When you consider hygiene, a continuous surface is best.
Granted you're thinking about epoxy grout, any other is not worth thinking about.
I don't think of wood as a high maintenance surface. It's not as if you are constantly oiling it, just every now and then.
You have to keep it clean, but you have to do that with any surface.
You say in your original post that you were considering edging in timber. The join is going to be where germs will breed.
Maybe it's a personal thing, I do not like tiled work surfaces.
It's your kitchen though. 🙂