I like to start the day with a strong hot mug of coffee with sweetener and double cream. I used a cafetiere for years, grinding the beans myself in a coffee mill.
I could make it as strong as I like, but it wasn't hot, more just warm.
I tried a pod machine, a Starbucks/Keurig, machine but the pods didn't make coffee strong enough for my taste.
I bought a De Longhi Magnifica bean to cup machine a couple of months ago after reading reviews on different machines.
It does produce coffee hot enough and I can adjust the grind to get it quite strong.
It was dearer than pod machines (£230 on Amazon), but I buy coffee beans which works out cheaper than pods, so should be cheaper in the long run.
Once I worked out how to get it going and adjusted the strength to my taste, which took a few days, it has worked well and produces a coffee I like.
I have tried different coffee beans but have settled on Starbucks 'Fairtrade' Espresso. A dark wholebean 100% Arabica coffee with a 'rich and caramelly' taste. Which can also be bought in Waitrose.
The only regret I have is buying machine from Amazon and beans from Starbucks, as they both avoid paying tax.