My morning latte’s are adding up and I’m thinking of keeping an eye out for a latte/expresso machine at the thrift store where I work. ( They do come in, not as much as coffee pots, but I don’t know what is a good brand-decent brand and craptacular brand.)
Any advice would be appreciated.
Maybe a search for Espresso machines might be more fruitful? (Although you never know these days.)
You’ll want to have some kind of dial for adjusting the amount of steam. Some sort of (working) signal for when the steam is ready, like a light that turns on. Check to make sure the “ice cream scoop” looking thing that holds the grinds can lock securely in place (typically, you engage it on the left, then to move the handle right to lock it.) Check to make sure any rubber parts are sound and free of dry rot. It may or may not come with a little long-handled metal pitcher for foaming milk – it’s handy if it does.
And the instruction manual is helpful 
as there is generally a very particular order you do things in (similar to threading a sewing machine - it’s important to do it just so)
I have a very inexpensive espresso machine that was about $30 at Target (the brand name is deLonghi) and it does the job just fine.
Moving from IMHO to Cafe (ha!) Society.
Ellen
It can’t be THAT easy! I refuse to think it is that easy.
The $30 (or even $80) ones aren’t real espresso makers. Real espresso is made with hot water pressurized by a mechanical pump. The cheap ones build up pressure using steam, which is neither reliable nor high enough pressure for real espresso.
Now, I’m not saying that you can’t enjoy the coffee from the cheap espresso makers, so it may well work just fine for you. I’m just pointing out the difference.
For particular models, there are various Internet Coffee Snobs ™ who post reviews on-line. I’d wait until something comes in, then look up that particular brand and model and see what they say.
Get a pump-driven one (mine’s a Gaggia and it is a tank) and the most important other factor is to find the right grind for your kit.
The classic Illy espresso black band is a good place to start and easy to find.