Best mid range espresso machine?

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

My birthday is coming up and my mum has said she'll get me a coffee machine. She's asked me to pick one.

I don't really know where to start! I feel like I would like to avoid pod/ capsule ones for environmental reasons and because I don't want to get locked into one "system".

Can anyone recommend a good espresso machine that isn't uber expensive and takes either fresh beans or ground coffee?

Beko bean to cup..is around £200
Makes a variety of coffee styles and strengths very well. Does milk things too but I don't use this function, so I can only recommend it for black coffee.
Thought it might be "cheap" but coffee is actually slightly better than sister's much more expensive machine ( that broke after 3 months)

Thanks! Any other recs?