoseal West Loop

About half the price of the Zojirushi ($15 vs $30). Keeps coffee hot for about four hours — shorter, but enough for a morning commute and the first half of a workday. The autoseal lid automatically closes between sips, which means it basically never leaks. The mechanism is simpler than the Zojirushi and slightly easier to clean.

If you lose mugs regularly or just do not want to spend $30 on one, the Contigo is the best option under $20. If you want coffee that is hot at 2 PM, get the Zojirushi.