I used to make coffee with Aeropress every time, but finally got a cheap espresso machine (Breville Cafe Roma) and a coffee bean grinder (De'Longhi Dedica). Got a deal on both.

OK, so it's a bit more work than just slapping in a [pod] and pressing a button, but it's totally worth it and the only "waste" is the bit of coffee grinds. No plastic, no metal. Probably the total cost of ownership over the ~6mo since I bought the espresso machine is likely actually less than if I had bought a Keurig or Nespresso machine and been paying for the pods this whole time. Plus you can't really beat legit espresso and steamed milk. :)

That said, the Aeropress is always on hand for visiting elsewhere, road trips etc. Definitely the best alternative to a full-on espresso machine IMO.