Maybe tangential, but would most folks be likely to discern the difference vs. a glass French press? Most drip coffeemakers I’ve used are both more expensive and make worse coffee (not to mention harder to clean), so I’ve largely given up on the category, but admittedly haven’t done proper research in quite a while.
It looks like you can make the difference since you prefer a glass French press. There is no "superior" brewing process, and if you like the French press, use the French press. Arguably, the pourover method is strictly better than drip coffee, in term of quality, but it is more involved, and you need to know what you are doing. With drip coffee, you just have to press a button, you can even run the machine on a timer and have coffee ready when you wake up, which is not a negligible advantage.
Personally, I have an espresso machine, which is by far the way I prefer coffee, but the machine (+ grinder) is expensive and it gives you a new hobby.
Really, it is all up to you, there is no bad answer. The French press is a perfectly good brewing method, so is drip, and many others: moka pot, Aeropress, etc...
I splurged on a moccamaster and it's my favorite thing ever. It's practically pour over, but I don't have to do any work before I've had a coffee (which is a hard line for me)
Usually manual coffee making can be just as good or better than a machine, or at least much cheaper for the same quality. You can make very very good coffee with a $40 pour-over or french press.
French press doesn't really have a machine equivalent that I can think of though, it's sort of in its own category of coffee.
IMO a good burr grinder is good to have no matter how you make your coffee. If you don't already buy whole beans they're much fresher, and if you do but use a blade grinder the burr grinders do a better more consistent job at it.
It depends on the flavor you like. The espresso flavor is much more mellow in my opinion. Drip can be great but you need to have a preference for that style
