I agree that stainless steel is bad for coffee (glass-vacuum carafes are cheap and effective), but it usually takes awhile, an hour or more, before I notice a significant change in flavor from exposure to steel. On the rare occasion that I cannot avoid using a travel mug, I use this thermos tumbler.
Braces cost is around $4000-$6000. Braces cost $3,000-$10,000 depending on location and also on what kind of dentist does them, general dentist (cheaper) or orthodontist (more expensive). In European countries Braces usually cost about $5,000 nowadays.
Colored braces, ceramic braces, or Invisalign braces can cost well over $5000. You are paying for the novelty of having something other than standard metal, plus the cost of titanium, gold, ceramic and the other materials used for nonstandard braces can cost several thousand more because of the material itself.