Is it the best machine - no
Is it a bad machine - ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Many users complain about their coffee being too bitter. But that could be due to a number of factors - grind size, uneven placement, incorrect tamping, extracting too slow etc etc!
Making your best mug of coffee is a process of learning. It is extremely easy to blame and dismiss the coffee or the machine. If you truly love your coffee, invest a little bit of time in understanding how to extract and then tweak the various elements to be able to brew your perfect mug. There are numerous online blogs / videos / resources that take you through this process.
Invest some time and effort, be open to learning and you will be able to make a soul fulfilling cup of coffee with this machine. Sure, it isn’t a a pro level machine - you can’t adjust the temperature of the water, you can’t set the time to extract perfectly. But this machine is also 1/3rd the price of most other machines that allow you to do all that.
I would say that it is a great entry level machine to begin your journey in mastering your perfect mug!