This is a truly enormous topic. You need to narrow it down for us and tell us which ones you are considering. A photo of your current kitchen is also essential to help us help you. If for example you are keeping 30 year old cabinets, then it is likely best not to spend thousands on ultra modern counters.

Good point but frankly I'm not considering any at the moment. It's a 40 yo house with upgraded maple cabinets. The upgrade was done before we moved in in 2004.

Some ideas I have entertained are concrete, recycled glass, and granite. Not really interested in tile due to the grout decolorization issues. It should be easy to care for and take abuse. I cook nearly all our meals from scratch with a rare can opened for something.....green chilies come to mind, sliced black olives, jarred spaghetti sauce if I'm in a hurry and/or tired. I have a large piece of butcher block that sits on the top of the counter plus I use wooden chopping blocks. Am fairly careful to wipe up spills but again, easy to care for and can take a bit of abuse. HTH and thanks.

Houzz article: your guide to countertops
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/your-guide-to-15-popular-kitchen-countertop-materials-stsetivw-vs~7779702

Forget concrete. It stains like crazy. Do a search, you’ll find lots of info.

Most granites are bullet proof, easy to care for, and are available in a myriad of colors and patterns.

I don’t know much about recycled glass, other than it’s $$$$.

Many people here (including me), have hard varieties of soapstone, and love the sensual matte texture, ease of care, and subtleness of the stone…as it goes with just about any style.

Lots of folks will point you to quartz, which is not actually stone. Rather, it’s crushed quartz particles, mixed with plastic resins. If youre into a plastic-y look that imitates real stone (and many people are), then that’s an option for you.

Then there’s the 100% plastic option, Corian. Some swear by it, and wouldnt hesitate to use it again. But again, you’d have to be okay with plastic for your counters.

What do you like? Have you peeked at all the counter images? Where is this wonderful new counter going? Any photos of your space? What colors do you like? What materials are already in your space? Tile or wood floors? Maybe Brick? Any other elements to your space we need to consider before sharing our suggestions?

If you have an old farmhouse than Soapstone might be a perfect material. Sinks can be made out of it too.. Soapstone is wonderful. I have never met one I didn't like. They are workhorses in the kitchen and while sometimes they need to be oiled they can provide a beautiful look to your space. Some people get frustrated with the scratched which can easily be buffed out but some people find this annoying.

If you want modern or contemporary I would say one of those gorgeous solid color Quartz. Some negatives about Quartz I have seen complaints on here that it looks too cold or there are issues with the color matching their space. Any man made material will have some ugliness to it. But quartz is practical and plentiful.

Recycled glass also has that contemporary feel that can really make a place shine.

If you want old world I happen to love white Marble. I use it myself. Love it. But its delicate. Depending on the marble slab it may chip or etch. Some do stain so that's something to consider.

If you are thinking solid dependable and inexpensive Granite might be the one for you. Granites can be considered common place and the polished dark absolute black can be a challenging to look perfect but overall I am a granite fan. Some do stain while others get darker. Stone is always beautiful to me.

Looking for Glam? Oh the Taj Mahal quartzite is ooooohhh la la and the right slab can make a space look gorgeous. I am not sure about stain free you'd need to do a search to find out for sure if your slab meets the criteria.

Maybe you want a wood counter. They need lots of upkeep but they do look beautiful.

Concrete? I have no experience but have read horror stories of them cracking. They do look pretty and can add an industrial flare to the space.

Formica? I had formica in one of my first ever kitchens and it was a great product. I am told the newer ones are even better. And I have seen a few that look like granite. Amazing what these products can do.

Here are some photos...

Soapstone

Townhouse, Downtown Brooklyn · More Info

recycled glass island

Conroe Lake House Kitchen · More Info

quartz so pretty looks like marble to me.

Cambria Quartz Berwyn Kitchen in Raleigh, North Carolina · More Info

white marble

Hammond Kitchen 6 · More Info

dark granite

Beautiful Contemporary Kitchen w/ Dark Granite Countertops and Modern Lighting · More Info

Taj Mahal Quartzite

Chic Distressed White Kitchen - Barrington, IL · More Info

quartzite

Contemporary Kitchen · More Info

Wood

Walnut Wood Countertop - Brooks Custom · More Info

Crisp Architects · More Info

concrete

Gray Concrete Kitchen Countertop · More Info

I find it so hard to believe this is formica but low and behold it sure is. Very pretty looks like marble.

3460 Calacatta Marble 180fx® with Ogee IdealEdge™ · More Info

"Then there’s the 100% plastic option,"

That's 100% false.

Engineered stone and Corian and other solid surfaces are very similar, however, the main difference is the filler. Estone uses quartz, solid surface uses aluminum tryhydrate.