How many commuter travel coffee mugs do you own? Prior to this week, I owned none.

Living in the city, there is no need for one. Commuting was a short walk. When we drove, most city destinations have a Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts near by. Not to mention our little city kitchen hardly had room to store our essentials -- no room for more mugs.

After moving to Lexington, I promptly feel the need. The 40-minute drive into Boston. The trip to the supermarket. The waiting by the sideline during soccer practices and games. I need my hot coffee or my Assam tea with me. So which one did I buy?

Finding a good travel coffee mug is much harder than you think.

There are two conflicting requirements: The mug has to be spill-proof. Who wants to accidentally spill hot liquid onto one's lap while driving? But the mug also has to be easy to clean. There is nothing grosser than a grimy layer of old coffee stuck inside the cap. But most manufacturers design complicated seal mechanism in their mugs to make them spill proof. In the process, they also put 50 little parts in their mug's cap, impossible to clean.

After much research online, and a trip to Target, I found the best travel coffee mug: The Thermos Stainless King 16-Ounce Leak-Proof Travel Mug in Midnight Blue. It is around $20 on Amazon. There is also a version that has a handle.

I used mine for a week straight and I am certain that it is completely leak-proof. The best part is, the top comes apart easily into just a few pieces for cleaning. It also keep my hot tea hot for more than four hours. The only minor issue I find with it is that the bottom of the mug is a little narrow. You may need a good bottle brush to get to the bottom of the mug for cleaning. Highly recommended.