Never forget the grinder . An expensive espresso machine paired with a cheap grinder will produce poor coffee. If you have a $1,000 budget, it is often better to spend $600 on the machine and $400 on a dedicated burr grinder.
This determines how long the machine takes to warm up and if you can steam milk and brew coffee at the same time. what to look for when buying an espresso machine
Are you leaning more toward (automatic) or would you prefer to learn the craft (semi-automatic)? Never forget the grinder