We're currently shopping around for a quality coffee machine, our dolce gusto machine with 'compatible reusable pods' like to piss water everywhere cause the pods are not perfectly fitting.
Trying to find something that's durable, will last, doesn't make a mess if something goes slightly wrong, has a quality milk frothier, and does most kinds of coffee, (preferably not automatically)
It's a rollercoaster ride right now, anything in the £100-£150 price range looks ok but I question the quality, and when you start getting up into to £300-400 range you start wondering whether you should just spend £1500 and get a professional one.
I want something good but it's hard to tell if something priced at £500 is actually going to be good.
I try and avoid the actual minefield that is domestic coffee makers - the market is so swamped now and you really can never be sure if reviews are legit or being shilled. I will say Jim Hoffman is well respected in the coffee community and has done many reviews of equipment https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMb0O2CdPBNi-QqPk5T3gsQ/videos if you hunt through you might find a little guidance.
Oh yeah we were watching a couple of his vids last night, I think we're probably going to go for a gaggia gran style. £110 and get a decent grinder. Perhaps get a non pressure basket too if possible. To be fair anything would be better than the coffee pod machine we have now.