A bead beater homogenizer includes a shaft having a main body extending along a main axis and a distal connection body extending along a connection axis that is acutely angled with respect to the main axis, a motor configured to rotate the shaft about the main axis, a head rotatably connected to the distal connection body of the shaft, and a clamp secured to the head and configured to secure a sample vial holder configured to hold one or more sample vials therein, wherein rotational motion of the shaft about the main axis is translated into motion of the head in directions normal to the main axis. A sample vial holder having an internal network of channels defined within the housing through which a coolant can be passed to control a temperature of a vial disposed therein is also provided.