A poppet valve assembly, comprising: a valve body comprising a valve seat defining at least one inlet port extending therethrough, the at least one inlet port having an inlet port center axis and configured to receive a working fluid; and a valve guard defining at least one outlet port extending therethrough, the at least one outlet port having an outlet port center axis and configured to discharge the working fluid therefrom; and a valve member having a valve member center axis coaxial with the inlet port center axis, the valve member disposed in a guide pocket defined in the valve guard, and the valve member comprising a valve stem comprising a first end portion, a second end portion axially opposing the first end portion, and a cylindrical sidewall extending along the valve member center axis between the first end portion and the second end portion; and a valve head disposed at the first end portion of the valve stem, the valve head configured to reciprocate between contact with the valve seat and contact with the valve guard to regulate a flow of the working fluid from the at least one inlet port to the at least one outlet port, wherein a gap is formed between a bottom portion of the valve guard and the second end portion of the valve stem within the guide pocket when contact between the valve head and the valve guard occurs, wherein the valve head includes a cylindrical sidewall extending along the valve member center axis; a first end portion configured to contact the valve seat; and a second end portion adjacent the valve stem configured to contact the valve guard, the valve assembly being characterized by the second end portion forming a chamfer. a valve body comprising a valve seat defining at least one inlet port extending therethrough, the at least one inlet port having an inlet port center axis and configured to receive a working fluid; and a valve guard defining at least one outlet port extending therethrough, the at least one outlet port having an outlet port center axis and configured to discharge the working fluid therefrom; and a valve seat defining at least one inlet port extending therethrough, the at least one inlet port having an inlet port center axis and configured to receive a working fluid; and a valve guard defining at least one outlet port extending therethrough, the at least one outlet port having an outlet port center axis and configured to discharge the working fluid therefrom; and a valve member having a valve member center axis coaxial with the inlet port center axis, the valve member disposed in a guide pocket defined in the valve guard, and the valve member comprising a valve stem comprising a first end portion, a second end portion axially opposing the first end portion, and a cylindrical sidewall extending along the valve member center axis between the first end portion and the second end portion; and a valve head disposed at the first end portion of the valve stem, the valve head configured to reciprocate between contact with the valve seat and contact with the valve guard to regulate a flow of the working fluid from the at least one inlet port to the at least one outlet port, wherein a gap is formed between a bottom portion of the valve guard and the second end portion of the valve stem within the guide pocket when contact between the valve head and the valve guard occurs, wherein the valve head includes a cylindrical sidewall extending along the valve member center axis; a first end portion configured to contact the valve seat; and a second end portion adjacent the valve stem configured to contact the valve guard, the valve assembly being characterized by the second end portion forming a chamfer. a valve stem comprising a first end portion, a second end portion axially opposing the first end portion, and a cylindrical sidewall extending along the valve member center axis between the first end portion and the second end portion; and a valve head disposed at the first end portion of the valve stem, the valve head configured to reciprocate between contact with the valve seat and contact with the valve guard to regulate a flow of the working fluid from the at least one inlet port to the at least one outlet port, wherein a gap is formed between a bottom portion of the valve guard and the second end portion of the valve stem within the guide pocket when contact between the valve head and the valve guard occurs, wherein the valve head includes a cylindrical sidewall extending along the valve member center axis; a first end portion configured to contact the valve seat; and a second end portion adjacent the valve stem configured to contact the valve guard, the valve assembly being characterized by the second end portion forming a chamfer.