The option that will provide the MOST legal protection to prevent others from making or selling a version of Alfonso's coffee travel mug is a patent.
A patent gives the inventor exclusive rights to their invention, preventing others from making, using, or selling the patented invention without permission. In contrast, a copyright protects original works of authorship, a trademark protects brand names and logos, and a text-based tool doesn't provide legal protection. Therefore, opting for a patent is the best choice in this scenario.